There is little else as satisfying in the garden as watching wildlife use the space: cardinals dashing in and out of oaks, skipper butterflies and sweat bees methodically circling coneflower blooms. What is a garden without the critical ecological function that makes the world work and brings us closer to nature? When we cultivate native…

Planting for pollinators… the concept was just a blip on the radar a few years ago. Now it’s a nationwide trend, only growing in popularity. When we think about pollinator conservation, we often look at restoring large swaths of habitat by adding native prairie plants-the vibrant collections of flowers and native grasses insects rely on…

The DNR maintains a list of native plant suppliers and consultants for Minnesota. Companies must certify that they sell Minnesota native plants sourced from the state, do not sell invasive or noxious plants, and/or have experience as a native plant consultant or habitat restoration specialist. Some nurseries on these lists sell a mix of Minnesota native, non-native, or horticultural varieties of plants. Minnesota wildlife –including pollinator species– benefit most from Minnesota native plants because they developed together.