Gardening with Native Plants

For years, Yvonne has been developing a sustainable homestead complete with chickens, food plants, on-site water, solar power, and more.

Planting a Beautiful, Low Maintenance Garden with Native Plants

Using native plants in the landscape and sustainable gardening are 2 hot topics, today. Gardening with Native Plants will provide you with lists of wildflowers and native plants as well as techniques and links to more information to get you started on the way to creating a beautiful and ecologically healthy garden.

Two of my favorite quotes are:

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." - Frank Lloyd Wright and "A weed is no more than a flower in disguise." - James Russell Lowell

Those two quotes sum up how I feel about gardening with native plants. Many years ago we recognized the numerous benefits of using beautiful native plants in landscaping. It's so easy to do. Just follow the six steps to a beautiful, low maintenance, low cost, ecologically healthy, sustainable garden. The native plants in this lens grow in the Southeastern United States, but many are also native to other parts of the country. A visit to your state's native plant society will get you the information that you will need to plan and plant your own sustainable garden using local native plants.

We hope you enjoy the page and that it helps you garden better by using native plants.

Skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) Photo by Y.L. Bordelon, All Rights Reserved

Why Garden with Natives?

Long-Tailed Skipper on Mistflower

• Native Plant Gardens are Low Maintenance
• Native plants evolved to grow in local conditions and to predictable sizes. They do not require watering (except when first transplanted), chemical pesticides or fertilizers, nor frequent cutting. They also do not require raking because leaves are a soil builder, weed suppressor and natural fertilizer.
• Using Native Plants Saves Money because naturescapes practically take care of themselves, so there are little or no maintenance costs.
• Replacing Lawns with Native Plants Conserves Water
• Did you know that at least 60% of water consumed on the West Coast, and 30% on the East Coast, goes to watering lawns? Also, U.S. News and World Report states that a 1000 sq. ft. lawn (for example, 20' x 50') requires 10,000 gallons of water per summer to maintain a "green" look.

Prothonotary in Sourwood

Naturescaping Helps Song Birds & Other Wildlife

Populations of all of our migratory song birds are declining at a rapid rate and there is no end in sight. Planting a naturescape and using native plants will help bring some populations back up by providing native habitat for food, nesting and shelter. So that our children and grandchildren will experience the beauty, sound, flight and enchantment of seeing birds, and the joy that comes from other creatures.

Hoover Fly on Salvia Coccinea

Bee on Sunflower

Monarda Fistulosa

Planting Natives in Suburban Yards Helps Farmers and Homeowners

At least 80% of the fruits and vegetables that we eat depend on pollination by bees, butterflies and other insects to produce. Some of these pollinators are in serious decline, due in part, to the fragmenting of native habitats by urban sprawl. But, landscaping with native plants can help replace some of the lost habitat so these necessary insects can make a come back. Landscaping with native plants will also aid pollination if they are planted near food crops by giving the insects sustenance that they do not receive when pollinating a mono-culture crop.

Reducing Lawn Size Helps Reduce Synthetic Chemicals in the Environment as well as Negative Health Impacts caused by Air & Noise Pollution

Naturescaping eliminates chemical run-off because chemical pesticides and fertilizers are not required. Yale University studies indicate that the average suburban lawn uses 10 times more chemical pesticide per acre than farmland. Each year, 67,000,000 pounds of synthetic pesticides are used on U.S. lawns. Every time it rains those chemicals run-off into our waterways and wind up in the drinking water or in fish or plants eaten by people (or otherwise negatively impacting environmental health in some other way). Fertilizer run off will foul water supplies, create algae blooms and kill fish, etc.

Naturescaping also reduces both air and noise pollution because once it is established there is virtually no mechanized maintenance. Did you know that Lawnmowers emit 10-12 times as much pollution as a typical auto; string trimmers 21 times and blowers 34 times?

Meadow Beauty

Landscaping with Native Plants Enhances Livability

An ecologically functional landscape offers so much more than a sterile, static monoculture landscape. It offers imagination and new experiences to our children, and beauty, color, sound and wonder to us all. It is cleaner, quieter and healthier, and may even increase property values.

Excellent Native Plant Books

These books are some of the best you can find about gardening with native plants. You won't go wrong with any of them.

Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing and Propagating

Arbor Day

Betty Foust Smith

"Tree Planting Day" they called it

In Nebraska long ago.

