So what exactly is a personalized native garden database? Its simply a compilation of numerous scientific resources. Starting with your location and a selection of plants through Prairie Moon Nursery, the largest native plant seed catalog in the US.
We first take your location and enter it in numerous spreadsheets we have created based on scientific research. The database starts with all of the seeds, transplants and bare root native plants available through Prairie Moon Nursery website. Then we enter all of your infomation and start the process.
The first and most important of those are the genus’s that the lepidoptera order of insects (butterflies and moths) rely on as hosts. Using Entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamys research this is the first data entered. Lepidoptera are a crucial part of our food web. Mammals, reptiles and especially birds rely on caterpillars to feed their young. And the caterpillars need host plants to survive in their early days. Host plants being species that they have evolved with for millions of years. Those host plants are native plants just as the insects are native to specific ecoregions.
Next we add the birds into the mix. Taking specific plant species that they have evolved with. Plants that provide them food, cover, shelter and nesting materials. Birds may seem pretty simple but in fact they can be very specific with their needs. And keep in mind the plants have built up defenses to not be eaten. So the lepidoptera and the birds can be very specific about plants they need.
Then we take only the plants that are specific to your EXACT ecoregion (there are 85 ecoregions in the US). Narrowing the list more and more according to your sun and soil moisture requirements. Typically this brings the list to around 75 species of plants. At this point we will revise the list to make sure there are numerous options of height, color and most importantly bloom times. This ensures there are nectar sources for all pollinators no matter the season. Finally we make sure there are not only flowering herbaceous plants but grasses, sedge’s, shrubs and fern options for texture, depth and layers.
This very personalized native garden resource is just a one time payment of $100. Saving you hours and hours of research. Giving you numerous options of color height and texture every year. Not to mention all of the wild life you will bring back into your yard.
Having a native garden is about bringing balance to the place we have been taking from for so long. Its time to give back and insure that certain species don’t go extinct because we needed a parking lot or a place to relax.
