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Native Plant Advocate

Native plant gardening for rewilding, protecting ecosystems, wildlife, pollinators

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mature eastern red columbine emerging in march

March Garden Roundup: Plant Emergence and Growth (And Evergreen Natives?)

Spring is an exciting time for any gardener, and as a native plant enthusiast I'm always quick to take a walk around my yard and check to see what's … [Read More...] about March Garden Roundup: Plant Emergence and Growth (And Evergreen Natives?)

purple coneflower stems seeds winter

Photographing the Native Garden in Winter: Alternative Concepts of “Beauty” and Ecosystem Benefits

I enjoy taking photos of my garden at all times of the year, but the winter is an especially interesting season. Conventional thinking is that this is … [Read More...] about Photographing the Native Garden in Winter: Alternative Concepts of “Beauty” and Ecosystem Benefits

Spring vs. Fall: When Is the Best Time to Plant Native Perennials?

So you've gotten inspired by all the benefits of planting native and have decided to give it a try. My initial advice is to consider not only the … [Read More...] about Spring vs. Fall: When Is the Best Time to Plant Native Perennials?

More Recent Articles

How Late Can I Plant or Transplant Native Plants in the Fall?

Spring may be the season most commonly associated with planting in our gardens. But with native plants especially, most experienced gardeners will tell you that fall is actually the better time. This is due to a variety of factors, such as reducing transplant shock due to the cooler temperatures and sunlight levels, and giving your […]

andropogon gerardii big bluestem

Why You Should Plant Native Grasses in Your Garden

With native plants, the most popular species tend to be showy wildflowers with colorful blooms. And among those of us passionate about conservation and rewilding, tree planting is typically the top activity. But there’s one aspect of native plants that can unite these goals and any other gardener concerned with ecosystem health: planting native grasses. […]

raising caterpillars in jar

Should You Raise Caterpillars Indoors? A Guide for Native Plant Enthusiasts

In our last article, we talked about enjoying one of the most important relationships you can find in your garden: that between native plants and caterpillars. It’s so vital because caterpillars require specific host plants to complete their life cycles, and they also serve as crucial cogs in the food chain. The last article was […]

Tips for Finding and Observing Caterpillars in your Garden

We’ve written about the importance of making sure to include host plants in your butterfly gardens, so you can support multiple generations of pollinators rather than just providing a food source for adults passing by. The result of this, of course, is that your goal is to support pollinator larvae, or caterpillars, in your garden. […]

sugar maple

Maple Trees (Red, Sugar, etc.) as a Host Plant for Caterpillars

If you’re told to picture a pollinator garden, you’ll probably imagine a sunny patch of wildflowers and not necessarily a single big tree. But although their flowers aren’t as showy as our native perennials, trees are hugely important host plants for a wide variety of butterflies and moths. Native trees typically host way more species […]

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About This Website

I'm Andrew, a home gardener who got fully obsessed with native plants during the pandemic and I'm now sharing my progress and what I've learned. My interests include utilizing natives in formal as well as naturalized settings, and using native trees and shrubs to support wildlife.

Recent Posts

  • March Garden Roundup: Plant Emergence and Growth (And Evergreen Natives?)
  • Photographing the Native Garden in Winter: Alternative Concepts of “Beauty” and Ecosystem Benefits
  • Spring vs. Fall: When Is the Best Time to Plant Native Perennials?
  • How Late Can I Plant or Transplant Native Plants in the Fall?
  • Why You Should Plant Native Grasses in Your Garden

Recent Comments

  • Neetsie on Best Pollinator-Friendly Native Plants for Shade Gardens
  • Neetsie on Best Pollinator-Friendly Native Plants for Shade Gardens
  • Beth Balentine on Will My Coneflower (Echinacea) Come Back if Eaten by Rabbits?
  • Andrew Walsh on Sedum Ternatum (Woodland Stonecrop), a Great Native, Evergreen Groundcover
  • Andrew Walsh on Aster Yellows in Native Plants: How to Diagnose and What to Do

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