Now we call it Arbor Day, and

Oh, I love it so!

I love to plant a growing thing--

A tree, a shrub, a vine--

And know it will for years and years

Keep growing there, a sign

To children who come after me

That someone thought of them,

And left behind a living friend

More precious than a gem.

Growing and Propagating Showy Native Woody Plants

Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata)

Landscaping With Native Plants

• List the changes you'd like to make.
• Learn about plants that are native to your area.
• Sketch out a map showing the original plantings.
• Apply landscaping techniques to work up the plan.
• Choose the plants.

Step 1 - Change Your Paradigms Say No to Lawns

Labor intensive, manicured, exotic turf lawns became the rage during the late 1800's after Frank J. Scott's book, The Art of Beautifying Suburban Home Grounds became the bible for American homeowners. Today, food plants & native alternatives to exotic turf grass are replacing old-fashioned, large lawns.

Lawn Size can be Reduced in a number of ways. Our favorite way to chip away at our exotic turf lawn is by adding islands consisting of groups of flowering or fruiting native trees and shrubs.

White Bog Violet

Another way is by using native ground covers, ferns or mosses especially in shady areas where turf grass is hard to grow and cut. Planting wildflower meadow areas that only need to be cut once a year (in late winter) after they have set seed and the birds have finished with them is another alternative to a lawn. Replacing the traditional lawn in your backyard or side yard with a native bunch grass (such as poverty oat grass, Danthonia spicata or junegrass, Koeleria macrantha), low-growing, buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) or native flowering perennials is another low-maintenance way.

Monarch on Wild Aster

Pink Candyroot

Step 2 - List the Changes you'd like to make

Do you want to:

 ~ add beds for flowers, perennials, shrubs, etc.?

 ~ screen out noise or obscure a view?

 ~ grow vegetables, fruits & herbs?

 ~ attract butterflies, birds & wildlife?

 ~ include a water feature?

 ~ design a low-maintenance landscape, reduce lawn size and replace it with easy-care natives, groundcovers and mulches?

Butterfly Pea

Texas Star Hibiscus

Step 3 - Learn about plants that are native to your area

Contact or join local native plant societies & other organizations. Consult native plant books and guides. You can find a list of our favorites below. Visit native plant Internet sites. Some of our favorites are in the Plexo below. Feel free to add your own to the list. Visit Preserves, Arboretums, Wildlife Management Areas and other native habitats to see the plants in their natural surroundings and to get ideas about the plants that would be right for your property.

Step 4 - Sketch out a map showing the original plantings.

Map of Original Landscaping

Use tracing paper to experiment with changes you'd like to make. Be sure to start with a small project and work with one area at a time.

Obedient Plant

Step 5 - Apply Landscaping Techniques to work up a plan

Think about what kinds of activities your family likes to do and organize the yard according to how it will be used. Use nature as a guide & let animals work for you. Nature set up a wonderful cycle of producer, predator and prey. When we use pesticides and other chemicals we kill the good insects along with the bad and sometimes harm birds and other beneficial wildlife. Birds and animals can even help you till and fertilize the soil.

Take a look around your neighborhood for ideas on property that is similar to yours. By all means, make it Low Maintenance and be sure to incorporate drainage techniques that conserve rain / storm water on-site like ponds, rain gardens, barrels and or cisterns. Mosquito dunks are a great natural, organic mosquito killer. When dropped into standing water (100 gallons per dunk) will last for 30 days and are not harmful to pets, fish or wildlife.

Blazing Star, Liatris

Southern Magnolia Flower

Step 6 - Choose Plants

Native plants grown from local stock perform better in your yard. Our weather is hot and humid and native plants from the upper south usually melt away down here in South Louisiana. Notice what native plants grow in locations similar to yours and use them.

Choose plants that have colorful leaves, flowers, fruit or nuts during each season of the year. Also, be sure to get at least 3 of each of the smaller plants and plant in odd numbered groups. It looks better that way and if you are trying to attract birds or butterflies, they will be drawn to the larger mass of flowers or fruit. Choose plants that are multi-functional. Pick ones that have shade, food, soil enriching or wildlife attracting, or other properties.

