Planting a native garden in my front yard has transformed my life as much as it has supported the native wildlife that rely on these plants. The nature of native gardening invites me to learn deeply about local flora, and, by extension, the fauna it attracts. It’s a space of biodiversity and resilience, attracting not just bees and butterflies but curious neighbors who stop by to ask questions. This garden has become a community builder and a place of spiritual connection, allowing me to practice a form of reciprocity with the Earth. I feel linked to generations before me, especially Indigenous traditions of tending the land to create a flourishing environment for all of us.

Planting natives in my yard was a stepping stone to a world I'd never really imagined. All of a sudden I wasn't just learning about native blue porterweed or how to divide muhly grass but about the native sweat bees, bumblebees, and butterflies that suddenly showed up, as well as their roles in supporting other creatures in the environment - other insects, birds, bats, and more. It also helped change how I saw myself and my efforts. It reinforced my responsibility as a caretaker and steward and instilled a sense of reciprocity.

I love planting Native plants because of all the birds, bugs (including butterflies) and bees that they attract. I have more birds in my backyard than I find at the state parks. I also use native plants in my rain garden and the yard looks beautiful. It's like a vacation sitting in my backyard and watching the birds and butterflies and bees. I also find that the native plants attract good bugs for my vegetable garden. It's so exciting to see so much diversity. Having plants in my backyard that are native also makes me feel like I am actually doing something for the environment that is in my control. I believe in the Native American motto that if you take care of the land, the land will take care of you.

I plant native to have an impact on the environment around me, in a world where everyone is stretched thin on issues they may not have the ability to solve. By planting native, I can have a direct impact and see immediate change while inspiring those around me. I believe that planting native is an amazing opportunity for all to enjoy the wonders around us while participating in a globally important movement. Being able to see all the types of wildlife around me has provided an experience that is wholly real and unmatched in a world that can be plagued with parody and bleakness. Becoming more in tune with what the environment has to offer me and what I can offer in return has made me appreciate the beauty of the natural world. All of this has been accomplished by simply planting native plants around my home. Truly a magnificent experience.

I'm a pastor whose love of native plants has spread to my congregation. In 2019 we planted 2 acres of prairie around our building known as "Faith Community Pathways" that has become a hub, not only for pollinators and other amazing insects, but for neighbors and community groups, including the neighborhood elementary school. I'm grateful to see how much the culture of a community can be transformed by collectively caring for land and ecosystems. The view from my office window includes not just the ever-changing landscape of plants and wildlife, but the many people who pass through and discover the wonder for themselves.

As I aged, I wanted to babysit plants less and admire them more. Adding native shrubs, trees, and perennials provided less maintenance, no diseases, and more insects and birds in the garden. The colors of native plants and their consistency, resilience, and beauty should be made known.

I began my native plant journey about five years ago when we moved into our current home. It was a pretty boring lawn and fence setup at the time. I started to add a bit of landscaping based on what I could find at the big box stores and most of the plants eventually failed. As I began to pay attention to gardens that were going well, I noticed they were full of native and well adapted plants. Now the majority of my garden is full of these and I can honestly say not only is it beautiful but it’s also resilient and more sustainable. The pollinators, birds, and reptiles that now come to visit the garden bring me as much joy as the garden itself! I just did a 1300 sq ft lawn reduction (on YouTube!) and replaced it with large beds of native and well adapted plants.

Many of us are anxious about the unprecedented environmental challenges facing our world. We are paralyzed with fear about what the next four years will mean for the environment and for society. Joining the Homegrown National Park initiative is a way of channeling our anxiety into productive action and hope for the future. By joining the movement, we are empowering ourselves to do something rather than to sit back and wait for the inevitable to happen. And as we create a network of restored green spaces with native plants, we also form a network of fellow citizens who are concerned about repairing our relationships with the natural world and with each other. We need to spread the word about the movement as if our lives depend on it—because they actually do!

Native plants not only provide essential resources for our native pollinators and other wildlife, but it has also provided me with a sense of connection to the land I live on. It also consumes less water resources on my property. I recommend others plant native, not just because of the water they’ll save, but because there is something intangible that one gains by understanding and connecting with their native landscape.

Incorporating native plants into the landscape brought my garden spaces to life. It all started with hosting swallowtail caterpillars and planting nectar sources for them and our local bees. I had no idea it would also attract beetles, wasps, frogs, spiders, turtles, lizards, and a variety of cool caterpillars and birds. This has helped keep the cricket, grasshopper, and other actual pest bug population down and brings entertainment for my cats and I as we watch the garden from the bedroom windows. Also, we are the only house that doesn't spray our lawn and I've noticed only our house gets gophers and moles, which is great because we have a lot of clay soil and need them to help with water drainage, and robins in late winter. I am now very passionate about supporting life with our native landscape. The rewards are SO worth it, I highly recommend!

Gardening with native plants opened my eyes to the endless connections and relationships within the natural world. Each discovery of the life we’re supporting, from finding caterpillars on host plants to watching birds forage for nesting materials, has renewed my sense of wonder and shown me that nothing in nature is wasted. It has also taught me about the importance of land stewardship and citizen science. No matter what background or experience we have, there is a place for all of us to learn together in this growing, important movement. Our gardens matter, our observations matter, and no action is too small to make a difference!