Explore the Biodiversity Map
Native asters give you the same color, minus the yearly repurchase and plus the wildlife. Every fall, millions of mums show up on porches across the country. They’re beautiful, but for most of us, they’re also temporary decoration, plants bred for color, not for the insects and birds that share our yards. We buy them,
Break Up With Fall Mums Read More »
Caterpillars Aren’t Just for the Birds: A Live Panel on The Extraordinary Caterpillar Film October 14 · 12:00–1:30 PM ET This spring, we hosted The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a 60-minute documentary about the hidden world of caterpillars, and the response has been incredible. People around the country have hosted and scheduled over 400 local screenings, reaching
Upcoming Webinar: Live with the Caterpillar Experts Read More »
By Craig Booth Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes Why we’re sharing this: Science shouldn’t stay locked in journals. From time to time, we highlight one interesting research paper and bring it directly to you: clear, relevant, and ready to spark ideas for your own backyard and community projects. (Based on Lin et al., Journal of
Who Thrives When Water Dries? Read More »
By Richard Bennett, HNP Director of Technology Est Read Time: 5 min All photos from Richard Bennett | Speedway, IN Cover photo includes Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), Heart-Leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium), Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) For years, every fall I broke out the rake and leaf blower to take care of leaf “litter.” I wasn’t
I Planted a Soft Landing…Now I Have Eight of Them Read More »
A new feature on the native plant movement, and the restoration that gave Homegrown National Park its name. Cover photo by Doug Tallamy | Pennsylvania Est Read Time: 5 min If you’ve ever wondered what “planting native” actually adds up to, this is worth your time. Read the full New York Times feature here. Journalist
What The New York Times Found in Doug Tallamy’s Yard Read More »
By Dee Salomon, Board President, Homegrown National Park Original, full article published in The Ungardener Some plants do more than look beautiful. They hold ecosystems together. These are keystone plants — the species that wildlife depends on most. Not just for pollen or nuts, but for something more fundamental: their leaves. Butterfly and moth caterpillars,
Keystone Plants: more than a pretty face Read More »
By Tim Snyder, Executive Director Est Read Time: 5 min Can you spot these Hoboken, NJ keystones in the cover image? Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata), White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Calico aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum), Scarlet Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) My son Tenzin gave a TED-Ed talk at his school not long ago. He is
What Runs the World? Read More »
This post is adapted from an original article by Krista De Cooke, Director of Partnerships & Strategy at Homegrown National Park. View the full post here. All photos by Krista De Cooke in East Tennessee. Est. Read Time: 5 minutes One of the things we hear often at Homegrown National Park is “I don’t have
Native Plants in Containers: Tiny Ecosystems on My Front Porch Read More »
This spring, we’re joining the Less Lawn More Life Challenge, and we want you with us! It’s a free 12-week program that guides you through turning your outdoor space into a thriving habitat, one small action at a time. On May 7th at 7pm ET, Robin Wall Kimmerer — botanist, author of Braiding Sweetgrass, and
Less Lawn More Life Challenge Read More »
By Sarah Sorci Est. Read Time: 7 minutes Cover photo: Pepperweed leaves top egg salad and toast. I often sense an air of martyrdom around planting native species. We selflessly devote a portion of our gardens to supporting wildlife–space that could have grown tasty veggies or eye-catching ornamentals. As we get to know native plants,
Native Culinary Herbs: Nourishing People and Wildlife Read More »