Huckleberry, Wild Blueberry

Societies and Trees

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

Greek Proverb

Here in Louisiana, fall and winter are the perfect time to plant trees and shrubs. The weather is cool and there is usually plenty of moisture so the roots of the plants can develop while they are dormant. By spring the plant is established and ready to put out new leaves. But don't forget to water well during drought periods for the first year.

Most photos, stamps, postcards, posters and the items here are available at Naturally Native Creations

Native Plants List

There are thousands of beautiful, easy to grow, low maintenance native plants that can be grown in your garden. You'll find many of my favorites on this page. There is also a legend noting which plants attract butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators or song birds and which provide food for humans and animals.

Flame Azalea

Blue Violets

Some Favorite Easy to Grow Native Plants - Native Plants of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana

To see photographs of most of the following plants and to learn more about gardening and landscaping with native plants, visit the Folsom Native Plant Society Website, Seasonal Blooming Guideor use some of the links below to find out if any of these plants are native in your area.

Legend for Plants:

B = Butterfly nectar source

Bh = Butterfly Host (larval food)

H = Hummingbird nectar source

P = Pollinator (Bees, etc.)

SB = Song & other Bird Food Source

F = Food for Humans & Mammals

Red Buckeye

Yaupon Holly

Native Small Trees & Large Shrubs

Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis H

Yaupon Holly, Ilex vomitoria & other Hollies SB

Wax Myrtle, Myricacerifera morellancerifera SB

Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis B

Devil's Walking Stick, Aralia spinosa SB, P

Flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida SB

Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis P, SB, F

Fringetree, Grancy Graybeard Chioanthus virginicus P, SB

Mayhaw, Crataegus opaca Bh, P, SB, F

Parsley Hawthorn, Crataegus marshallii Bh, P, SB

Plum Family

  ~   Chickasaw Plum, Prunus angustifolia Bh, P, SB, F

  ~   Mexican Plum, Prunus Mexicana Bh, P, SB, F

Pawpaw Family

  ~   Pawpaw, Asimina triloba Bh, F

  ~   Dwarf Pawpaw, Asimina parviflora Bh, F

Red Buckeye, Aesculus pavia B, H

Sassafras albidum Bh, SB, F

Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea P, SB, F

Silver-bell, Halesia diptera H, SB

Snowbell, Styrax americanus P

Southern Crabapple, Malus angustifolia P, SB, F

Sumac, Rhus spp. SB

Tree Huckleberry, Vaccinium arboretum SB, Bh

Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana H, SB

Native Pink Azalea

Flame Azalea

Native Shrubs

Azaleas B, H, P

  ~   Honeysuckle - Rhododendron canescens

  ~   Florida - Rhododendron austrinum

  ~   Swamp or Summer Azalea -

R. viscosum, formerly R. serrulatum

Florida Anise / Star-bush, Illicium floridanum P

Groundsel Bush, Baccharis halimifolia P, SB

St. John's Wort, Hypericum Family P, B

  ~   St. John's Wort, H. sphaerocarpum

  ~   St. Andrew's Cross, H. hypericoides

Yucca spp. B, Bh, H, P, F

American Beautyberry, Callicarpa Americana P, SB

Wild Blueberry / Huckleberry Elliot's Blueberry Vaccinium elliottii Bh, H, SB, F

Coral Bean / Mamou, Erythrina herbacea B, H, SB

Oakleaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens B, P, SB

Roses B, P, SB, F

  ~   Carolina Rose, Rosa carolina

  ~   Swamp Rose, Rosa palustris

Silky Camellia, Stewartia malacodendron (rare) P

Strawberry Bush, Euonymous americanus SB

Sweet Shrub / Carolina Allspice Calycanthus floridus P, F

Turk's Cap / Sultan's Turban

Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii B, H, P, SB

Arrowwood Viburnum, Viburnum dentatum B, P, SB

Sweetspire, Itea virginica B, P, SB

Crossvine

Leather-Flower

Native Vines

Clematis P

  ~   Leather Flower, Clematis crispa

  ~   Virgin's Bower, Clematis virginiana

Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata H, P

Yellow Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens B, H, P

Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens B, H, SB

Morning Glory B, H

  ~   Cypress Vine, Ipomoea quamoclit

  ~   Red Morning Glory, Ipomoea coccinea, I. hederifolia

Passion Flower / Maypop, Passiflora incarnate B, Bh, P, F

Yellow Passion Vine, Passiflora lutea B, Bh, P

Trumpet Creeper, Campsis radicans H (Spreads rapidly)

Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia SB

Wild Grape / Muscadine, Vitis rotundifolia SB, F

Native Groundcovers

Lyre-leaf Sage, Salvia Lyrata B, H, P

Elephant Foot, Elephantopus tomentosus B, P

Self-Heal, Prunella vulgaris B, P

Little Brown Jugs, Hexastylis arifolia

Partridgeberry, Mitchella repens SB

Primrose-leaved Violet, Viola primulifolia B, Bh

Wild Blue Violets

Blue Violets

Native Wildflowers

Late Winter / Early Spring Blooms:

Butterweed, Senecio glabellus B, P

Daisy Fleabane, Erigeron philadelphicus B

Wild Violets, Viola langloisii B, Bh, P, F

Early Blue Violet, Viola palmata B, Bh, P

Birdsfoot Violet, Viola pedata B, Bh, P

Viola primulifolia B, Bh, P

Gardening with Native Plants of the South

Indian Pink

The Louisiana Iris

Spring & Early Summer Blooms

Sharp-sepal Beard-tongue, Penstemon tenuis B, H

Lemon Mint, Monarda citriodora B, H, F

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa B, H, F

Bluestar, Amsonia tabernaemontana

Longleaf Milkweed, Asclepias longifolia B, Bh, P

Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa B, Bh, P

Spider Milkweed, Asclepias viridis B, Bh, P

Candy Root, Polygala nana P

Drumhead Candyroot, Polygala cruciata P

Mouse-ear Coreopsis, Coreopsis auriculata B, P

Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata B, P

Garden Coreopsis, Coreopsis tinctoria B, P

Gaura / Beeblossom, Gaura lindheimeri B, P

Indian Pink, Spigelia marilandica B, H, P

Copper Iris / Red Iris, Iris fulva B, H, P

Giant Blue Iris, Iris giganticaerulea B, H, P

Southern Blue Flag, Iris virginiana B, H, P

Zig-zag-stemmed Iris, Iris brevicaulis B, H, P

Meadow Beauty, Rhexia alifanus P

Meadow Beauty, Rhexia mariana P

Meadow Beauty, Rhexia virginiana P

Ladies Tresses, Spiranthes spp. P

Obedient Plant, Physostegia virginiana B, H, P

Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata B, P

Downy Phlox, Phlox Pilosa B, P

Evening Primrose, Oenothera Biennis B, P

Mexican Primrose, Oenothera speciosa B, P

Prickly Pear Cactus, Opuntia humifusa B, P, F

Rough Skullcap, Scutellaria integrifolia B, H

Spiderwort, Tradescantia virginiana B, P

Stokes Aster, Stokesia laevis B, P

Wake Robin / Red Trillium, Trillium foetidissimum

White Indigo, Baptisia alba B, Bh, P, SB

Wild Petunia, Ruellia caroliniensis B, H, P

Violet Wild Petunia, Ruellia nudiflora B, H, P

Bumblebee on Liatris

Bumblebee on Baluina

Summer / Fall Blooms

Fall Aster, Aster ericoides

Purple Aster, Aster praealtus B, P

Boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum B, P

Joe Pye Weed, Eupatorium fistulosum B, P

Mist Flower, Eupatorium coelestinum B, P

Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum

Black-Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta B, Bh, P, SB

Orange Coneflower, R. fulgida B, P, SB

Giant Coneflower, R.maxima B, P, SB

False Foxglove, Agalinis fasciculate B, Bh, P

Goldenrod, Common, Solidago altissima B, P

Sweet Goldenrod, Solidago odora B, P

Elm-leaf Goldenrod, Solidago rugosa B, P

Pineland Hibiscus, Hibiscus aculeatus B, H, P

Poppy Mallow, Callirhoe papaver B, Bh, P

Texas Star Hibiscus, Hibiscus coccineus B, H, P

Crimson-eyed Rosemallow,Hibiscus moscheutos B, Bh, H, P

Spotted Horsemint, Monarda punctata B, P

Ironweed, Vernonia altissima B, Bh, P

Jewel Weed, Impatiens capensis B, H, P

Liatris - Gayfeather, Liatris spicata B, P

Blazing Star, Liatris pycnostachya B, P

Button Blazing Star, Liatris squarrosa B, P

Carolina Lily, Lilium michauxii

Southern Swamp Lily, Crinum americanum

Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis B, H, P

Great Blue Lobelia, Lobelia siphilitica B, H, P

Monkey Flower, Mimulus alatus, M. ringens B, Bh, P

Whiteleaf Mountainmint, Pycnanthemum albescens, B, P

Mountainmint, P. tenuifolium B P

Azure Blue Sage, Salvia azurea B, H, P

Scarlet Sage, Salvia coccinea B, H, P

Partridge Pea, Cassia fasciculate B, P, SB

Sneezeweed, Helenium autumnale B, P

