Day 99 – I have the opposite of a green thumb. Not sure what color that is, maybe brown. I am the place where plants go to die. It’s sad, really. My Dad, practically has a jungle growing in his home. I just haven’t quite figured out what I’m doing wrong. Thankfully, I have had success with my outdoor gardens. That’s probably do to the fact, I’m not in charge of taking care of them.

I do have a say as to what flowers are purchased. The go to place is the local Home Depot and I typically go by color and overall appearance, with a slight interest in whether the plant will do well in sun or shade. I don’t even look at the name. Crazy, right?

This year, I’m doing things differently. I attended a webinar about native plants a few weeks ago and purchased a few from the presenter. I’m excited to include Virginia Bluebells, Butterfly Milkweed, Purple Coneflower, Wild Bergamot and Wild Petunia to our outdoor space.

So, why are native plants important?

1. Native plants are low maintenance.
2. Many native plants offer beautiful flowers and produce colorful fruits and seeds.
3. No need for artificial fertilizers and chemical pesticides when growing native plants.
4. Native plants help conserve water. They are adapted to local environmental conditions.
5. Native plants attract pollinators and they need our help. Bee and butterfly populations are decreasing year after year.
6. Native plants help feed and provide shelter for wildlife.

If you would like to know which native plants are found where you live, check out Audubon’s Native Plant Locator. You just need to enter your zip code.

Instead of planting ornamental plants this season, consider the natural beauty that native plants have to offer.

Tomorrow, celebrating 100 days!