By:  Marikay Shellman
BPW Colorado Virtual Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

With all the weighty news of the world and climate crisis, gardening can bring emotional refuge and physical health. With January, the excitement of seed catalogues arrives with promise for the upcoming planting season. Research has found that the benefits of conservation in small spaces such as gardens have “real, quantifiable effects.” By restoring yards with native plants (https://www.nwf.org>nativeplantfinderand https://www.audubon.org>native-plants), researchers found that within just 3 years a large increase in both the diversity and abundance of invertebrates occurred. Having the goal of providing habitat for native bees, butterflies, and birds while growing vegetables and flowers will have the additional benefits of reducing water use on your lawn while maximizing climate benefits.

When ordering your seeds and plants, plan for flowers to bloom throughout the seasons. Springtime bloomers include yarrow, bluebells, penstemon. Summer has milkweed, flax primrose beebalm blossoming. Don’t forget those end of season flowers, blanket flower, goldenrod, asters. By allowing your plants to go to seed, you will provide food for birds throughout the fall. Sunflowers are the best as they provide

pollen and nectar for native bees and hummingbirds, are host plants for moths which are a declining pollinator species, in addition to food for birds.

Yes, we need to push for stronger legislation to protect biodiversity and natural lands and to change the way we farm, no-till, cover crops and little to no pesticides. Meanwhile we can add to our own peace of mind by planting gardens.