Christina Kobland’s property, Native Return, also the name of her native landscaping business
I am so pleased to have been added to the Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens Team. My world revolves around wildlife and their protection. Some of my fondest memories are, as a young girl, running through the meadows in search of butterflies and turning stream rocks hoping to find a crayfish.
In picking a college I searched for a school that had a ‘conservation’ major, but in those days the closest I could find was zoology (the study of animals), so that’s what I studied. I could never work for a zoo as my heart aches for caged animals. I love to see them wild and free!
I consider myself one of the lucky ones who works in a field she loves. I blog about protecting native wildlife and their habitat at east33.org. My business Native Return, LLC installs the beautiful wildlife gardens and food sources wildlife require — from smaller (acre-plus installations) to large industrial conversions, including wildlife corridors. Of course, Native Return uses native plants because there is nothing that benefits wildlife more than a restoration of natives.
I always explain it to the client as a matter of common sense. Animals evolved with plants they could eat, and we humans have consumed more than our fair share of the land they require, so our goal is to give back in every creative way we can find. As a result of the human over-population, we have placed our own species in peril because we cannot exist without the ecosystem services our native biodiversity provide.
So no Japanese Maple or Stewartia for this gal! They don’t fit, and I cringe when I see them in America, just like I would cringe seeing an American Elm in Japan. You will hear more from me on this often-times controversial topic.
Front walk leading to Christina Kobland’s Native Return
For now, I thought it made good sense to introduce myself by sharing an article about my own experiences. Please click on my blog link, which will direct you to a short article (NativeReturn: Teeming with Life) I wrote, as a Lafayette Hill, PA property owner desiring a beautiful wildlife garden.
It was published in the Winter, 2011 edition of the North American Native Plant Society’s Blazing Star newsletter. The organization, based in Ontario, Canada, is dedicated to the study, conservation, cultivation and restoration of North America’s native flora.
Native Return before native landscaping
I look forward to sharing more experiences with you here each month about beautiful wildlife gardens.
Look for my posts, and remember to sign up for east33.org’s elist, and to follow Native Return, LLC on Facebook and Twitter. The links are all on the Native Return home page.
© 2012, Christina Kobland. 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 Christina Kobland
Wonderful to see you here Christina…what a perfect fit. I look forward to reading your posts and following your blog…
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Gardens Eye Verse-January
Thank you, Donna…I look forward to getting to know you too!
Christina
What a wonderful inspiration you are for the new year.
What a sweet comment, Carole! You inspire me with that one…
Christina
Welcome to the team, Christina! I’m so excited to have you here and am looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Top 10 Tips for Your Winter Wildlife Garden
The pleasure is all mine, Carole! I’m on a team of kindred spirits, and I look forward to all my new friendships. Thank you for all your efforts in promoting this site…
Christina
Welcome, Christina. The photos of your home/work place are tantalizing – I look forward to more.
Thank you, Ruth. Here’s a link, with many photos and video, to a PECO/Exelon project I have been involved in that just received Wildlife at Work Certification from the Wildlife Habitat Council: http://east33.org/?p=2736
I hope you enjoy!
Christina – So glad to have you here. Your article is terrific. I love your passion and ability to explain the issues in such easily understood terms. You are definitely making a difference. Can’t wait to read and see more. Cheers,
Hal
Hal Mann recently posted..Reflections and Anticipation
Hal,
I loved reading your article — Reflections and Anticipation . I was in your situation, not too many years ago, in my own woodland, yanking out vining honeysuckle and garlic mustard.
What really disturbs me is hearing the emerald ash borer has already gotten you ash. I was told by a PA forester that they will go extinct soon. They are prevalent throughout my 4 acres, and it really makes my heart ache.
Stay in touch!
Christina
I don’t know how I missed this before. You have a great garden and attitude. I watched your videos at you tube. Hope you don’t mind being googled…lol.
Gloria recently posted..Save Starved Rock
Oh, I’m happy to hear you checked me out. It is good to know someone is reading, or listening to, my stuff…Ha!
Welcome aboard, Christina! Love your garden and your commitment to native plant gardening & restoration. Keep up the good work. We’ll have everyone Tallamize their gardens in no time! Cheers!
Kudos (and not Kudzu) to NPWG for the scoop!
Let’s hope the trend gains momentum! The critters are counting on us…
Christina
I stumbled upon your site tonight, purely accidentally. I read “A Pair Of New Eyes.”…My soul glowed both inside and out. Twinkle in my eyes. I had just read a beautiful piece of writing. A beautiful combination of words describing life, feelings and how so fitting they can mesh together.
I then, continued to browse from here to there and back again…
Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart that I have stumbled upon someone and something I relate with…
Something that I get.
yours truly contented,
Sarah Fitzgerald
Nice to meet you, Sarah! I suppose we are kindred spirits:)
Christina Kobland recently posted..A Message From Wildlife To Humans: Our Recommended ‘Do Not Do’ List for 2013