Latest news with #nativeplants
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
NY homeowner fills yard with native plants — but town officials threaten a $2K fine unless she makes changes
A Long Island homeowner has found herself in hot water after letting her yard go au natural. Xilin Zhang of New Hyde Park, New York, transformed her front yard by replacing her traditional lawn with environmentally friendly native plants, using a $350 local grant that was designed for this purpose. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it 'It's a very natural look,' Zhang shared with CBS News. 'There's tons of butterflies and bees and birds coming. It's not just some grass doing nothing.' But local officials who've said Zhang's landscaping looks 'hideous' and violates local code have reportedly given her a summons with a fine of up to $2,000. 'When ugly is that overwhelming, you have to call it what it is," Mayor Christopher Devane told CBS News. 'That front yard looks hideous.' Fortunately, after four trips to the court, a compromise was reached between Zhang and local officials: the summons would be dismissed if the garden was kept below four feet. And while the mayor is happy that the situation has been resolved, he believes these kind of gardens need to look more aesthetically pleasing for this idea to catch on. 'There should be a happy medium," said Mayor Devane. "That, in my opinion, is not it." Going au natural is a growing trend Thanks to the non-profit organization Rewild Long Island, Zhang is part of a movement that encourages homeowners to transform traditional lawns into native plant gardens that require fewer resources and provide greater ecological benefits. "There are lots of towns on Long Island which are encouraging people to put in wild flowers because they don't want all that pollution going into the bay," said Raju Rajan, president of Rewild Long Island. Natural gardens are beneficial because they offer a deeper root system than traditional grass lawns. While turf grass has a root system that's about two inches deep, the roots from native plants can grow up to 15 feet in depth, allowing them to absorb ten times more rainwater than a typical lawn. Native plants also attract birds, butterflies and bees by providing food, shelter and breeding sites that are essential for their survival. "Sustainable gardens are not just beautiful for the eye," said Mindy Germain, the water commissioner in Port Washington, New York. 'They protect our drinking water. We're trying to move away from these big green lawns that are sucking up too much water from our aquifer." And the movement is growing. Many communities outside of New York state — including Green Bay, WI, Cincinnati, OH, and Bellevue, WA — have recognized the benefits of natural lawns by adopting ordinances that promote native plant landscaping. Read more: Americans are 'revenge saving' to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. How to plant a native garden without the backlash If you're thinking about converting your grass lawn into a native garden but want to avoid the headaches that Zhang experienced, the best way to do so is to be proactive: Consult with local officials and neighbors to understand potential concerns Focus on aesthetics that match community standards Create clear borders to show intentional design rather than neglect Natural lawns offer significant environmental benefits, but local regulations vary by location. Because of this, it's critical to communicate with neighbors and authorities to understand not only legal concerns but also the aesthetic concerns that neighbors might have. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of 'massive unemployment' in the US due to the 'biggest change' in history — and says this 1 group of 'smart' Americans will get hit extra hard. Are you one of them? How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
New York Times
a day ago
- General
- New York Times
In New Jersey, Benefits Bloom in Tiny Forests
It's a tiny space, no bigger than a couple shipping containers really. But standing there, the midsummer heat recedes. So does the roar of nearby airplanes and the fishy stench of the market next door. In this thicket of elderberry plants shaded by honey locust trees, John Evangelista finds his respite. 'This is one of the only places in Elizabeth where you can stand in the middle of a forest,' said Mr. Evangelista. 'I just love being in here.' This 45 foot by 40 foot plot, tucked inside a small urban farm behind a library in the city of Elizabeth, N.J., was the state's first 'microforest.' It's exactly what it sounds like: a miniature forest, packed with more than 260 native plants (and one anomaly, a Kentucky coffee tree). The project was the brainchild of Mr. Evangelista, a farmer and executive director of Groundwork Elizabeth, a nonprofit that planted the forest in 2021 with support from the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. Over the past four years, with gardening help from a paid city youth program, the group has added four more microforests. Two are outside city-owned senior housing developments and one is in a cemetery. Yet another is growing at an elementary school in a nearby town. Tell Us About Solutions Where You Live Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Annuals are the forgotten native plants. Here are 7 worth adding to the garden
