April is Native Plant Month
Petra Moran
From Mindy Bartholomae, Zone X Conservation Chair/ NAL Rep - please consider sharing on social media platforms you are using. Ohio is a leader in promoting native plants, but it is important to share this message beyond the choir!
For those of you unfamiliar with the GCA's recent campaign to promote native plants across the U.S., here is the statement from the GCA website:
"The GCA launches a nationwide, multidisciplinary, cross-committee collaboration to promote native plants by formally establishing a Native Plant Month in all fifty states. Using a proclamation, GCA club members across the country will work to formally establish a Native Plant Month within their state by April 2024."
Ohio has been the leader in this effort, thanks to our own Nancy Linz, horticulturist extraordinaire, developer of the Native Plant website, and member of the Garden Club of CIncinnati. Nancy has worked tirelessly to have Ohio designate April Native Plant Month through a proclamation or resolution, initially, and then as a law! The GCA then launched a nationwide effort to get all 50 states on board in 2023. I think we are up to 48 now!
Now that great progress has been made in getting states to sign on, we need to PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE!!
How to do this??
Promote the use of native plants! Urge local nurseries to make native plants a priority. Report on projects you are doing with your clubs. AGC has a big project working with the Summit Metroparks to install a native garden on a site adjacent to a new boat launch next to the Cuyahoga River. We are growing the bulk of the plants and will begin planting in April, in honor of our club's 100th Anniversary!
I know planting natives is nothing new for the GCA and our local clubs, but it is critical that we promote this big time, to not only beautify, but most critically to increase diversity and biomass, attract pollinators and reduce or eliminate turf grass.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Best and thanks!
Mindy Bartholomae
Zone X Cons/NAL Rep