Sunflowers - Ashy Sunflower, Helianthus mollis B, P

Narrow-leaved Sunflower, H. angustifolius B, P, SB

Jerusalem Artichoke, H. Tuberosus B, SB, F

Wild Blueberries

Famous Fruits Quote

Famous fruits imported from the East or South and sold in our markets ... do not concern me so much as many an unnoticed wild berry whose beauty annually lends a new charm to some wild walk or which I have found to be palatable to an outdoor taste. We cultivate imported shrubs in our front yards for the beauty of their berries, while at least equally beautiful berries grow unregarded by us in the surrounding fields.

Henry David Thoreau, Wild Fruits

More Information About Landscaping with Native Plants

There is a wealth of information available about using native plants in the landscape and sustainable gardening. Here are some of the best sources.

There are also green products which will aid in making your landscape more sustainable and healthy.

Sources of Native Plants

Nurseries and stores where native plants can be purchased. Always make sure that the plants are grown in the nursery, not collected in the wild.

• Mizell Farms of Folsom, LA
  Specializing in butterfly, hummingbird, and native plants
• Coyote Creek Herbs and Useful Natives
  St. Francisville, LA
• LSU Hilltop Arboretum — Louisiana State University
  Hilltop Arboretum of Baton Rouge, LA
• NPIN: Suppliers - Prairie Basse
  Bill Fontenot's Nursery of Carencro, LA from Native Plant Suppliers listing from LBJ Wildflower Center.
• Native Plant Sources by State
  NATIVE PLANT NURSERIES - Kentucky to Montana
• Native Ventures
  Allen Native Ventures - Nature Books, Tours, Seeds, Photos and more

Compost Pile Part I Video

Compost Pile Part 2 Video

Sustainable and Organic Gardening Products

Here are some more things that will help you garden with the balance of nature in mind. Soil polymers really help you conserve water, especially in flower pots and they keep your plants healthier, too.

Water Conservation

Native plants, mulching and rain gardens will help conserve water, but fruits and vegetables may need additional watering. Here are some products that will help conserve water.

Sustainable Gardening - Making a Rain Barrel Video

Controlling Slugs Organically Video

Native Plant and Wildflower Books and Gifts

These are some of our favorite books about gardening with native plants. We've also included some of our own Naturally Native creations, including jewelry, hats, shirts, cards, mugs and more, on Zazzle, CafePress and Etsy.

More Great Native Plant Gardening Books

Books to help you identify and use native plants.

How to Get Your Lawn Off Grass

Other Great Books for Native Plant Gardening in the South

Allen, Charles, Phd. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of Louisiana.

   Many other great books about Louisiana's native plants can be found at Allens Ventures.

Brown, Clare. Wildflowers of Louisiana and Adjoining States.

Fontenot, William R. Native Gardening in the South.

Miley, Betty. Geaux Native! In Your Louisiana Yard.

© 2008 Yvonne L B

Please feel free to post questions about native plants.

anonymous on April 12, 2013:

This lens is a beautiful experience. :)

ShedHead LM on October 16, 2012:

Good lens. I love anything to do with gardening and I actually loved reading the information on this lens. I have quite a few lenses on Gardening that other visitors possibly will enjoy too.

Renaissance Woman from Colorado on April 21, 2012:

Wonderful! I really became a strong proponent of native gardening while living in Texas. With water so scarce (South Texas), the only thing that made sense was xeriscaping. It's still true for me here in the high desert of Colorado. Everything on my property is native. It's what grows best and looks right. The animals appreciate having native habitat, too. We are all thriving as nature meant it to be. Thank you for encouraging all of us to live green.

