Wildlife Gardening Journal

Rethinking Roses: Native Alternatives for Wildlife Gardens

Okay, I'll be the first to admit, it's hard to beat a beautiful rose. I have them in my gardens, and I likely always will. But truth is, roses aren't the best plants for supporting wildlife. Most, like the wildly popular Knockout roses, are nonnative varieties that offer limited ecological value. Some, like Rugosa roses, ...

Five Non‑Native Shrubs to Replace with Native Alternatives

There are many non-native shrubs that are extremely popular in landscapes. I even have some in my own yard. They’re popular for good reasons: they’re often pest-free and have lovely flowers. The problem is also that they’re pest-free (meaning not beneficial to native wildlife) and sometimes escape our tidy neighborhoods to become invasive monsters in ...