With insect populations plummeting and bird numbers declining, our current landscaping choices are failing biodiversity. We can reverse these trends by planting the right species and fostering a more collaborative relationship with nature, as Tallamy shares simple yet powerful steps to restore ecosystems and combat climate change.

Oaks are ecological powerhouses, sustaining diverse wildlife throughout the year. Tallamy explores their fascinating seasonal cycles, from woodpeckers storing acorns to jewel caterpillars thriving in their branches, offering practical tips on planting and care to inspire us to appreciate and protect these essential trees.

Doug Tallamy - Homegrown National Park

Q: Homegrown National Park

Our parks and wildlands are too small and fragmented to support vital native species, putting ecosystems at risk. Homegrown National Park encourages individuals to restore biodiversity by reducing lawns, planting native species, and removing invasives to rebuild ecological networks and protect our planet’s future.

Q: Next Steps for Nature: 500 Questions (and Answers) for How to Save Nature in Our Yards

Even after reading books and attending talks, many still have pressing questions about ecological landscaping. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces.

Q: A Guide to Restoring the Little Things That Run the World

Insects, essential to ecosystems, are vanishing at alarming rates, yet we rarely acknowledge the crisis. Tallamy highlights the crucial roles insects play and outlines simple changes we must make in our landscapes to preserve pollinators and other keystone species.

Q: A Chickadee’s Guide to Gardening

Traditional landscaping prioritizes aesthetics over ecological function, leaving little room for wildlife. Tallamy explains how native plants, which evolved alongside local species, better support birds, insects, and other animals, demonstrating how “living landscapes” can be both beautiful and vital for biodiversity.

Q: Are “Alien” Plants “Bad”?

Some argue that non-native plants benefiting certain pollinators or birds should be embraced, but what is the full ecological cost? Tallamy presents research comparing the impact of introduced species versus native ones, showing that the latter support far richer and more stable food webs, making a compelling case for prioritizing native plants.

Doug Tallamy’s Hub

The scientist who changed how we think about our own yards.

White moth with black zebra-like lines on wings.

Dr. Doug Tallamy is an entomologist, conservationist, and professor at the University of Delaware, whose work has transformed our understanding of the relationship between native plants and wildlife.

His research and books, including Bringing Nature Home and Nature's Best Hope, have inspired millions to see their own yards as part of the solution to the biodiversity crisis. Driven by the belief that everyone can play a role (indeed, has a responsibility to play a role), Doug co-founded Homegrown National Park to encourage people to plant natives in the spaces they care for.

His vision is simple: when we all take part, we create the connected habitats that life depends on.

A different kind of conservation

What makes Doug's work distinct is where it points. Most conservation efforts focus on protecting what remains. Doug's research asks something larger: what do we lose when native habitats disappear, and can we restore what's been lost?

His answer is grounded in decades of data. Native plant communities provide the ecosystem services that no human infrastructure can replicate — clean water, flood control, pollination, natural pest regulation, climate stability, and more.

Strip them out and replace them with turf and ornamentals, and the system quietly fails. Restore them, and it quietly recovers.