SteveKaye on April 09, 2012:

Thank you for publishing this complete guide to native plant gardens. Replacing our lawn with native plants is on our list of things to do.

joannalynn lm on April 09, 2012:

We have a thriving honey bee colony that has persisted in one of our outbuildings for over 60 years. The building is in dire need of repair, but I am afraid to disturb the colony due to the rampant Apis mellifera colony collapse nationwide. The bees have moved into my greenhouse, which is adjacent to the building, but I can work along with them and they have no interest in me. I have only been stung once. When friends ask me why my native garden is so beautiful, I have no doubt it is due to the bees.

Georgene Moizuk Bramlage from southwestern Virginia on November 13, 2011:

What a beautiful, well-organized lens :+) It surely took a lot of hours to put together. Thanks for sharing!

JanieceTobey on November 06, 2011:

Blessed by a Squid Angel! This was a very informative page!

Southernemma on October 26, 2011:

Nice lens! Thanks for sharing!

anonymous on September 23, 2010:

Living in a dry climate I'm passionate about water conservation and using native plants to replace lawn. Lovely to see how native plants work in different climates.

Mary Beth Granger from O'Fallon, Missouri, USA on June 17, 2010:

Great lens. I love using native flowers in my garden. They are wonderful for attracting butterflies too!

Yvonne L B (author) from Covington, LA on April 16, 2010:

@Missmerfaery444: Thanks, I've always loved cottage gardens. Your plans sound great.

Missmerfaery444 on April 16, 2010:

Bravo! Terrific lens. I am passionate about planting native wildflowers, being in the UK I know a lot about British wildflowers so it was fascinating reading about your American ones. We moved into our house 2 years ago and it had a ton of lawn, am relishing gradually turning more of it over to cottage garden borders! Am planning to grow a small wildflower meadow also.

5 stars, favourited and joined your fan club. Adore your Zazzle designs too!

Sue Dixon from Grasmere, Cumbria, UK on March 06, 2010:

What a terrific lens- so sensible and informative but fun too!

Evelyn Saenz from Royalton on February 27, 2010:

What wonderful inspiration for the Springtime. I love watching the native wildflowers blossom in my garden.

Thank you for adding it to Here Comes Spring! Springtime Headquarters Group.

HorseAndPony LM on January 25, 2010:

We only use native plants and love our native natural gardens. Thanks for sharing all the great info. Your images are amazing.

ElizabethJeanAl on January 08, 2010:

I plant native trees and stick to flowers and vegetables that grow well in the south, but I haven't tried planting a native wildflower garden. It would be fun.

Thanks for sharing

Lizzy

taxblogprof on December 13, 2009:

Beautiful lens =) It's absolutely massive O.o I don't think I can compete with this. I am just a beginner gardener, and not too familiar with Squidoo...

Loving it =)

-Jonah

ss834 lm on May 31, 2009:

Hi there! Just stopping by to thank you for this fabulous lens! You've inspired me to create my own over at: https://hubpages.com/politics/theoldfarm

I found your lens through your connection with the folsomnps. I'm excited to look through some of your other lenses as well. Nice work!

anonymous on April 20, 2009:

Great love it, this is really a wonderful lens. You got me drawn in with the quote "A weed is no more than a flower in disguise." And the great thing is that this is not only true in gardening! Keep on going, I’ll keep on reading

Love it, and it must be contagious because I feel the need to start a page myself!

Hans

http://www.gardening-guides.com

religions7 on April 08, 2009:

Great lens - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :)

greenerme on February 12, 2009:

Beautiful lens! I need some plants in our garden, and maybe in some flower boxes this spring.

darlkay52 on February 07, 2009:

Great lens! I use a lot of Kansas natives in my flower gardens. They are adapted to surviving extreme weather and they really go crazy in a protected, watered garden! They naturally attract a lot of native birds, also. 5*'s

Stinky LM on January 30, 2009:

Thanks for all the good information. Five Stars!

I've featured your lens on my High Desert Gardening lens at:

http://www.squidoo.com/gardenlove

rio1 on January 23, 2009:

If everyone used native plants in their yards it would help the environment and the wild animals.

ctavias0ffering1 on January 11, 2009:

Excellent lens, it's possible to use native plants to create a spectacular garden no-matter where in the World you are ... well, apart from the polar regions, of course LOL Blessings on your lens

burntchestnut on December 27, 2008:

A well thought out lens with great information.

