With the accelerating pace of development and subsequent habitat destruction, the pressures on wildlife populations are greater than ever. But there is a surprisingly important and relatively simple step toward reversing this alarming trend: Everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution to sustaining biodiversity.
There is an unbreakable link between native plant species and native wildlife. Most native insects cannot, or will not, eat alien plants. When native plant species disappear, the insects disappear, thus impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. In many parts of the world, habitat destruction has been so extensive that local wildlife populations are in crisis and may be headed toward extinction. By planting natives, everyone can provide a welcoming environment for wildlife. This doesn’t need to entail a drastic overhaul of your yard or garden. The process can be gradual and can reflect both personal preferences and local sensitivities.
Bringing Nature Home has sparked a national conversation about the link between healthy local ecosystems and human well-being, and the new paperback edition — with an expanded resource section and updated photos — will help broaden the movement. By acting on Douglas Tallamy’s practical recommendations, everyone can make a difference.
Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded
Price: $12.21
The author makes a strong case for gardening with native plants, looking at the subject from the perspective of an entomologist. The author's love of insects and arthropods is obvious, noting their important role in in the beginning of the food chain. As a resident of Delaware, Tallamy provides a regional perspective that resonates with westerners such as myself. The alien plants that wreak havoc in his part of the continent tend not to be the same as the aliens decimating wildlife habitat here in the Intermountain west, but the concepts are very similar.
One of the strongest arguments for natives Tallamy makes relative to the insect family Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), noting that we cannot have butterflies without having caterpillars. An obvious truism, it sometimes escapes those who think that a buddleia bush and some lavenders is the key to promoting butterflies in your yard. Planting a native oak rather than a norway maple is more likely to help the butterlies than providing nectar for the adult lepidopterans.
Though I like this book, as someone who has been into native gardening for a while, it is more of a nice reminder than a book that added boatloads of new insights. Since it is geared pretty heavily to newcomers interested in adding some natives, I noticed that the plant lists in the back of the book left out my own state of Utah. Though you might find enough relevant species in the southwest and northwest to give a newcomer some ideas, anyone from the intermountain west should look for other sources of native plant ideas than this book.
More than anything, I hope this book inspires people to look outside of their Home Depot and Walmart to look at plant sources that provide native plants. Also highlighting the dangers of introducing alien species, I hope this book makes a positive difference among those who read it. -- Good Overview of Benefits of Gardening with Natives
A book of interest for both conservationists and gardeners it explains the serious damage that invasive plants do to the plant eating insect populations that are a critical foundation for the food chain that includes our birds an animals. A different reason for resisting invasive plants. For those who want to follow his advice it contains recommendations on appropriate plantings. -- Bringing Nature Home
This was a well written no nonsense book on the necessary steps we need to take to keep our eco
logy healthy. It adapts well to almost any size lot in urban or rural settings. If you like birds,butterflies,ect., this seems to be an excellent way to sustain them. -- Bringing Nature Home
What a great book. Shows the advantages of native species, how they help to feed insects that feed others up the food chain.
Please read the book, use it to demand native from your local nurseries and encourage them to stop selling invasives.
Have bought the book for others to help show them the way. Am keeping a supply to give as gifts to interested friends.
-- Try to change the world
Excellent book with important insight into how we, as gardeners, need to adjust our planting selections and practices in order to help reverse the decline of our forests and local ecosystems. The writing is on the wall. We must discontinue practices that undermine the ecosystem and adopt attitudes and practices that help renew it. Today, responsible citizenship includes the obligation to be responsible stewards of the land. -- Gardens Within the Ecosystem
