Guest editorial: Why choose native plants for your yard?

Guest editorials are by local leaders or experts with specific knowledge of a topic and may contain opinions. Views expressed in any editorial are always exclusively those of the author.

Many Manchester-area residents, local historical craft buffs, and art lovers, as well as regular readers of the Mirror, know Margret Shaw. But even if you’ve just passed through Manchester on M-52, you may be familiar with her home and her yard filled with her art. Did you know, though, that she gives away native species transplants in the spring and summer to encourage the practice of sowing native plants?

by Margaret Shaw

I didn’t know when I began landscaping and developing gardens in my yard that I could have more impact than what I saw around me. I saw lawns, beautiful gardens, lots of farms, forest, and fields. I thought “pretty” was good enough for my yard until I learned about the disservice my “pretty” choices made and how I could intentionally contribute and make a difference.

I learned that what I plant in my yard could serve a bigger purpose. I’d planted species that were lovely but some were aggressively invasive. I bought plants with the same common name as natives, not knowing that they were non-native. So I removed some of those aggressive non-natives and began to make more informed choices.

I learned my yard could become a habitat for wildlife. I learned about The National Wildlife Federation (NWF). It promotes specific yard features and practices that nurture and support wildlife.

I learned about Doug Tallamy, who teaches conservation that starts in our yards. We can make a difference in the choices we make on our property, in our yards, no matter the size. His message is creating habitat on private land, specifically our own yards, to augment and increase habitat for all living beings. Read more about his vision; he has several books, YouTube interviews, and articles online at HomegrownNationalPark.org.

I began to think of my relationship to my yard as a stewardship with ethical considerations. Because I live on a busy road, my property could serve as a message. It could be an example of a different kind of yard, one that supports and provides habitat.

I was weeding excess natives when I decided to pot them and give them away instead of composting them. I began to provide volunteer native transplants to inspire others to give them a try. I put them out on a special educational display by the road. Some of the plants were black-eyed Susans, purple coneflowers, wild ginger, jack-in-the-pulpit, purple asters, and others. I posted a name and description. It has been rewarding to see them taken.

Why natives? Because natives are what nature has chosen to meet the needs of wildlife. They support the living creatures that are found in a particular area. They grow in the specific conditions that evolution designed them for. They provide for the needs within our unique ecosystem, needs that we can’t see with our eyes and limited, biased thinking. They grow without fertilizers and require less water, if any, other than rainfall. And they provide habitat, food, and lifecycle resources year-round. They are beautiful and as gardeners use them more, they will become more accepted. Trust nature.

Natives are quietly providing in a humble manner what our complex minds overlook.

Compare native to non-native invasive plants, trees, and shrubs that have gone rogue and have caused so much damage. Think about purple loosestrife, wild garlic mustard, autumn olive, and buckthorn. These and many more have crowded out native species while providing little to no food or shelter for wildlife, upsetting the natural order of our ecosystem. We can’t eradicate them even with the use of heavy chemicals. They have gotten away from us.

It’s not necessary to eliminate or remove all of our much-loved traditional landscaping, but add native varieties when you can, tuck them in here and there. I would, however, suggest removing invasive species. There is a difference between non-native and invasive non-natives. Don’t know what you’ve got? There are cell phone apps that identify flora and some will show where it’s native. Google plant ID apps. Some are free and they are very helpful. I use mine often.

I just learned the service berry bush provides high protein food and habitat for birds. It’s nature’s bird feeder. I hope to plant some this spring.

Washtenaw County Conservation District, washtenawcd.org, is hosting a Native Plant Expo & Market Place sale on Saturday, June 1. It will be a great place to learn about and purchase native plants. Other native plant sales are on their docket. Native plants, trees, and shrubs are readily available from local nurseries. When you look for a plant, check to make sure it’s not an invasive variety. Using our smartphones we can look into plant types and their impact. I hope you’ll give them a try.

Consider being a habitat steward and supporting nature in your yard.

P.S. This winter I am going to start native perennials from seed in milk jugs to augment my selection to share this spring. See related article on starting seeds in milk jugs. I will be holding two winter native seed–sowing workshops this weekend at 610 City Rd. The first is the evening of Friday, February 2, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The second is on Saturday, February 3, from 1pm to 4pm, and is a drop-in style event. For a donation of $20 I will provide jugs, seed, soil, and supplies. I will have coneflower, columbine, and butterfly weed. But if you have clean, clear gallon milk or water jugs and/or native seeds you’d like to plant or share, please bring them.

I have spent half of my 67 years in Manchester. I am at a time of life where I want to contribute to my community. Although I still need to earn a stream of income, it is my dream to do both by using the creative skill set and love of folk art craft and nature I hold dear. I am looking forward to offering workshops and other learning opportunities in the future. (I have also been instrumental in pulling together the Historic Craft Project at the Blacksmith Shop along with other steadfast volunteers. Come visit the Blacksmith Shop on Sundays 1–4pm!)

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.