Through The Woods
  • Home
  • Blog
  • A Hiker's Guide
  • Plant Profiles
  • One Year Studies
    • Johnson's Woods >
      • Johnson's Woods
    • Barnes Preserve >
      • Barnes Short Loop
      • Barnes Long Loop
      • BP Pond Overlook
    • Walton Woods Wildflower Sanctuary >
      • Walton Woods Lower Trail
      • Walton Woods Burning Bush
    • Brown's Lake Bog >
      • Bog Boardwalk
      • Bog Loop
    • Wooster Memorial Park >
      • Sycamore Tree
      • Trillium Hill
      • WMP Prairie
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Photography

Planning your garden, don't forget the natives

3/12/2017

0 Comments

 
I find March to be the most dreamy of the months, starting seeds for the year's garden, watching the trees come into bud, the very first flowers start to emerge. I've been planning my garden this year and along with plump juicy tomatoes I'm also starting a selection of native wildflowers to entice bees and butterflies to my garden. Why native wildflowers? 

The importance of growing plants native to your region. There are many reasons to grow natives: adapted pollinators, water & erosion control, and they become low maintenance once established.

The Circle of Life
Plants, animals, birds, and insects have all evolved together to their native climates to work to benefit each other - the pollinators pollinate the plants so the plants will fruit, the fruit then feeds the birds, rabbits, deer, and other animals, and the circle of life continues.

Why You Should Care About Pollinators
Let's start at the very beginning... 
  • What is pollination?
    Pollination is the process of moving pollen from one flower to another of the same species, which produces fertile seeds. Almost all flowering plants need to be pollinated. Some plants are pollinated by wind or water, and some are even self-pollinating. However, most flowering plants depend on bees, butterflies, and other animals for pollination. 
  • What do pollinators do?
    Pollinators are key players in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They assist in plant reproduction by moving from one flower to the next and produce genetic diversity in each plant allowing the plant to better adapt to the changes in the environment.
  • How does this affect you? 
    Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are considered keystone species because they are species upon which others depend. As a bee feeds on the nectar and pollen of raspberry flowers, it pollinates the flowers, which then will produce fruit eaten by birds, deer, dozens of other animals including humans.
    This is more than just raspberries, though, "Cross-pollination helps at least 30 percent of the world’s crops and 90 percent of our wild plants to thrive. Without bees to spread seeds, many plants—including food crops—would die off. " -NRDC

Other Benefits From Planting Native Plants
  • Erosion Controll  
    Due to the deep root systems of many native plants, they work well to control erosion and storm water runoff. 
  • Cleaner Water
    With those deep root systems in mind, they do more than just hold the soil in place, they also work to help water soak down into the soil while filtering out excess nutrients and pollutants.
  • Cleaner Air
    Planting larger prairies or meadows of native grasses and flowers can help to clean the air around your home - and can be a great step forward in mitigating climate change. 
  • Save Money & Time
    Once your native plants become established, there is very little upkeep you have to do. There's no need for pesticides or fertilizers, you don't need to trim, prune, or mow. Just sit back and enjoy.

The Argument For Non-native Plants
Not all non-native plants are bad, there's a lot to be said for plants adapting to a new area - and cases where wildlife can thrive due to the introduction. 
I, however, would be sad to see the individuality of each region get watered down by having the same plants everywhere, losing the "only in Ohio can you find" charms of the area.
Where to get such plants. 
  • There are a great variety of web-stores whose focus is to sell native wildflowers - always do your homework to make sure they get their seeds and plants ethically.
  • In many areas the local greenhouses will have a good selection of native flowers and grasses and the staff to help you with any growing questions or concerns: conditions, watering, etc.
  • Big box stores tend to use neonicotinoids on their plants which kill our pollinating friends (although they report to be fazing these out by 2019),
    "The class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, or neonics, are sold by agrichemical companies to boost yields of staple crops but are also used widely on annual and perennial plants used in lawns and gardens. Scientists, consumer groups, beekeepers and others say bee deaths are linked to the neonic pesticides. The bee die-off is worrisome for agriculture because honeybees pollinate plants that produce about a fourth of the food consumed by Americans." - Reuters 
    ​They also still irresponsibly sell invasive species (you know the Kudzu plant that has covered the Southeastern US? It is still being sold at these stores.).