As home gardeners become more educated about the benefits of native plants (supporting native insects, birds and wildlife, and the environment as a whole), the focus has mainly been on trees, shrubs and perennials. Native annuals have somehow gotten lost in the shuffle, likely because most of them aren't readily available at the garden center. And most of the annuals (and tender perennials treated as annuals) that ARE sold in local nurseries are introduced species from faraway places. As such, they don't provide much benefit to the local ecosystem. Native insects have evolved along with native plants, so they recognize them as food. Filling a garden with exotic plants essentially creates a food desert, which can have dire consequences that range from fewer insect pollinators and birds to diminishing food crops and, eventually, livestock. We know that using native plants of all types can help prevent a plethora of environmental problems. They're also easier to care for because they're naturally adapted to local conditions and are generally drought-tolerant. Unfortunately, most home gardeners don't know about or have access to native annuals. I hope that changes. The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, based in Austin, Texas, has a wonderful online plant database that allows users to search native plants by state, lifecycle, bloom time and other criteria. (It's at Consider asking your local nursery to stock them. Here are some favorite native annuals. 7 Native annuals worth adding to the garden Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), which is native from Massachusetts south to northern Florida and west to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, Oklahoma and eastern Texas, is sadly underused. The lovely 1-to-3-foot-tall plant, which produces clusters of 1-inch-wide yellow flowers on tall, slender stems, thrives in both sun and part shade. A member of the legume family, it also releases nitrogen into the soil, which provides a natural and free fertilizer for itself and the other plants in the bed. American basket flower (Plectocephalus americanus) has a native range that spans west from Missouri to Kansas, then south to Louisiana, Texas and into Mexico. The plant, which boasts 4-inch, honey-scented, lavender-to-pinkish-purple flowers with creamy centers, thrives in full sun to part shade. Forked Bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum) are delicate flowers that remind me a bit of Dutch irises. Growing to just over 2 feet tall, the late-summer bloomer is native to Michigan, Missouri and Texas east to the Atlantic coast, from Maine to Florida. A better-known U.S. native is the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), which, as its name implies, is native to California and Baja California. It grows up to 2 feet tall, sending up thin stems that each hold a single yellow-orange flower. Many sunflowers are North American natives, and some of those are perennials. But the Helianthus annus species, known as common or annual sunflower, is a native annual. Originating in Manitoba, Canada, and Minnesota, south to Texas and west from Oregon to Baja California, Mexico, the multi-branched, bushy plant becomes covered in yellow flowers with maroon centers in summer. Indian blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella) is another U.S. native annual that I've seen at the nursery. They're not native to my home state of New York, however, but rather native from western South Dakota to Kansas and Louisiana and west to Colorado and Arizona. The 2-foot-tall plants put forth daisy-like, red-petaled flowers with yellow tips. Impatiens capensis (Orange jewelweed) should not be confused with the widely available Impatiens walleriana, which comes to us from eastern Africa, or Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea Impatiens), which is native to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. Instead, this North American beauty has a native range that covers Saskatchewan to Newfoundland, Canada, then extends south to Georgia, west to Oklahoma and northward to Missouri. Great for shady spots, its speckled orange flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Jessica Damiano, The Associated Press
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Annuals are the forgotten native plants. Here are 7 worth adding to the garden
As home gardeners become more educated about the benefits of native plants (supporting native insects, birds and wildlife, and the environment as a whole), the focus has mainly been on trees, shrubs and perennials. Native annuals have somehow gotten lost in the shuffle, likely because most of them aren't readily available at the garden center. And most of the annuals (and tender perennials treated as annuals) that ARE sold in local nurseries are introduced species from faraway places. As such, they don't provide much benefit to the local ecosystem. Native insects have evolved along with native plants, so they recognize them as food. Filling a garden with exotic plants essentially creates a food desert, which can have dire consequences that range from fewer insect pollinators and birds to diminishing food crops and, eventually, livestock. We know that using native plants of all types can help prevent a plethora of environmental problems. They're also easier to care for because they're naturally adapted to local conditions and are generally drought-tolerant. Unfortunately, most home gardeners don't know about or have access to native annuals. I hope that changes. The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, based in Austin, Texas, has a wonderful online plant database that allows users to search native plants by state, lifecycle, bloom time and other criteria. (It's at Consider asking your local nursery to stock them. Here are some favorite native annuals. 7 Native annuals worth adding to the garden Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), which is native from Massachusetts south to northern Florida and west to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, Oklahoma and eastern Texas, is sadly underused. The lovely 1-to-3-foot-tall plant, which produces clusters of 1-inch-wide yellow flowers on tall, slender stems, thrives in both sun and part shade. A member of the legume family, it also releases nitrogen into the soil, which provides a natural and free fertilizer for itself and the other plants in the bed. American basket flower (Plectocephalus americanus) has a native range that spans west from Missouri to Kansas, then south to Louisiana, Texas and into Mexico. The plant, which boasts 4-inch, honey-scented, lavender-to-pinkish-purple flowers with creamy centers, thrives in full sun to part shade. Forked Bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum) are delicate flowers that remind me a bit of Dutch irises. Growing to just over 2 feet tall, the late-summer bloomer is native to Michigan, Missouri