Native gardens, start small

Most native gardeners are not purists and start small. It is not necessary to transform your entire yard into a native prairie. Starting small can be accomplished in a variety of ways. It can be as simple as adding native plants to blend with current plants. Native plants are defined by Acadiana Native Plant Project as the plants that were already growing in Acadiana before Europeans arrived. Other ways would be to set up a composting system, increase natural fertilizers, reduce pesticides by using natural methods, or begin to reduce the amount of lawn (as turf grass does not offer much value to wildlife and requires more water).
One of the purposes of a native garden is to attract and support pollinators. A pollinator is an insect or animal that transfers pollen from one plant to another. According the LSU Ag Center, 1 in every 3 bites of food we eat relies on pollination. The aim is to add more native plants to create a habitat that supports pollinating native bees, a more diverse population of butterflies, moths, and songbirds.
Not all flowering plants produce equal or even sufficient quantities of pollen. Many flowering plants are bred for showy flowers, and this comes at the expense of pollen and nectar. Choosing native varieties will ensure that pollinators have a regular and sufficient source of pollen and nectar to support a healthy habitat.
Another benefit of having more native plants in the garden is that they attract more than just pollinators. Healthy gardens with lots of native plants will attract and support many other insects. Diverse insect communities are a sign of a healthy garden and ecosystem. Many insects like spiders, ladybugs, green lacewings are great at controlling common garden pests without the need for pesticides.
Not all pollinators feed on a variety of flowers. Some pollinators are attracted to only one type of flower. Therefore, it is important to have a variety of shapes, colors and sizes to support a healthy diverse pollinator population. Group planting creates a bold color statement and can help pollinators locate your garden.
There is a local organization that is dedicated to increasing native plants in Louisiana gardens. Acadiana Native Plant Project (www.greauxnative.org), located in Arnaudville, propagates and sells native plants, and offers educating newsletters, workshops, and blogs. Their goal is to increase the use of plants native to the region and create a healthy ecosystem with a diverse insect and bird population.
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