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The inspiration for this post about looking back and giving advice to my beginning native plant and wildlife gardener self comes from an article entitled ‘To my 15-year-old self’: Things I Wish I’d Known, written in recognition of the International Day of the Girl.
In the article, well-known women look back and give advice to their 15-year-old selves. An intriguing concept that yields interesting insights into each woman’s personal journey but that also have much broader appeal.
I started thinking about all the various paths I’ve traveled myself – daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother and gardener. So I thought I’d take this opportunity to look back and give my beginning native plant and wildlife gardener self some advice I wish I’d known then. You know what they say, hindsight is 20/20.
You Don’t Need to Know EVERYTHING
When I first began to understand the vital role native plants play in our gardens, I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed. I’d just read Bringing Nature Home by Douglas Tallamy for the first time. No longer was my garden simply a collection of beautiful plants. Suddenly, I understood the choices I made in my garden could allow it to support an array of local wildlife.
Excited to select new plants for my garden, I researched and researched and researched which native plants where right for my garden. But I didn’t buy anything. It was a classic case of paralysis by analysis. I needed to give myself permission to just start this journey, even if I found out later I could have made a better choice.
You’re Going To Make Mistakes
Joe-Pye weed is one of the native plant success stories in my garden. The flowers are always full of butterflies and bees.
Like some new native plant enthusiasts, I thought just because a plant is native to my region, it would survive anywhere in my garden. I learned the hard way that simply isn’t true. I’ve planted, transplanted, nursed back to health and even killed some native plants. And that’s OK, I learned a lot along the way.
Native plants are still plants, and right plant right place still applies. There are native plants that are naturally adapted for every site condition in your garden but you still have to plant them in the right spot.
It Doesn’t Have To Be All Or Nothing
Native Hydrangea arborescens and non-native Hydrangea macrophylla grow together in my wildlife garden.
When I first started gardening with native plants, I thought that to ‘do it right’, I’d need to get rid of all the non-natives in my garden.
But now I view native plant enthusiasts on a continuum and realize there are lots of different kinds of native plant gardeners. Some only garden with plants indigenous to a very specific eco-region. Others, like me, have a broader definition of what a native plant is.
Both approaches are valid and have a place at the native plant table. You need to find the balance of native and non-native plants that works for you and your garden and then start gardening for wildlife.
Be Persistent…If You Plant It, They Will Come
Remember when I said I think it’s acceptable to kill few plants here and there, well, that sentiment comes from my experiences with butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). For years, butterfly weed was like an annual in my garden.
Yes, it’s hardy to my region, yes, I’d buy plants from reputable local garden centers and yes, I’d site them properly. But no, they did not survive the winter.
I was determined to have a patch of butterfly weed in my garden so I just kept trying. This spring, one of the plants finally survived the winter. And I was rewarded with monarch butterfly caterpillars crawling all over my milkweed and then lots of monarch butterflies in my garden.
Persistence, along with optimism, a sense of humor and a healthy dash of humility, are vitally important for every gardener.
Just Start!
It really is cliché but every journey begins with one step. Commit to doing one thing right now that will make your garden more wildlife-friendly.
Plant a shrub or tree with berries for the birds, or a native evergreen for winter cover.
Embrace the bugs in your garden, stop using chemicals and instead practice IPM, start a compost pile, plant a larval host plant for butterflies in your region, or simply be more thoughtful about your fall garden clean up routines.
There are so many simple steps you can take to begin the journey so just start.
What advice would you give to your beginning-native -plant-wildlife-gardener self?
© 2012, Debbie Roberts. All rights reserved. This article is the property of Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Debbie Roberts
These are great tips, Debbie! I always tell my audience when I’m speaking to do just one thing to help wildlife in their gardens. To start, plant just one native plant. As soon as someone sees the butterflies that will come to that one plant, they are usually eager to add more. But starting simply is the key. Take just one step at a time.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Ecosystem Gardening Essentials
Carole, One step at a time is really the best advice for anyone just starting to create a wildlife garden. And planting for butterflies certainly has an immediate and very visible impact. And, as you said, that’s usually all it takes to get hooked.
