Restoring native plant habitat is vital to preserving biodiversity. By creating a native plant garden, each patch of habitat becomes part of a collective effort to nurture and sustain the living landscape for birds and other animals. https://www.audubon.org/content/why-native-plants-matter
Native plants play a very important role in our ecosystems. As ecologists, wildlife biologists and entomologist have shown, native plant species are more favorable for supporting local wildlife, including insects such as bees and butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Native plants feed the creatures at the bottom of the food web that then provide meals for creatures on the next ring of the web, such as the birds and toads that visit our yards. https://www.ecolandscaping.org/native-plants/
Native plants help the environment the most when planted in places that match their growing requirements. They will thrive in the soils, moisture and weather of your region. That means less supplemental watering, which can be wasteful, and pest problems that require toxic chemicals. Native plants also assist in managing rain water runoff and maintain healthy soil as their root systems are deep and keep soil from being compacted. https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants
NW Ohio offers many sources for native plants for sale (please do not harvest natives on your own). Sales begin Apr 1, 2022so it is time to decide upon your plans and get ordering!
Toledo Zoo, www.wildtoledo.org, presales begin online April 1
Lucas County, https://www.lucasswcd.org/nativeplantsale.html, online ordering begins April 1, pick-up May 14 at Lucas County Fairgrounds
Oak Openings, http://www.oakopenings.org/blue-week/, plant sale May 21-22 at Blue Creek Seed Nursery.
TPS Natural Resource Technology Center: – 5561 Elmer Dr. Toledo. Stay tuned for details. 5561 Elmer Dr., Toledo. Spring plant sale of student-grown natives from local sources. Contact: Laura Kubiak – lschette@tps.org
Wood County Parks Friends Plant Sale: – May 7, 2022. Contact phone: 419-353-1897 or office@wcparks.org.
Bostdorff Greenhouse: 18862 North Dixie Highway in Bowling Green (419-353-7858). www.bostdorffs.com
Poppin Up Natives: If you are looking for a specific species call Cindy Carnicom at 567-277-0751 or Robin Parker at 419-351-1157. They also have several kits and design templates to make getting started easier. Contact them at poppinupnatives@gmail.com
