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A plant’s value isn’t just about how it looks—it’s about how it functions within the ecosystem where it grows. Understanding that allows informed choices that support both gardens and the environment.

Native gardening has a reputation for being great for the environment, but it’s also a very low maintenance way to add curb appeal to your house or a pop of color to the backyard. Native plants refer ...

Why should we use more native plants in our landscapes? I think the best reason is that it gives our gardens a sense of place. Using plants native to our region links home gardens to natural areas. It ...

Press releases are posted on Independent.com as a free community service. As homeowners face long, dry summers and periods of extended drought, and rising water bills, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden ...

As spring planting season begins, experts and guides are urging gardeners to focus on native, pollinator-friendly plants to support bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Updated checklists offer ...

If you’ve ever walked into a native plant nursery and felt defeated because — admit it — all the offerings looked like 4-inch pots of weeds, do we have the shopping/planning guide for you: a set of ...

Wondering when you should plant this spring or what species are beginner friendly? Local gardening experts share tips for those questions and more.

Tom Oder is a writer, editor, and communication expert who specializes in sustainability and the environment with a sweet spot for urban agriculture. Do you know what native plants in your area are ...

Native plants have a symbiotic relationship with native wildlife and evolved within local environment. Here, a monarch rests on a blazing star, a native wildflower. Native plant species are better ...

The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, led by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, recently published Native Plants for Virginia’s Capital Region, a 72-page, full-color guide ...