Learn more about native plants and biodiversity by reading, investigating and journaling with us each week. We’ve posted suggested books, papers, journal prompts, resources and websites. Subscribe by e-mail (bottom right) if you’d like weekly reminders.
BNH, Bringing Nature Home, Douglas Tallamy
NWF, Attracting Birds, Butterflies And Other Backyard Wildlife, David Mizejewski
Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer. Read at your own pace. (Denise suggests the audiobook, read by the author. It’s amazing, even if you don’t usually like audiobooks.)
PDF for the table below
Week
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Topic
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Reading
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Related Articles and Papers
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Journal Prompts
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Additional Resources
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| 1 (1/2) |
Mary Gardiner, Insects and Biodiversity |
BNH Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
NWF Introduction, Chapter 1 |
Owners’ Perceptions Do Not Match Actual Ground-Dwelling Invertebrate Diversity in Their Gardens
The Role of ‘Nativeness’ in Urban Greening to Support Animal Biodiversity
Grassland disturbance increases monarch butterfly oviposition and decreases arthropod predator abundance, Nathan Haan and Doug Landis, MSU
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What is your definition of “native plant?” Scour the web or favorite books for different definitions. How does your definition change as you read through other definitions?
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Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants, MSU
ODNR (Ohio) Backyards for Butterflies
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation regional pollinator publications
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| 2 (1/9)
Week 2 Overview
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Doug Tallamy, Why Native Plants? |
BNH Chapters 5, 6, 7
NWF Chapter 2 |
How Non-native Plants Are Contributing to a Global Insect Decline
Food for thought: Don’t Judge Species on Their Origins
Impacts of biological invasions: what’s what and the way forward Daniel Simberloff |
What “keystone plants” are growing in your garden, neighborhood or region (see links to the right)? What keystone species could you add to your garden or other nearby site? |
NWF Native Plant Finder
Keystone Plants by ecoregion, Doug Tallamy and NWF
Host Plants (for butterflies and moths) by Ecoregion, Doug Tallamy and NWF
State Native Plant Societies
E.O. Wilson’s Half Earth Project
Native Plant Trust
BONAP, The Biota of North America Program
USDA Plants Database
Webinar: Doug Tallamy: Restoring Nature’s Relationships at Home
Native Plants for Birds webinar with OSU’s Marne Titchenell (focus on Ohio) |
| 3 (1/16)
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Lisa Olsen, Cultivating a Community of Support |
BNH Chapters 8, 9, 10
NWF Chapter 3
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Gardeners’ Perceptions of Northwestern U.S. Native Plants Are Influenced by Ecological Information and Garden Group Affiliation
Urban Gardens as a Space to Engender Biophilia: Evidence and Ways Forward |
What organizations, associations or groups focus on native plants and/or biodiversity in your community (in-person, online or both)? How could you join (or foster the creating of) a group? |
About Wild Ones
Wild Ones Native Plant Garden Designs
Additional resources/links shared by Lisa Olsen
St. Louis Audubon Society- Bringing Conservation Home
National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat
Webinar: Gerardo Camilo, The City as Refuge for Insect Pollinators, including St. Louis Audubon study.
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| 4 (1/23)
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Bryan Danforth, Specialist Bees |
BNH Chapters 11, 12
NWF Chapter 4 |
Pollen Specialist Bees of the Eastern United States, Fowler and Droege
Above, for Central U.S.
Above, for Western U.S.
Host Plants for Pollen Specialist Bees of the Eastern United States |
Spend time investigating specialist bees in your state or region. What plants can you add to your garden to attract specialist bees? Why are native plants vital for these pollinators?
Find resources for Central and Western U.S. in the column to the left, and resources for Eastern U.S. including Ohio in the column to the right.
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Bryan Danforth’s webinar handout PDF
Book title: The Solitary Bees
Creating a pollinator garden for native specialist bees of New York and the Northeast
Specialist bee and death camas paper Bryan mentioned:
Wild Pollinators of Eastern Apple Orchards
Guide to Specialist Bees of Ohio
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| 5 (1/30)
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Heather Holm, Bumble Bees |
BNH Chapters 13, 14, Afterword
NWF Chapter 5 |
Bumble Bees Selectively Use Native and Exotic Species to Maintain Nutritional Intake Across Highly Variable and Invaded Local floral Resource Pools
Are Native and Non-native Pollinator Friendly Plants Equally Valuable for Native Wild Bee Communities? |
Which bumble bee species are common to your area? What resources does your garden offer bumble bees, including forage (food) and nesting resources? |
Books by Heather Holm
Xerces Conserving Bumble Bees
Xerces Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant Lists
Bumble Bee Watch
iNaturalist
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| 6 (2/6) |
Debra Knapke, Native Plants in My Garden |
NWF Chapter 6 |
Do Leaf-eating Insects Eat Nativars?
Importance of Plant Diversity and Structure for Urban Garden Pest Resistance
Herbaceous Perennial Ornamental Plants Can Support Complex Pollinator Communities |
How would you describe your gardening style? How can you use native plants to enhance your garden spaces? Which plants are on your “wish list” this year? |
NWF Native Plant Finder
National Audubon Society Native Plant Finder
Native Plant List for Ohio Gardeners
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Mt. Cuba Trial Garden Reports |