and Texas east to the Atlantic coast, from Maine to Florida. A better-known U.S. native is the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), which, as its name implies, is native to California and Baja California. It grows up to 2 feet tall, sending up thin stems that each hold a single yellow-orange flower. Many sunflowers are North American natives, and some of those are perennials. But the Helianthus annus species, known as common or annual sunflower, is a native annual. Originating in Manitoba, Canada, and Minnesota, south to Texas and west from Oregon to Baja California, Mexico, the multi-branched, bushy plant becomes covered in yellow flowers with maroon centers in summer. Indian blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella) is another U.S. native annual that I've seen at the nursery. They're not native to my home state of New York, however, but rather native from western South Dakota to Kansas and Louisiana and west to Colorado and Arizona. The 2-foot-tall plants put forth daisy-like, red-petaled flowers with yellow tips. Impatiens capensis (Orange jewelweed) should not be confused with the widely available Impatiens walleriana, which comes to us from eastern Africa, or Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea Impatiens), which is native to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. Instead, this North American beauty has a native range that covers Saskatchewan to Newfoundland, Canada, then extends south to Georgia, west to Oklahoma and northward to Missouri. Great for shady spots, its speckled orange flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. ___ Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice. ___
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Science
- Associated Press
Annuals are the forgotten native plants. Here are 7 worth adding to the garden
As home gardeners become more educated about the benefits of native plants (supporting native insects, birds and wildlife, and the environment as a whole), the focus has mainly been on trees, shrubs and perennials. Native annuals have somehow gotten lost in the shuffle, likely because most of them aren't readily available at the garden center. And most of the annuals (and tender perennials treated as annuals) that ARE sold in local nurseries are introduced species from faraway places. As such, they don't provide much benefit to the local ecosystem. Native insects have evolved along with native plants, so they recognize them as food. Filling a garden with exotic plants essentially creates a food desert, which can have dire consequences that range from fewer insect pollinators and birds to diminishing food crops and, eventually, livestock. We know that using native plants of all types can help prevent a plethora of environmental problems. They're also easier to care for because they're naturally adapted to local conditions and are generally drought-tolerant. Unfortunately, most home gardeners don't know about or have access to native annuals. I hope that changes. The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, based in Austin, Texas, has a wonderful online plant database that allows users to search native plants by state, lifecycle, bloom time and other criteria. (It's at Consider asking your local nursery to stock them. Here are some favorite native annuals. 7 Native annuals worth adding to the gardenPartridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), which is native from Massachusetts south to northern Florida and west to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, Oklahoma and eastern Texas, is sadly underused. The lovely 1-to-3-foot-tall plant, which produces clusters of 1-inch-wide yellow flowers on tall, slender stems, thrives in both sun and part shade. A member of the legume family, it also releases nitrogen into the soil, which provides a natural and free fertilizer for itself and the other plants in the bed. American basket flower (Plectocephalus americanus) has a native range that spans west from Missouri to Kansas, then south to Louisiana, Texas and into Mexico. The plant, which boasts 4-inch, honey-scented, lavender-to-pinkish-purple flowers with creamy centers, thrives in full sun to part shade. Forked Bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum) are delicate flowers that remind me a bit of Dutch irises. Growing to just over 2 feet tall, the late-summer bloomer is native to Michigan, Missouri and Texas east to the Atlantic coast, from Maine to Florida. A better-known U.S. native is the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), which, as its name implies, is native to California and Baja California. It grows up to 2 feet tall, sending up thin stems that each hold a single yellow-orange flower. Many sunflowers are North American natives, and some of those are perennials. But the Helianthus annus species, known as common or annual sunflower, is a native annual. Originating in Manitoba, Canada, and Minnesota, south to Texas and west from Oregon to Baja California, Mexico, the multi-branched, bushy plant becomes covered in yellow flowers with maroon centers in summer. Indian blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella) is another U.S. native annual that I've seen at the nursery. They're not native to my home state of New York, however, but rather native from western South Dakota to Kansas and Louisiana and west to Colorado and Arizona. The 2-foot-tall plants put forth daisy-like, red-petaled flowers with yellow tips. Impatiens capensis (Orange jewelweed) should not be confused with the widely available Impatiens walleriana, which comes to us from eastern Africa, or Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea Impatiens), which is native to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. Instead, this North American beauty has a native range that covers Saskatchewan to Newfoundland, Canada, then extends south to Georgia, west to Oklahoma and northward to Missouri. Great for shady spots, its speckled orange flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. ___ Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice. ___ For more AP gardening stories, go to
