Native plants co-evolved with native insects and provide important food sources
for pollinators.
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Every ecosystem includes plant species that originated in that region and
that have adapted to thrive in the existing environmental conditions. These
plants are called natives, and are key elements within the web of their particular
plant community. They also fulfill vital habitat needs for native animals.
Plant a Native Garden for Pollinators
Native plants are an important food source for common pollinators like bees,
butterflies, beetles, and hummingbirds. A native garden provides nourishment
for these species and creates an outdoor laboratory where students can observe
relationships among elements in the ecosystem.
Begin by investigating the native plant and animal species in the area
surrounding the school. Was the land originally a prairie, a forest, or
a wetland? What kinds of native pollinators existed there?
Next, find a location for your garden. Assess your site’s conditions
(soil, sunlight, available water) and choose native plants that will thrive
there and attract pollinators.
Draw up a landscape design for the space. Strive for a natural appearance
rather than a tightly manicured landscape. You may need to incorporate
other habitat elements such as rocks, logs, or ponds to entice pollinators
to the space.
Seek out donations of materials and supplies. Recruit volunteers from
the community to help with installation.
Finally, once the garden is installed, schedule time to observe the new
garden and keep a log of all the pollinators (and other creatures) who
come to visit. Track activity year round so that you can witness full
life cycles of native plants and animals.
Find ways to communicate the importance of native gardens to the community
and encourage others to install plantings for pollinators.
These days, many ecosystems have mixed native and imported species. For as
long as humans have explored and created settlements in new lands, they have
taken
plants with them on their journeys. These transplants are known as exotic plants.
Some exotic plants that are grown as ornamentals require more care than natives
because they evolved in a place that provided different moisture levels or
soil nutrients. They may also have trouble with insect and disease pests because
they lack natural resistance.
On the other hand, if an exotic plant is introduced to a new location where
conditions are similar to its native habitat, the plant can readily adapt to
the environment and thrive. In fact, in the absence of the creatures that ordinarily
feast on it, plants that compete with it, and microbes that infect it with
disease, an exotic plant can become an invasive pest in another ecosystem.
A classic example is the kudzu vine in the southeastern United States. The
vine was imported from Asia to the United States where it was planted to help
prevent soil erosion. Its fast growth rate — up to a foot a day — and
dense growth habit is kept in check in Asia by native insects and fungi, but
since these natural foes do not exist in the United States, kudzu has covered
millions of acres, blanketing native trees and shrubs and killing
them by blocking their exposure to sunlight.
Learn more about the plants that are native in your area. How are these species
specially adapted to the environment? Are they important for the survival of
birds, insects, and other animals? For more information, find your local native
plants society through the North American Native
Plant Society Web site.
Research exotic plants considered invasive in your area. Why and how were
they introduced into the ecosystem? What are some of the reasons they are able
to push out native plants? Brainstorm ideas for how your class can help bring
their growth under control.
Visit the Kidsgardening.org Web site for more projects and curriculum connections:
Native Beauty
Exploring Wild and Native Plants
