6. Why are Natives
important?
• Provide shelter, food,
nesting sites and cover
for wildlife--birds,
mammals, insects,
aquatic life--and
ultimately, people!
• Essential to land
reclamation, soil health
and water protection—
Ecosystem Services
• Create a “sense of place”
• Create habitat !
7. Habitat losses
are
enormous
Urban Sprawl/Development
Current Agricultural Practices
Over-harvesting for medicinal
purposes
9. #1: 5 First Steps
#2: Hedgerow Recipe
#3: Plant a Powerhouse
10. “5 First Steps”
• Mow less grass!
Add layers, create hedges, “connect corners”
• Control exotic invasives.
• Avoid using insecticides.
• Practice benign neglect...leave the leaves,
save the snags, pile the brush
• Plant a “Powerhouse”!
30. Asters, asters, asters...
Aster laevis
A. pilosus
A. puniceus
A. novae-angliae
A. novii-belgii
A. oblongifolius
A. umbellatus
*A. cordifolia, A. divaricata, A. macrophyllus
“If you build it, they will come”. Maybe not the species you want, but someone will show up to the party!
Plants that are indigenous to a specific area and were established without direct or indirect human interference. Plant is typically considered native in the US if it was present prior to arrival of European colonists.
In many areas, gardens are our last vestiges of the natural world. Foster connection to nature and the possibility of recreating lost ecosystems.
Adopting any of the principles found within these three topics will put you on a road to success.
Privacy. Bird watching! Layers, visual interest
Height and spread: 6-10 ft. Slow grower. Average soil, part-full sun. Berries=birds. Type of holly- no spines. fruits persist into winter. Need male
and female plants to have berries. Other evergreens: bayberry (semi), mountain laurel, american holly
6-12ft tall, 20 ft wide. Loved by bees, butterflies, and hbirds! Blooms June-July. Retains foliage well into the fall. Found in rich, moist woods and ravines. Tolerates full sun, but may get leaf scorch. Good for use under other trees.
Two of my favorites! Many varieties of Clethra in traditional nurseries. Bee and butterfly MAGNET. 6- 12ft. and wide. moist/sun (?)NJ Tea: Shorty: 3-5 ft. all around solid wildlife plant. Early bloomer, seeds consumed by turkey and quail. Larval host for the Spring Azure butterfly and Mottled Duskywing. Part shade/shade, moist and well drained. Mine is in a pot.
Serviceberry: multi-stemmed. 15-25 ft tall. Spring flowering. Summer edible berries. Easy to grow. VIBURNUMS! Understory shrub. Birds, mammals, humans all love the berries. Clustered white flowers in spring.
Natives roses. Bees go crazy. Shade tolerant but loves the sun.