Native plants feed native insects which are a major food source for native birds…and so on.
of import information for gardeners : aboriginal plants — not species from strange lands — feed in aboriginal insects . And native insects are a major food source for aboriginal bird … and so on up the food chain . That ’s according to behavioral ecologist Doug Tallamy from the University of Delaware . His and others ’ research shows that our aseptic lawn and alien plant life specie from other state are not feeding our wildlife ; native dirt ball can not come through on alien works mintage .
“ bushel aboriginal plants to most man - rule landscapes is relatively easy to do , ” Doug says . He suggest planting belts of native tree , shrubs , and perennial around the margin of your yard , while set your favorite exotic species , like Japanese maple , azaleas , and tulips , nearer to the house .
If whole communities start engraft this way , we ’d create shared timber where the collection of plants and animals could hold out in comparative equilibrium .
The sketches included here instance how a typical suburban plate can be landscape with native works around its perimeter . If whole neighborhood do this , they can produce wildlife corridors that hold populations of insects , birds , and fauna .
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Doug Tallamy’s book, Bringing Nature Home (Timber Press, 2007), which makes a compelling case for gardeners everywhere to include native plants in their home landscapes.
Photo/Illustration: Drawings by Jana Bryan of JMMDS.