Snakesmum on November 08, 2008:

Great lens! I use a lot of Australian natives in my garden - it's got to be

more drought tolerant these days.

Jean

Nancy Tate Hellams from Pendleton, SC on November 04, 2008:

This is a beautiful lens. I loved all the stamps and accent colors. Also loved the Arbor Day Poem. Lots of great information and I will be referring back to this one. Thanks.

coopd on October 24, 2008:

Wonderful lens! Thank you for joining my Nature Lovers group :)

If you haven't already, check out my lens Diana's Photography (flowers and butterflies).

ElizabethJeanAl on October 24, 2008:

Welcome to the Totally Awesome Lenses Group.

Lizzy

Belindance on October 23, 2008:

This is a big movement in Nevada, and I wish it would catch on more in other arid areas. When you plant native plants they do better, and of course need less water.

anonymous on October 22, 2008:

I love native plants, they're just natural and less maintenance. 5 stars to you!

Evelyn Saenz from Royalton on October 13, 2008:

I love how easy it is to care for native plants and the butterflies and birds that come because of the abundance of flowers and seeds they produce.

Your lenses always bring a smile to my face. Thank you.

anonymous on October 07, 2008:

What a great lens. I bought my first obedient plants this year...we'll see how they fair next year. I love xeriscaping and am almost done. Just the backyard, which is motly deck, to go.

RaintreeAnnie from UK on October 02, 2008:

Fantastic lens! I love your photos and the spirit of this. I love gardening and when we moved here we took over a garden that had various chemicals used on it;we don't use any chemicals and we planted some plants specifically for the wildlife. It took a few years for nature to balance itself but now we have a range of wildlife. Our native hedgerow is teeming with life! Want to grow more veg this year but will also incorporate more native plants after reading this. Thankyou. Love the quote about the weeds and also the Greek proverb about the old men planting trees :) 5 stars and lensrolling

kerryg lm on October 02, 2008:

Wow, what a fantastic lens! Five stars for sure, and lensrolled to my prairie restoration lens.

KimGiancaterino on September 25, 2008:

Beautiful lens... Gardening is my favorite hobby, and I try to go with as many natives as possible to conserve water. I love your use of stamps as graphics. Squid Angel Blessed!

OldGrampa on September 19, 2008:

WOW! What an excellent lens! 10 stars if I could. I have always preferred native plants

SustainableSarah on September 13, 2008:

I'm so excited to see this lens! But you should definitely include the fact that non-native plants not only use more resources but that they often outcompete native plants, destroying natural habitat and at times even bringing in invasive species!! I'm also psyched to see that you included a rain cister- very nice. Please read Food not Lawns, I think you might just heart it and feel free to check out the lenses I am started to make on sustainable living. Thanks so much for sharing this!

beachbum_gabby on September 11, 2008:

what a nice lens, I love gardening together with my mom. faved by me!

AlisonMeacham on September 09, 2008:

An excellent lens. You certainly now your subject! It makes me so sad to see that there is so little regard to using native plants.

You have been Blessed by a Squid Angel

Cheryl Kohan from England on August 25, 2008:

This is a terrific resource and very well done. We live on a lake and have incorporated lakescaping into our landscaping. Each year we do a little more. It takes time but it's so worth it. Will be referring to this lens often.

roysumit on August 24, 2008:

Wonderful lens and great idea. If native plants are grown, the atmosphere and climate would suit them, thereby reducing the nurturing cost also. Five stars to you.

The Homeopath on July 24, 2008:

I couldn't have a garden at all if I didn't heavily rely on native plants. I live in a very arid climate and watering often is out of the question. I like the idea of rainbarrels, unfortunately, they are illegal in many, many areas where water rights are enforced. Beautiful job on this lens!

Spook LM on July 24, 2008:

Lovely lens and I have a sustainable garden, it's less work; unfortunately, lawns are my favourite and always have been. I think it's about getting the balance right.

SPF on July 17, 2008:

Another great lens!!

anonymous on July 13, 2008:

Help!! I am trying to find native plants for Tangipahoa parish. Can you help me?? Thanks, Diane

ElizabethJeanAl on June 12, 2008:

Nice lens! I love the stamps and the flowers.

5*

Lizzy