Many gardens are made up of non-native ornamental plants. These plants can grow outside of their natural range, but they did not evolve to grow where they are planted today. Some plants in this category are invasive, meaning that they tend to overuse resources like light, root space, and water, preventing native plants from growing. Many ornamental plants are unfamiliar to local pollinators and birds.

Native gardens can serve as an oasis for birds and bees, butterflies, dragonflies, crickets, ladybugs, and more, giving them a reliable food source and a place to live, while enriching the soil and filtering the air for generations to come. In many areas of Brooklyn, the soil is infertile and filled with trash. Native gardens can also help replenish the soil’s nutrients, creating a self-sustaining urban ecosystem in your yard.

For the nature lovers among us, a native garden can help you give back to the land you live on, while providing more opportunities to see and support wildlife. No matter how wet, dry, sunny, or shady your yard is, there are plenty of native plants that can thrive in your space.