April showers bring May flowers! April also brings recognition of Ohio Native Plant Month. Governor DeWine signed the legislation on July 18, 2019, to increase public awareness of our state’s native plants and to highlight their important role in our environment.

Perhaps the greatest reason for planting natives is to benefit our ecosystem. “We have destroyed natural habitat in so many places that local extinction is rampant, and global extinction is accelerating. This is a growing problem for humanity because it is the plants and animals around us that produce the life support we all depend on,” writes Doug Tallamy, entomologist and author of the acclaimed Bringing Nature Home and his new book, Nature’s Best Hope. Seen here is a bumblebee on a hyssop flower.

While birds and insects pollinate plants, in turn, native plants provide food sources for birds, butterflies, bees, moths and bats. For example, Monarchs can only feed on native milkweed. There are many such examples in the insect world. Without these food sources, we would not have these insects. Without the insects, we would not have birds. Everything in the environment is interlinked. Aside from these important reasons to increase native plants in our landscapes, there are also practical benefits. They generally require lower maintenance and less water, and they aid in controlling erosion. Fertilization and pesticides are not necessary. Plus, native plants are beautiful.

The Northview Buckeye Garden Club has continued to partner with the Columbus Park of Roses Foundation since 1997, and in recent years, have focused on educating the public about Ohio native plants in both the Perennial Garden and in beds located just west of the shelterhouse (see related posting). Ohio has more than 1,800 native plants. The Ohio Division of Natural Resources and the Ohio Native Plant Month websites are excellent resources to learn more about our native plants. So this spring, think native!