“I speculate that one reason so little respect is given to native plant communities in my town is that they are now so little in evidence.”

I recently read that sentence in Judith Larner Lowry’s book, Gardening with a Wild Heart.

In that sentence—and in her book at large—Lowry reflects on why our landscapes have become so overrun with non-native species, and why those of us who have had a ‘conversion’ often struggle to communicate the beauty and benefit of the indigenous plants that belong here (wherever here is for you).

The reality is that most of us, wherever we may live, are standing on land once dominated by plants that took thousands of years to adapt to specific soils and climates. They grew in a harmonious relationship with the local animals, creating a balanced, self-sustaining ecosystem. But over time, those original communities were erased, replaced by a sea of exotic ornamentals and tenacious invasives.

She offers the generous insight that we cannot respect what we cannot see.

So simple. So true.

I hope this article (and many others I’ve written on restoring our gardens/land to support native flora and fauna) is helpful for you on your journey.