Loudoun County Master Gardeners
|
|
Loudoun County Master Gardeners |
|
|
Go Native! |
Go
Native! With
the growing focus on sustainability and slowing the loss of habitat,
native plants are moving into the gardening spotlight.
Using native plants in our gardens is one of the most significant
things we can do to promote a healthy environment. Go
Native! is the Loudoun County Master Gardener’s theme for
2008. What
are native plants? Native plants are species that occur in the region in
which they evolved. Plants
evolve in response to processes characteristic of the region - the climate, soils, timing of rainfall, drought, and
frost -
and interactions with the other species inhabiting the local community.
Thus native plants possess certain traits that make them uniquely Why
grow native plants? Because
native plants are uniquely adapted to thrive under the conditions of the
region, they require little or no fertilizer, watering or pesticides.
Thus, they require less of your labor, fewer resources -
water - and fewer if any potentially harmful chemicals. Native
plants play a critical role in the ecology of an area.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, native plants may
support 10 to 50 times as many species of wildlife as non-native plants.
Vegetation is the single most important factor in attracting birds -
the greater the presence of native vegetation, the larger the population
of native birds. In fact, the greater the variety of native species
included in a landscape, the more likely uncommon or rare species will be
attracted to an area. Native plants provide familiar sources of food
and shelter for wildlife. As natural habitats are replaced by urban and
suburban development, the use of native plants in landscaping can provide
essential food and shelter for displaced wildlife.
Once native plants are brought back to a site, native birds,
animals and insects follow. Specific
bird species eat certain insects and those insects feed on specific
plants. So whether or not a specific native plant grows in an area can
affect the whole food chain. Consider
the monarch butterfly whose survival depends on their being unpalatable to
birds because of the toxins they ingest from certain milkweeds.
As these particular milkweeds disappear the monarch becomes more
vulnerable to predators. Finally,
native plants can match the finest cultivated plants in beauty and
interest. There are native
plants for every landscaping need. The native flora of Virginia offers a
surprising variety of color, form, and texture. In
fact, many familiar and popular landscaping plants such as black-eyed
Susan, cone flower, columbine, and bee balm are native to Virginia.
Equally beautiful are the less known black snakeroot, turtlehead,
liatrus and mountain mint. Designing
with natives allows you to create distinctive natural landscapes with
unique regional character and a critical role in preserving diversity.
This section is under development. Visit frequently and watch it grow!
|
adapted
to local conditions and often surpass non-natives in ruggedness
and
resistance to drought, insects and disease.