Native? What's a native? George Marks/Getty Images
DCL
I know who won the 1941 American League MVP, but I don't know the name of the first people who lived on the land where my apartment building now sits. I can tell you for which drug Andre Agassi tested positive in the late 90s, but I can't tell you what insects are indigenous to my neighborhood of Astoria, Queens, New York City. Somewhere in my brain, I've stored away the knowledge that Justin once dated Britney, but no where can I find a list of plants that are native to my little corner of the planet.
How well do you know your own backyard and why does it matter?
WATCH VIDEO: Landscaping with local, low water plants
Besides the obvious benefit of re-connecting us to our eco-system, the National Wildlife Federation has this to say about discovering native flora:
"Natives are well adapted to survive in a particular geographic area according to the climate, soils, rainfall, and availability of pollinators and seed dispersers. And because they are indigenous to a specific region, native plants usually require little maintenance and are welcomed by wildlife, serving an important role in the local ecosystem."
To find out which plants are native to your region, consult a native plants guide and get busy.
(This post was inspired by a passage in Endgame, by Derrick Jensen)
