How is it already the end of #NationalNativePlantMonth?
This channel isn't specific to native plants, but I think it covers the overarching big-picture message of why we do what we do. Our reasons may differ, but love of land and the one planet we have that cannot be replaced is what drives us all
#NationalNativePlantMonth Resource of the day:
NANPS, aka North American Native Plant Society, has put out a number of videos I've referenced in the past. They are primarily based out of Canada, but native plants don't care about political borders. That being said, there will be some differences
#NationalNativePlantMonth Resource of the day:
Since the type of gardening I do is more of a blend of woodland stewardship and restoration (not a blank slate clear-cut developed and graded property), this channel has been extremely helpful in learning to manage a more wild, natural space.
#NationalNativePlantMonth Resource of the day:
I'd say the biggest influence on my getting into native gardening and eventually opening a native plant nursery has been Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't. Wasn't Tallamy, or any of the other popular "gateway" gardening sources... It was Joey.
#NationalNativePlantMonth Resource of the day:
Native Plant Society of NJ channel
I live in the southeastern part of PA, which has far more in common with the flora of NJ (thanks to a shared ecoregion) than other parts of PA. It makes more sense to follow this than something covering all of PA
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens youtube channel
There are 30+ formal gardens in the Philadelphia area, but of those, not many are dedicated to promoting the use of native plants in the garden. Jenkins, where I interned last year, is one that does.
#NationalNativePlantMonth Resource of the day: Learn Your Land
I've been following Adam's channel for many years. I started learning about #NativePlants in the wild. The best way to rewild your yard and intuitively know what would work is by seeing them in the wild.
Nature is the best teacher.
#NationalNativePlantMonth #NativePlants #Pennsylvania
In two weeks PA is hosting their "Invasive Replace-ive" event. Pre-register and provide evidence of invasive tree/shrub removal (photos from 2020+) and you get up to FIVE FREE NATIVE TREES
More information here: www.pa.gov/agencies/pda...
#NationalNativePlantMonth Resource of the day:
For the last week of April, I'll share some of my favorite youtube channels and videos. Today, it's Roy Diblik's channel, the man who taught me to appreciate sedges. I really love this garden tour he shared, and come back to it for inspiration
#NationalNativePlantMonth #EarthDay resource of the day:
Today I'm sharing an essay written by Aldo Leopold published in his 1949 book "A Sand County Almanac"
"I now suspect that just as a deer herd lives in mortal fear of its wolves, so does a mountain live in mortal fear of its deer."
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
For the species your region shares with Missouri, this is another amazing visual key to figure out what plants you have. This is what I need all plant resource images to look like. A photo to ID asters is useless without the involucres.
#NationalNativePlantMonth Resource of the day:
This post about native thistles. I still need to sow mine, and I'm trying to get through my mental reservations even though I know I want to grow them.
Note: if you manage this site or know who does, please update @madelinebright.bsky.social 's info
#NationalNativePlantMonth Resource of the day:
The Woody Plant Seed Manual
As a nursery, a lot of the resources I have collected involve propagation protocols. This is a massive, freely accessible book on propagating shrubs and trees from seed. Not everything is in here, but most species are.
#NationalNativePlantMonth Resource of the day:
Not specific to #NativePlants, but how do you do a site analysis? If you ask for suggestions on what to plant, you get hit with questions like - how much sun? What kind of soil? How wet is it?
Here's a very basic site analysis worksheet you can follow.
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
What #NativePlants were present in the Philadelphia area in the early 1800's? Seth Budick took William C. Barton's work and converted it to a searchable spreadsheet. Even though they likely missed some things, the ones listed here WERE here.
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve created this quick reference document of some of the more common #NativePlants with suggestions on needs/placement in the garden. It's useful if you aren't familiar with a plant you got at a sale, not comprehensive.
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day: Ontario Rock Garden germination guide.
Everything listed on here isn't native, however these are tried and tested germination protocols for many plants, many of which are native. Some #NativePlants do not need to be conditioned, so you can still sow!
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
We're all busy growing food and plant starts for our veggie gardens, especially with the uncertainty regarding food availability in stores. There are free resources on native food agriculture here, and they sell PROPER #NativePlants seed mixes.
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
GrowIt BuildIt is such an amazing native gardening and gardening in general resource, especially with the very detailed posts about specific species or genera. I've referenced this site many times, both for native gardening and veggie gardening.
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
Illinois is west of PA (and better suited for western than eastern PA) but we do share many flora and fauna between us. I reference this site often. I may be a horticulturalist, but how plants grow in the wild informs my design choices.
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
North Carolina Extension Toolbox. I also have the Flora app on my phone that I think they partnered to create. Everything on here isn't native, but you can select for native and site conditions to find many plants that are also native in PA/NJ
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
With the unpredictable... everything, but even just for fun, take your veggie garden to the next level by growing #NativePlants. It's easier to forage when you grow them yourself. Then it's just #gardening. Many of the plants mentioned here are native.
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
My #1 motivating factor for becoming passionate about native plants, growing and promoting them, is 12+ years of fighting invasive species. PA has a great resource, PISC, showing all of the ones being tracked and watched. I know of ones not listed yet.
April is #NationalNativePlantMonth!
A landscape full of native plants means:
✔️ More pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds
✔️ Stronger, more resilient ecosystems
✔️ Cleaner air, water, and healthier soil
Learn more at nationalnativeplantmonth.org
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource of the day:
AwesomeNativePlants!
This is one of many sites I reference to learn about #NativePlants with information that you're unlikely to find anywhere else. Since they're based out of NJ, their flora is closer to mine than western PA awesomenativeplants.info
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource today is on sedges!
This is the best write-up and adapted PDF chart I've ever seen to some of the most common sedges that you may find in the nursery trade or to purchase seed. Sedges ARE the north American hosta as far as utility www.izelplants.com/blog/about-s...
#NationalNativePlantMonth resource post of the day:
Botanically Inclined. This shop is based out of Canada, so you cannot order plants/seeds from it (I tried). However, lots of amazing info with seed ID photos and germination info. If you want to try some more challenging species, save this link.
For today's #NationalNativePlantMonth resource post, here's an amazing homegrown website that's got everything I love: charts with photos for specific groups of genera, photos of seeds, plants by color... it's amazing. Please check them out and donate if possible, because we need this resource!
Continuing with #NationalNativePlantMonth for April 2025, another one of my favorite sites is the old US Army Corps of Engineers site. If you've seen wetland codes (FAC, FACU, FACW, OBL) they're the ones who determine that, and it's all on here. Really hard to navigate to it, so save the link.
It's #NationalNativePlantMonth and I'm here with another free resource, as promised. This time it's the full digital copy of Native Plants For The Small Yard hosted by the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. If you love it, please support Kate Brandes by buying a physical copy from your local bookshop
