Natives
I’m looking for native New Yorkers!
Btw-I am actually a native New Yorker born in the Bronx in the last century as my preteen likes to remind me 🙄.
But I’m not talking about NY’ers the people. I’m talking about the plants. This year, I will add native plants to my urban garden (and maybe to the vacant lot, next door!).
Swipe 👉🏾native plants at The High Line, elevated city park in NY.
Why?…
Native plants promote biodiversity. In cities and other places where urbanization has taken natural habitats, native plants are critical to restoring a healthy ecosystem.
Native plants provide essential food, resting places, and habitats for birds, bees, butterflies, insects, and other wildlife. Native wildlife need the native plants that they’ve co-evolved with to survive. Same for New Yorkers, we like thin crust pizza, not Chicago’s deep dish.
Yes, both wildlife and NY’ers are particular!
Did you know…
Native oaks support over 500 different species of butterflies and moths, as compared to the non-native ginkgo tree which supports just 5. This is a big difference in food supply for native birds. (No offense, I love you too ginkgo tree 😋!)
Even at a small scale, having native plants on a balcony or in a backyard garden can help add patches of habitat. Insects are small, and birds, bees and butterflies do travel.
So, if I plant milkweed, generations of the monarch butterfly’s will come to my urban garden. Local birds will dine, and so the life cycle begins…
Native plants are easy to grow and easy on the wallet. Many are perennial and drought resistant. Which means plant it once, and “forget about it!”
By growing native plants, I am helping to:
-create essential havens for wildlife.
-restore (pre-colonization) natural heritage and habitats
-save water
-reduce climate change
-and more…
All of the above will help to shape what our future looks like.
I wonder…
🤔what is a “native” plant?
In the United States, a native plant is one that was naturally found in a specific area before European colonization.
I wonder…
🤔which plants are native to my area?
The Audubon.org, nababutterfly.com, and naturalareanyc.org are a few great resources for the USA.
