Why is it important to choose native plants?
We have many gorgeous and easy-to-grow native plants here in Oregon! Many birds and insects specialize in eating certain foods. Humans cannot survive by eating grass, and many insects cannot survive on alien ornamental species (which have imported many serious pests) that have different chemistry, flower shape, etc. that insects may not even recognize as plants.
While honeybees are great for agriculture, there are hundreds of native bee species that are incredible pollinators and need native plants.
What does your landscape provide?
Habitat destruction is causing the 6th Great Extinction Event in the earth's history. We know that where our homes sit was once an undisturbed forest. So where did all the animals go when their homes are destroyed? There is nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. You can bring it back.
You may want many things out of your land. Beauty. Functionality. A place to relax. Shade. Curb appeal. Attract birds. Grow vegetables. Whatever your reason is - you needn't sacrifice the things you love about your landscape in order to help wildlife.
Celebrate bugs!
If you love birds, then one of the biggest ways you can help them is to provide them protein. Birdseed and suet are great for birds but the fact remains: birds need the protein that insects and arachnids provide. The beautiful butterflies and moths we love start as caterpillars. In fact, herbaceous insects provide the protein for 97% of birds.
This means when something is nibbling your plants it's providing food for an insect that may be a valuable part of the native food chain. In the forest leaves have holes in them, and strong healthy plants should not be seriously harmed. Even pests, if allowed to survive for a while, will attract predators once those predators realize there is an adequate food source available to them.
We have many gorgeous and easy-to-grow native plants here in Oregon! Many birds and insects specialize in eating certain foods. Humans cannot survive by eating grass, and many insects cannot survive on alien ornamental species (which have imported many serious pests) that have different chemistry, flower shape, etc. that insects may not even recognize as plants.
While honeybees are great for agriculture, there are hundreds of native bee species that are incredible pollinators and need native plants.
What does your landscape provide?
Habitat destruction is causing the 6th Great Extinction Event in the earth's history. We know that where our homes sit was once an undisturbed forest. So where did all the animals go when their homes are destroyed? There is nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. You can bring it back.
You may want many things out of your land. Beauty. Functionality. A place to relax. Shade. Curb appeal. Attract birds. Grow vegetables. Whatever your reason is - you needn't sacrifice the things you love about your landscape in order to help wildlife.
Celebrate bugs!
If you love birds, then one of the biggest ways you can help them is to provide them protein. Birdseed and suet are great for birds but the fact remains: birds need the protein that insects and arachnids provide. The beautiful butterflies and moths we love start as caterpillars. In fact, herbaceous insects provide the protein for 97% of birds.
This means when something is nibbling your plants it's providing food for an insect that may be a valuable part of the native food chain. In the forest leaves have holes in them, and strong healthy plants should not be seriously harmed. Even pests, if allowed to survive for a while, will attract predators once those predators realize there is an adequate food source available to them.
