resources

native plant ID cards

Native plants (meaning plants that have evolved over time in our region) are critically important for the health of ecosystems—the complex web of life that includes insects, plants, wildlife, and humans, too.

Increasing the diversity and abundance of native plants can better support wildlife than a landscape with exotic plants. Additionally, native plants are adapted to our landscapes and ecosystems, meaning they are suitable for our environmental conditions, do not need fertilizers, and can live in balance with other native plants to create thriving, diverse environments.

These native plant ID cards offer recommendations for plants to use when restoring natural areas or landscaping around your home.

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invasive plant ID cards

Ever since people started to arrive in America, they’ve carried along trees, flowers, and vegetables from other places. Now there are so many of those plants, they are crowding out the native ones that were here from the start. Fewer of the right plants mean fewer insects, and fewer insects mean fewer birds and other animals—and has devastating ripple effects through the entire web of life on which we all depend.

These cards will help you identify common invasive plants in our region. The cards also contain potential look-alikes and recommended control methods.

Each card features photos and key identification features. For easy use, plants are organized by type of plant: tree, shrub, vine, and herbaceous.

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plight of the pollinators

Pollinators are essential to life as we know it. In fact, one of every three bites of food eaten worldwide depends on them, especially bees. Yet, in the last few decades, the number of native bumble bees in the U.S. has dropped by 96 percent and one species, Franklin’s bumble bee, is believed to be extinct.

North American Monarch butterfly populations have declined by 90 percent, prompting scientists to push for the butterflies to be classified as “threatened” under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

What can you do to help?

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bluebirds in your backyard

During the height of their population, bluebirds were as common as American Robins are today. But their numbers declined dramatically in the middle of the last century with the loss of open space due to development, changes in farming practices, and increased reliance on pesticides

Eastern Bluebird populations have rebounded in the last 30 years due in large part to awareness about their decline and efforts to support them. This guide offers tips for helping bluebirds in your community.

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invasive plant management

Invasive plants are not native to the environment but rather introduced. They seed prolifically, grow fast, spread rapidly and aggressively, and lack the diseases and predators that keep their populations in balance. As a result, these plants can out-compete native species and destroy diversity, causing a ripple effect throughout the ecosystem. In fact, invasive plants pose a threat to two-thirds of all endangered plant and animal species.

This guide offers tips for managing invasive plants.

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native alternatives to invasive plants

Many invasive plant species are still available for sale at nurseries, even though their damage to the environment is well known. By choosing native alternatives for your yard, garden, or community space, you’ll help reduce demand for these noxious invasives and help support your local ecosystem.

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a greener approach to lawns

Did you know that American homeowners apply 10 times more fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides to their grass than farmers apply to their crops? This results in chemically dependent lawns that negatively affect the health of people, pets, plants, and wildlife.

By adopting a common sense, environmentally savvy approach to caring for our backyards, it’s easy to create a beautiful lawn that’s healthier for everyone—and save money in the process.

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making meadows

What if you just let your grass grow? You’d save time, money, and fossil fuel. Add some native wildflowers to your burgeoning meadow and you’d create a thriving habitat for bees, butterflies, and songbirds.

Many animals and insects native to our region are completely dependent on meadow habitat and are losing ground to development. Even small backyard meadows can offer critical food and shelter for struggling species.

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