Native Plants
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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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Thursday - January 30, 2003
From: Andalusia, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Wildlife Gardens
Title: Creating a wildlife refuge
Answered by: Stephen Brueggerhoff
QUESTION:
We would like to make my yard more of a wildlife refuge by using a portion of the lawn for plants and shrubs and may afford shelter for birds and other wildlife. Can you please recommend what we should plant?ANSWER:
I think it is wonderful that you are researching plants that are native to your area in regards to landscaping. The benefits of landscaping with native plants are innumerable, and your support and care of your local ecosystem will prove to be beneficial in the long-run. We do provide information on-line about native plants that are distributed in your area from our Native Plants Database, as well as general guidelines to assist the home landscaper with projects; however, the information that you are requesting is very specific for your region. An alternate resource that you can utilize regarding native plants in your area is the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society website.More Wildlife Gardens Questions
Appropriate riverbed and quail habitat plantings for southwest OK
September 27, 2009 - Mr Smarty Pants, I have an area in extreme SW Oklahoma along the Red River. What native plants could I plant that are both appropriate for the sandy/saline soils in the vegetative area of the river b...
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Wildlife gardening in Georgia
February 19, 2008 - I am looking for native shrubs/flowers that will attract butterflies and/or birds. I live in Milledgeville, GA which is in central GA, 1 mile from the Oconee River. Some areas of my yard are full sun...
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Plants that ducks and geese will not eat
March 23, 2009 - Hello, I have a pet duck and goose. Who I love dearly and have built two ponds for.. one 4ft deep the other 6ft deep. The ponds are for their use, first and for most, but I would like to have a plan...
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Xeriscape demonstration garden
October 30, 2007 - I am working with the city of Schertz to rejuvenate a xeriscape demonstration garden. We want to plant a hummingbird/butterfly garden using native plants. The current bed is currently overrun with ber...
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Replacement for Globe Thistle in Virginia
June 15, 2013 - Hi,
We are trying to get our garden to be 100% North American Native and are at about 90% native to our region. One of the last plants we have to replace is our Globe Thistle. Do you have a good r...
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