I went for an Autumn walk at a local nature center. They had an enormous garden of wildflowers which attract butterflies. To the average person, it might look like a patch of weeds going to seed, but to me, they were eye-candy.
It was good to see that parks are teaching how to attract butterflies with native plants. Native plants are very important to our gardens because they're going to attract the beneficial insects that we need to control pest imbalances. Winter Sowers should be looking at nature centers and wild areas near them to see these plants and how they can be used in home gardens. Native plants, especially bushes and trees, make for smart landscaping. They respond well to pruning and because they're inherently used to the climate, they're not going to be water hogs or require extra foods or plant care, so they are cost efficient too.
Photos are thumbnail images. Click to expand to full size.
by Nancy Garrison, Urban Horticulture and Master Gardener
Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County
University of California Cooperative Extension
ReneesGarden.Com
Statewide Integerated Pest Management Program
UC ICP Online
Agricultural And Natural Resources
University of California
By Fred Birdsall, Colorado Master Gardener, and Carl Wilson, Horticulturist
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
Colorado State University
Michigan State University
Evergreen.Ca
Olympia, Washington
Audubon.Org
Portal to Gardens, Arboreta and Nature Sites
Botanique.Com
University of Washington Library
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EnviroLink, The Online Environmental Community