Native Plant Gardens at St. James

St. James has added two native plant gardens as a beginning step in our effort to be a part of the work to nurture and sustain the living landscape for birds, insects, and other animals (including ourselves). By creating native plant gardens, our gardens become part of a collective effort.  Our city, state, and national parks are so isolated from each other that they are not enough to sustain the diversity of life when so much of our world is covered by pavement and grass lawn monocultures. But if each of us can begin to add diverse native plants to our own properties, we can become a network of support.  Why native?  Because native plants have developed in this area along with the native birds and insects, and contain the nutrients and specific habitats needed to support those native birds and insects through all stages of their lives.  Most imported species of plants are not capable of sustaining our native wildlife, and they often become invasive and push out even more native species.    
 
How can you be a part of this collective effort?  Like we’ve done here at St. James – just begin!  You don’t have to change everything all at once.  We still have a large grassy lawn – a monoculture that doesn’t support a diversity of life.  But we have begun.  You can too: Choose an area and convert that patch to native plants.  Start small, and then keep going.  If you need to replace a plant in another area, choose a native variety.  Share your ideas with your neighbors.  Connecting all our small beginnings can make a huge impact on our native birds. 

Learn More at "Homegrown National Park"