nicky belmonte
Did you hear that? The latest trend in home gardening and DIY projects is planting native plants. Native pollinator gardens and wildlife habitat gardens are not new, but they are becoming more widespread due to the collaborative efforts of organizations at the local, state, and national levels. And we are here for that!
In fact, living with nature is essential and we need to find ways to do it better. Dr. Doug Tallamy, an entomologist at the University of Delaware, has been spearheading this message, supported by his research showing important relationships between native insects and native plants. If these relationships continue to be destroyed and disappear, humanity will find itself in a very difficult situation. I was fortunate enough to hear a recent presentation by Dr. Tallamy. He impressed upon his audience that for this life as we know it to function, nature must “find a way to not just survive but thrive in a human-dominated landscape.” . “We can't afford any more bad management,” he said. In conclusion, we must now plant native species.
climbing aster (Ampelaster carolinianus) is an important resource for pollinators in late fall and the last gasp of color in Georgia's gardens and fences.
Dr. Tallamy's message is starting to get through, and more people are turning to conservation organizations to learn how to be better stewards. Researching appropriate native plants and choosing to incorporate large portions of native plants into our sites and projects makes a difference to other inhabitants of our ecosystem. Specialist butterflies, moths, and bees need native plants. Native plants are the first nutrient layer that converts sunlight into food for insects, ensuring they thrive. Bird populations depend on an abundance of insects, especially caterpillars, to maintain their populations. Caterpillars are the largest source of carotenoids produced by plants and essential to the bird diet. Birds rely on caterpillars to ingest plant material and pass on carotenoids to the birds. There are other necessary nutrients that birds get from eating caterpillars. We can play a role in ensuring these relationships are restored through purposeful selection of native plants.
There are plenty of resources to get started, but it can be overwhelming. Each year, the Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS) hosts a symposium with a variety of speakers on native plants. This year’s theme is “DIY Native Habitat – Building a Management Toolkit.” Our talk series will focus on planting the right plants in your garden to support your local ecosystem.
The idea of empowering individuals is the main driving force behind the event, which will be held on February 24th and 25th. The presentation will include guidance on how to research native plants, identify plants already growing on your property, understand plant communities, and considerations such as: Restoration of local habitat. This information helps individuals build a toolkit of purposeful choices and tools for habitat restoration projects at home, in designed landscapes, and in the wild.
We look forward to a lineup of expert speakers. The symposium will begin with a lecture by Alan Weekly, a plant taxonomist and community ecologist specializing in the southeastern United States. He is the author of the FloraQuest of the Southeastern United States and its app, FloraQuest, and describes the latest tools used to find information about plants. Next, a presentation from GNPS Board Chair Ellen Honeycutt on how to actually obtain suitable plants and Eamon Leonard from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on considerations for restoring native habitat. A presentation will be held. Connecting these topics is Leslie Edwards, co-author of Natural Communities of Georgia, who shows you how to approach gardening guided by natural plant communities. Please consider participating. The symposium will be held entirely virtually and will be divided into two days. All registrants will receive a recording of the session, so if you are unable to attend the live presentation, you can enjoy it at another time. This event is co-hosted with our friend and partner Birds Georgia. For more information, please visit the GNPS Symposium webpage.
Blue Mist Flower (Conocrinium celestinum), 2024 GNPS Plant of the Year.
I'd like to provide some resources to get you started with your DIY toolkit. The GNPS Plant of the Year program webpage is a great place to start creating your plant list. The purpose of this program is to recognize native plants that are underutilized in commercial and residential areas or that are essential components of Georgia's ecosystem. The 2024 Plant of the Year is Blue Mist Flower (Conocrinium celestinum), a vigorous native perennial that brightens landscapes with blue to purple flowers from late summer to fall. Highly recommended to add to your garden as it supports a variety of painted lady butterflies, skippers and bees. Another resource to have in your toolkit is the Georgia State Botanical Garden's Pollinator Plant of the Year program. Each year, he is honored with four outstanding plants in the categories of Spring Bloomer, Summer Bloomer, Fall Bloomer, and Georgia Native. All of this year's selections are native species and will make great additions to your pollinator garden.
However you decide to join the DIY native plant movement, know that it will pay off. The satisfaction of thinking about what to plant where and observing the seasonal highlights throughout the year is something you will cherish and learn from.
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