“Six years ago I decided to do my part to help ensure the health of the small lake I live on. I removed all the roses, daylilies, hydrangeas, and the rest of the plants I had been managing with TLC for years. I had been reading about native plants—about their deep roots and their ability to survive in periods of drought. And as a bonus, they didn’t need fertilizer or deadheading.
Photo credit: Holley Wlodarczyk
“I seeded the entire area from the house down to the lake with native grasses, sedges, and forbs. Today, I couldn’t be happier with the 
outcome. During the past six years, I have not only grown a good buffer for the lake, I have discovered nature in my backyard. I feel like I have thrown out the welcome mat for species such as chorus frogs, who jump out of the way when I walk into the yard, and a pair of song sparrows who nest deep in the grasses. And, of course, I am awed by the many butterflies whose delicate presence brings my prairie garden to life.”