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Birds, Bees, & Butterflies
Issue:
Many of us wonder what we can do to help reverse the alarming declines in many bird, butterfly, and bee populations.
One way we can make a real difference is by using native plants in our home landscapes, because they are by far more nutritional than exotics for native insects needed for pollination and as food for nestling birds.
This summer, the Highlands Biological Station installed a new homeowner demonstration garden at the recently renovated Cottage Dorms as a model and teaching tool to inspire visitors to explore native species that support their local wildlife.
This garden ecosystem includes 64 species of native plants with four-season interest and wildlife value.
They include flowering plants for pollinators and birds such as Eastern Phlox (Phlox divaricata), Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata), Indian-Pink (Spigelia marilandica), Blazing Star (Liatris spicata), Beebalm (Monardo didyma), and Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).
A central feature is a Rain Garden, a shallow depression lined with gravel and sand that allows rainwater to soak into the ground. It has the dual function of minimizing runoff and erosion that would be detrimental to nearby waterways.
“This lovely addition to the ‘garden of gardens’ gracing the HBS campus is sure to delight our human visitors as much as our fine feathered and six-legged friends,” said Jim Costa, HBS Executive Director.
Adding more native plants to your garden will help our wildlife, benefit the environment, and enrich your life.
*Support for the Highlands Botanical Garden comes from local granting organizations including Mountain Findings and the Laurel Garden Club, individual contributions to the Highlands Biological Foundation, and through the work of Station staff and garden volunteers.
by Ken Conover and Lynda Anderson
Friends of the Highlands Botanical Garden
