Loving Native Plants
Water-wise, hearty, good looking… native plants are a philosophy as much as a category of plants. Many people start appreciating them as they are hoping to attract pollinators to their home gardens. Others want an easy, no-maintenance landscape. While sometimes controversial - one person’s idea of a “no-maintenance landscape” is another’s “weed patch”, there’s a lot to learn about these hard working, original plant citizens of the Chicago and midwest areas.
Here’s a list of resources from our collaborators, and others, that will help with your native plant discovery…
Native Plants Resource Roundup
- Bee Native! Flower Power - City Grange friend and collaborator Flora Caputo wrote our favorite book for beginners interested in learning about incorporating native plants in their home gardens.
- My Garden Path and Why I Love Natives - City Grange collaborator Julie Siegal shares how she came to love using native plants in her gardening
- What are Natives, Why Use More of Them & How to Start - City Grange Collaborator Julie Siegal describes what natives are and why they are beneficial
- How to Start and Continue Using Native Plants in Our Gardens - City Grange Collaborator Julie Siegal shares what you need to know as you start to use native plants in your gardening plans
- Landscaping With Native Plants - Learn more about native landscaping from the Chicago Botanic Garden
- Selecting Native Plants - Guidelines and resources from the University of Illinois Extension Office
- Insects & Pollinators - Several good resources from the Illinois branch of the USDA, which includes lists of high value pollinator plants for dry, moist, and wet sites.