native plants

The Biology department of the University of Evansville used 60 eggplants to study the effect of local urban pollinators, which helped double the plant’s output; part of growing interest in urban ecology.

Gayfeather (Liatris spicata) is a lovely native plant that attracts butterflies, bumble bees, and other insects.

Electric companies and co-ops are struggling to re-establish the grid after last month’s storms. Why residents are being encouraged to plant native species. And a long-time Bloomington restaurant is changing ownership.

Native plants aren’t just good for birds and bees. They also make the land more resilient to the effects of climate change and can even help prevent it.

It's important to remove invasive, non-native plants to make more space available for plants that nourish our own native wildlife.

A suitable habitat for birds includes predictable water sources, an open area of lawn, some dense shrubs for cover, some tall trees, plants with berries, and nesting places for ground birds.

Native plants are important to preserve native wildlife and the ecology of our landscape, but some natives will suit our particular climate and garden space better than others.

One often sees Veronia, a.k.a. ironweed, on roadsides and in fields and ditches. The wind disperses the seeds, which explains why it is a surprise when it appears in our gardens like an uninvited guest.

Joe-Pye weed looks great next to a splash of sunshine yellow from goldenrod or helianthus.

Since the 1830s, about 99 percent of American tall grass prairies have been destroyed.