As you prepare your yard and plan your gardens for spring and summer, consider buying and planting native, pollinator-friendly plants. With proper design and pollinator-friendly plants, yards can capture and filter rainwater where it falls rather than letting it run off to our water bodies and picking up pollutants along the way.
Native plants in yards have many benefits, including:
- supporting pollinators and native ecosystems
- resilience during flooding and droughts
- enhancing soil health
- providing food for wildlife
- stabilizing land to reduce erosion
While planning native gardens may sound daunting at first, there are a lot of resources available. Learn about some of these resources at bluethumb.org.
In addition, check out the Golden Valley Garden Club (GVGC). The GVGC is a network of gardeners at all levels of experience, convening to share enthusiasm and knowledge of gardening. The club meets most months throughout the year, with educational speakers in the winter and garden tours in the summer.