More than two decades ago, Janet and John Allen’s yard in central New York like most any other yard across America with a big, expansive lawn. But since the late 1990s, it has evolved into a safe haven for birds, pollinators, and insects, as well as a learning tool for anyone who just happens to walk or stop by.
After years of being an ornamental gardener, Janets said they became interested in native plants in the 1990s. But at first, it was nearly impossible to make the switch because of the difficulty finding native plants for their garden and yard. “It was like we were in a black hole,” she said. “We were so far behind in central New York that we had to order plants from Prairie Nursery (in Westfield, Wisconsin) and … hope they would be native for New York.”
So, instead of focusing solely on native plants, Janet and John decided to focus on providing habitat, including food, water, and cover for birds, pollinators, and other animals.
Janet learned about Wild Ones and not only joined, but also co-founded the local Wild Ones Habitat Gardening in Central New York Chapter. And as their interest and knowledge grew about native plants, their garden kept growing and changing. Today, their 80-foot x 180-foot yard is home to 17 kinds of trees, more than 140 types of wildflowers, seven vine species, a dozen species of native grasses, and a few dozen important native shrubs. Janet estimates that 90 percent are native to the Northeast.
Very little lawn remains. “I’ve kept a semi-circle of lawn in the front that we don’t do anything to,” she said, in part to demonstrate that you don’t need to treat your lawn with fertilizers to keep it green. “It compares favorably to others’ lawns. It’s green; we pull the weeds by hand and we don’t have many dandelions.”
In fact, Janetsaid their soil keeps improving because they leave on their grass clippings and the fallen leaves from trees.
Her favorite plants are the ones that provide for birds, bees and butterflies, especially as host plants. A few of those favorites include jewelweed (Impatiens capensis and I. pallida), anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), milkweeds (Asclepias incarnata, A. syriaca, A. tuberosa), Culver’s root (Veronacastrumvirginicum), mountain mints (Pycnanthemummuticum, P. virginianum, P. incanum), and native honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). But high on her list is also pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), other dogwood shrubs such as gray and silky, various Amelanchiers, bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) and spicebush (Lindera benzoin).
But to Janet, one of the yard highlights is the pond and stream they added for their 25th wedding anniversary 15 years ago. “It provides habitat for toads laying eggs in the spring and their tadpoles, dragonflies laying eggs and developing, attracts migrating warblers, provides a place for birds to get a drink and to bathe, and especially important, it is a great source of mud, grasses, and mosses as bird nest building materials,” she said.
Janet said they intentionally created borders and paths, often lined with logs, which help to keep native plants inside the beds and also provide insects a good place to nest. They offer tours of their property, and they put out a sign in the front yard noting when a tour will take place. Janet also puts out signs telling people about things like pesticides, and cites the Academy of Pediatrics warning about the problems it can cause children’s health. Another sign addresses the benefits of toads, including their healthy appetite for insects. And yet another sign attached to a dying tree informs people that even dead trees have a greater purpose: providing food and shelter for wildlife and nesting birds. In fact, Janet and John have four small dead trees in their yard – an apple tree, a pear tree, a small redbud and a pagoda dogwood that never grew very tall.
The Allen’s habitat garden is definitely more than a hobby. “It’s vitally important for the future of biodiversity and for preserving a healthy planet,” she said. “You can ask any child and they’d likely acknowledge that plants are a source of life. But I’m beginning to understand that in such a profound way.”
In part, she thanks Doug Tallamy for that transformation. His book, “Bringing Nature Home,” has helped her to understand more profoundly that plants and the soil underneath are a source of life. “If you don’t have native plants, you might as well put out plastic plants because you’re not supporting life,” she said. “I worry about what we’re leaving our grandchildren. It’s important to address climate change as soon as possible, but we also need plants left to sustain life on the planet.”
She gives one important piece of advice to anyone new to native gardening. That is, start small. “Don’t try to do it all at once. Start small and eliminate a little bit of grass and see how things work and notice what insects and butterflies come,” she said. “Then over the next few years, do a little bit more and more.”