Debbie Roberts recently posted..Wordless Wednesday ~ Feathery
I am working my way thru a second round of Dozen for Diana, choosing a plant each month. The first time I was unthinkingly choosing plants I had brought with me from the last garden, near the sea and not so hot in summer. This time I am deliberately choosing happy survivors flourishing in THIS garden, and all indigenous to South Africa.
Diana of Elephant’s Eye recently posted..October’s choice in Dozen for Diana
Diana, I’ve always gardened in the same spot but I can imagine it’s hard to switch gears and suddenly start picking plants for a different set of site conditions. How lucky you are to have a new native plant palette to play with!
Debbie Roberts recently posted..Wordless Wednesday ~ Feathery
Heh heh heh. I SO hear you on the butterfly weed. That stuff hates me.
(If you get a chance, whorled milkweed is much hardier, but harder to find.)
UrsulaV recently posted..Bloody Great Asters
Ursula, You’re the 2nd person who’s mentioned that to me in the last few weeks. I thought whorled milkweed needed moist soil (mine is fairly dry) but apparently it will thrive in regular soil,too. It’s definitely on my list of perennials to look for in the spring. Thanks.
Debbie Roberts recently posted..Wordless Wednesday ~ Feathery
Debbie, SUPER advice! You nailed it. For so many people one of the biggest hurdles is to just start. Afraid to, feeling they don’t yet know enough. You are so right that we learn from mistakes.
Pat Sutton recently posted..Hibernaculum: Winter Home to Red-spotted Purple
Pat, I’ve always thought we learn more from mistakes than successes, because let’s face it – the successes often don’t have a lot to do with us anyway but the failures usually do.
Debbie Roberts recently posted..Wordless Wednesday ~ Feathery
I thought it was just me with the butterfly weed! I kept planting it too and now, finally it has just given in and decided it is happy in my yard and now has finally had babies! I put little rocks near the babies this fall so next spring when I clean up I leave that area undisturbed.
I have to disagree with IPM–I have found that once I gave up the chemicals, then gave up the “organic” sprays too, my garden has found an amazing balance on its own. (I did use copper on my tomatoes–) but no sprays for insects or grubs or anything for several years now. I am hoping my yard is a haven for the good bugs to keep the bad guys in check. I would tell my beginning self to simply watch nature more and discover what was happening naturally and try to mimic that, not what is shown in the garden magazines.
Diane St John recently posted..Our Growing Backyard Nature Habitat
Diane, I agree that many gardening magazines show us very difficult to replicate vignettes. Perhaps if I had a team of gardeners and an seemingly unlimited budget my garden might be magazine-worthy. I am encouraged to see more ‘real’ gardens showcased in the magazines which should help make all gardeners, regardless of their experience level, more confident.
Debbie Roberts recently posted..Wordless Wednesday ~ Feathery
Great advice. I agree–Just Do It? Start small. See what happens and go from there. To see a monarch caterpillar on a milkweed go me hooked.
Mary Pellerito recently posted..North Woods Vacation
Mary, You’re so right – starting small is usually the key. Small successes really do lead to a planting more native plants which usually leads to planting even more…
Debbie Roberts recently posted..Wordless Wednesday ~ Feathery
Wonderful advice Debbie and I love the concept of talking with your 15 yr old self.
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..As The Blooms Fade
Donna, It is an interesting concept, isn’t it? The problem is my 15-year-old self probably wouldn’t have listened to such an ‘old’ woman!
Debbie Roberts recently posted..Wordless Wednesday ~ Feathery
Best approach I’ve seen so far. Like the ‘just do it’!
Thanks, Mary.
Debbie Roberts recently posted..Wordless Wednesday ~ %@*#ing Squirrel
I am so early in the process that I can still talk to myself..but I did find myself afraid to do anything until I had ALL the information and I just had to realize that I would make mistakes. I am trying to plant native and remove non-native. I live in western NY and do have about 8 butterfly weed plants that are coming back for the past 2 years, but I did lose some. This is a great post…Michelle
Rambling Woods recently posted..The New Normal….