Native plants were initially introduced into our yard in 2006 with a couple of plants down by the lake. Previously, it was all grass right to the water’s edge. The more we learned about all the wonderful benefits of native plants and the pollinators attracted other wildlife and it just started to grow!
There has been an attempt to create theme gardens to some degree, for example, a butterfly garden off the rear deck, woodland plantings under trees, and lower-height prairie plants along one border. The desire to increase the diversity of plants to learn and understand their growth patterns, blooms, and how they behaved has been achieved to a great extent. The idea of having a habitat that naturally attracted and fed the greatest number of birds, pollinators, and other animals was a guiding influence in ongoing plant selection. I am truly amazed at what has been accomplished so far, with no end in sight.
