I began learning about and planting native plants, trees, and shrubs about 10 years ago, and ever since, my home has been a shared space with birds, butterflies, insects, pollinators and wildlife. I soon discovered that native plants don’t just bloom, they grow on you, and leave me (and my family) with plenty of stories to share.

I wanted to be a writer. But I struggled for a while about what exactly to write about. (Long ago, I had a career in pharmaceutical proofreading because a writer’s job was nowhere to be found.) 

Then, when a migratory bird landed in my yard that I had never seen before, it suddenly became obvious what I was going to write about. It was as if the bird said: “Write about me!”

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

We are slowly transforming sections of plain grass, or “green concrete”, to a haven for birds, bees, butterflies and more. Among our small steps, bird boxes and native plants. Including a kestrel box, we have 8 next boxes on our property plus numerous hanging feeders. Behind our home you will find a 1-acre wildflower meadow (pictured above) which was once a grass storm water run off detention basin. Check out some of my blog posts to learn how we did what we did and what benefits we have gained from adding meadows and rain gardens and “going native”. In the process of our improvements, not only did we increase the wildlife around our home, but our basement is also drier.

Our Affectionately Called “Mini Meadow”

We have a few meadows, but still quite a bit of lawn. But it is what the plants that bring in, the biodiversity that we share that delights my days and gets the writer in me going. The goal? To be a storyteller to anyone willing to listen and engage and learn about native plants.