Remember: taking plants or seeds from parks/wildlife areas/wildlife preserves without a permit is illegal and can harm the delicate ecosystem in that area (it's also totally a jerk move and unethical). 
A great resource to find the best native plants (Ohio) for you can be found at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources site here. ​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

      Email list
      ​Sign up

    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    About

    Since 2015 we have been exploring and sharing all the amazing things we’ve found in nature.
    From great and unique places to explore, to learning about new and interesting plant species, to understanding the earth’s cycles.
    Follow along and discover new and interesting things about the world around you. 

    Author

    Emily is an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist who is most often found out in the woods. 

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    2018 Winter Prediction
    2 Year Anniversary
    3 Year Anniversary
    All About Ferns
    American Kestrel
    April Inspiration
    April Recap
    Ash Cave
    Ashland County
    Audubon Wetlands Preserve
    Autumn
    Backyard Naturalist
    Bald Eagle
    Barne's Preserve
    Beauty
    Bedstraw
    Bee Balm
    Bee-Balm
    Bergamot
    Big Dipper
    Birding
    Birding Ohio
    Birds
    Birdseed
    Bird's-Foot Trefoil
    Birds In The Winter
    Bishops Cap
    Bloodroot
    Bluebird
    Blue Jay
    Blue Phlox
    Bluet
    Blue Vervain
    Bog
    Bog Swamp Fen Marsh
    Branched Coral Fungi
    Brecksville /OH
    Broadleaf Enchanter's Nightshade
    Brown's Lake Bog
    Bugs
    Burning Bush
    Buttercup
    Butterfly
    Canada Anemone
    Carex
    Carnivore
    Caution
    Cedar Bog
    Cedar Falls
    Chickweed
    Chicory
    Chippewa Trail
    Cinquefoil
    Clear Wing
    Cleavers
    Climate-change
    Clover
    Cohosh
    Coltsfoot
    Common Mallow
    Conkle's Hollow
    Conservation
    Cooper's Hawk
    Corn Speedwell
    Crow
    Crown Vetch
    Cutleaf Toothwort
    CVNP
    Dandelion
    Dead Nettle
    Decomposition
    Deep Lock Quarry
    Deer
    Dew Drop
    Dragonflies
    Driving
    Dundee Falls
    Dutchman's Breeches
    Dwarf Ginseng
    Eastern Comma
    Endangered
    Etiquette
    Evening Primrose
    Explore
    Explore Ohio
    Facts
    Fall
    Fall Hiking
    Fall Hiking Spree
    Fall Wildflowers
    False Mermaid
    February
    February Recap
    Fleabane
    Flower Spotlight
    Foraging
    Fungi
    Garden
    Garlic Mustard
    Geranium
    Giant Blue Cohosh
    Giant Leopard Moth
    Golden Alexander
    Golden-crowned Kinglet
    Goldenrod
    Gray Headed Coneflower
    Great Blue Lobelia
    Greater Celandine
    Grosjean Park
    Ground Ivy
    Groundsel
    Hampton Hills
    Hawkweed
    Hepatica
    Herb
    Herbal
    Highlights
    Hike
    Hike Ohio
    Hiker's Guide To Wayne County
    Hiking
    Hiking Alone
    Hiking Ohio
    Hocking Hills State Park
    How To Observe
    Hummingbird
    Hummingbird Moth
    Indian Cucumber
    Indian Cucumber Root
    Insects
    Inspiration
    Invasive
    Invasive Species
