Anemone
Plant native plants
What's up, northern hemisphere homies? Spring is coming and soon, many of you may be looking toward gardening. When you're deciding what to plant, I have two words for you to consider:
Native. Wildflowers.
There are huge benefits to planting native plants over store-bought plants.
- Native plants are already adapted to the local soil. Lots of ornamental plants (especially lawn grass) pull nutrients out of the soil without giving anything back. Native plants are much better at supporting the nutrient cycle.
- They are low-maintenance. Because native plants are already adapted to your local conditions, they need much less care and maintenance. You can save time and money on fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and water.
- Native plants support the local ecosystem. The plants have evolved alongside with animals, meaning they feed local insects, birds, and other animals. They also provide shelter for wildlife, attract pollinators, and boost the local animal populations.
- They increase biodiversity. In my country, huge swaths of native land have been bulldozed and replaced with ecologically damaging farmland, lawns, and non-native ornamental plants. By planting natives you help restore the ecological balance and can get an idea of what the land used to look like. Planting natives on your property can spread the seeds to other locations through wind or animal dispersal.
- They are sustainable. You can harvest seeds off of your natives and grow your garden, give them to other people, or scatter them in the wild.
- They are diverse and unique. How many gardens are full of the same old standards like peonies, daffodils, and tulips? Native plants often look much more unique and interesting than the same old ornamentals. Here are some local species from my area that I think are much better looking than a lot of ornamental cultivars. (top to bottom: prairie blazing star, showy tick trefoil, Virginia bluebell, dutchman's britches, bottle gentian).
Do some research about which species are local to your area and see if your local garden stores have any native species. A lot of places will have naturalist groups who will sell native plants or their seeds or can point you to places you can get them. You may be able to harvest seeds directly off the plant if there are natural areas near you. However if you are harvesting natural plants, check local laws and see who owns the property. The general rule of thumb is that for abundant native species, you can safely harvest about half of the seeds without impacting the regrowth next year. For rarer species, you shouldn't take more than a quarter. If a lot of people are harvesting in the same area, they may be taking too much.
DO YOU:
- like gardening?
- hate cancer?
then you should check out this fundraiser through GiveAndGarden; a variety of flowers and vegetables available and 50% of the proceeds go to Sam's insurance and treatments. Like look at these pictures from the website:
Give it a look, see if anything interests your green thumb, and definitely share this around to any gardeners you know who also hate cancer. (And many thanks to our friend Kris for setting this up for us.) 🧡💙
This pretty pretty variegated euphorbia is pushing out what looks like pink spikes ?? And I thought she couldn't get prettier??
This stem is really making a comeback! 😍
Blue Columbine also known as Aquilegia Caerulea
one a day 87/366
"final spring cut" / Schönbrunn / Vienna / ©Julia Lametta
On today's episode of Garden Creatures: Ladybug and Bumblebee 🥰
Mirabilis Flowers at night by Jan Emming (Link)
Photo Destination: Forever Ranch & Gardens, AZ.
Cup of Gold Vine Flower Photographer Jon Pinter