    Jack In The Pulpit
    Japanese Beetles
    John Muir
    Johnson Woods Nature Preserve
    July
    Kestrel
    Kidney Leaf Buttercup
    Killer Plants
    Lamb's Quarters
    Ledges
    Lesser Celandine
    Liberty Park
    Lichen
    Little Apple Creek
    Magee Marsh
    March 2018 Review
    Marsh
    Mayapple
    Meadow
    Meditation
    Metroparks
    Mines
    Mockingbird
    Monarch
    Moonville
    Moth
    Mullein
    Mushrooms
    Naturalist Studies
    Natural Remedy
    Nature
    Nature.org
    Nature Quote
    Needle Ice
    New Year Hike
    Night
    Nine Months
    Northeast Ohio
    Nuthatch
    Oak Openings
    Observations
    ODNR
    Ohio
    Ohio Caverns
    Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist
    Ohio Hiking
    Ohio Parks
    Ohio Spiderwort
    #ohiowildflowers
    Ohio Wildflowers
    Old Man's Cave
    O'Neil Woods
    One Year Series
    One Year Study
    Orchid
    Oriental Bittersweet
    Outdoor Safety
    Park
    Partridgeberry
    Phenology
    Phlox
    Pitcher Plant
    Plantain Leaved Sedge
    Plant Care
    Poem
    Purple Cress
    Queen Anne's Lace
    Quote
    Ragweed
    Rattlesnake Master
    Recipe
    Rock House
    Rose Pogonia Orchid
    Rue Anemone
    Rural Fall Hiking
    Rut
    Safety
    Safety Tips
    Sandhill Crane
    Sandstone
    Scarlet Cup Fungus
    Scheuchzeria
    Self Heal
    September Recap
    Serpent Mound
    Shepherd's Purse
    Shreve
    Silver Creek Metro Park
    Skunk Cabbage
    Smilax
    Sneezeweed
    Snow
    Solo Hiking
    Spangler
    Spangler Park
    Spree For All
    Spring
    Spring Wildflowers
    Squirrel Corn
    Stars
    State Nature Preserve
    Storm
    Summer Flowers
    Summer Fun
    Summit County
    Summit County Metro Parks
    Summit Metro Parks
    Sundrops
    Sunrise
    Swamp
    Swamp Buttercup
    Sweet Clover
    Tea
    Teasel
    The Wilderness Center
    Thimbleweed
    Timelapse
    Tobacco Hornworm
    Toothwort
    Trees
    Trillium
    Trillium Trail
    Trout Lily
    Tufted Titmouse
    Turkey Tail Fungus
    Two Leaf Toothwort
    Velvetleaf
    Viceroy
    Virginia Knotweed
    Walk
    Walton Woods
    Waterfall
    Waterleaf
    Wayne County
    Wayne County Ohio
    Werewolves
    West Branch State Park
    White Avens
    White Baneberry
    Wild Blue Phlox
    Wildflower
    Wildflower-count-2017
    Wildflowers
    Wild-geranium
    Wild-ginger
    Willow-gall
    Winter
    Winter Birds
    Wood Anemone
    Wood Hollow
    Woodland Sedge
    Wooster
    Wooster Memorial Park
    Wooster Ohio
    Yarrow
    Yellow
    Yellow Springs
    Zaleski
    Zizia

  • Home
  • Blog
  • A Hiker's Guide
  • Plant Profiles
  • One Year Studies
    • Johnson's Woods >
      • Johnson's Woods
    • Barnes Preserve >
      • Barnes Short Loop
      • Barnes Long Loop
      • BP Pond Overlook
    • Walton Woods Wildflower Sanctuary >
      • Walton Woods Lower Trail
      • Walton Woods Burning Bush
    • Brown's Lake Bog >
      • Bog Boardwalk
      • Bog Loop
    • Wooster Memorial Park >
      • Sycamore Tree
      • Trillium Hill
      • WMP Prairie
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Photography