Bringing Nature Home How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded

by Tallamy, Douglas W.; Darke, Rick

• ISBN13: 9780881929928
• ISBN10: 0881929921
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-04-01
• Publisher: Timber Press

Summary

With the accelerating pace of development and subsequent habitat destruction, the pressures on wildlife populations are greater than ever. But there is a surprisingly important and relatively simple step toward reversing this alarming trend: Everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution to sustaining biodiversity. There is an unbreakable link between native plant species and native wildlife. Most native insects cannot, or will not, eat alien plants. When native plant species disappear, the insects disappear, thus impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. In many parts of the world, habitat destruction has been so extensive that local wildlife populations are in crisis and may be headed toward extinction. By planting natives, everyone can provide a welcoming environment for wildlife. This doesn't need to entail a drastic overhaul of your yard or garden. The process can be gradual and can reflect both personal preferences and local sensitivities. Bringing Nature Home has sparked a national conversation about the link between healthy local ecosystems and human well-being, and the new paperback edition-with an expanded resource section and updated photos-will help broaden the movement. By acting on Douglas Tallamy's practical recommendations, everyone can make a difference.

Author Biography

Doug Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 97 research publications and has taught insect-related courses for 40 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home, published by Timber Press in 2007, was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers’ Association. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, the 2018 AHS B. Y. Morrison Communication Award, and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award.

Rick Darke is a landscape design consultant, author, lecturer, and photographer based in Pennsylvania who blends art, ecology, and cultural geography in the creation and conservation of livable landscapes. His projects include scenic byways, public gardens, corporate and collegiate campuses, mixed-use conservation developments, and residential gardens. Darke served on the staff of Longwood Gardens for twenty years and received the Scientific Award of the American Horticultural Society. His work has been featured in the New York Times and on National Public Radio. Darke is recognized as one of the world's experts on grasses and their use in public and private landscapes. For further information visit www.rickdarke.com.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Foreword by Rick Darke
Preface
1. Restoring Natives to Suburbia: A Call to Action                
2. The Vital New Role of the Suburban Garden    
3. No Place to Hide          
4. Who Cares about Biodiversity?               
5. Why Can’t Insects Eat Alien Plants?     
6. What Is Native and What Is Not?          
7. The Costs of Using Alien Ornamentals 
8. Creating Balanced Communities            
9. Gardening for Insect Diversity
10. Blending In with the Neighbors           
11. Making It Happen
12. What Should I Plant?               
13. What Does Bird Food Look Like?         
14. Answers to Tough Questions                
Afterword: The Last Refuge         
Appendix 1: Native Plants with Wildlife Value and Desirable Landscaping Attributes by Region      
Appendix 2: Host Plants of Butterflies and Showy Moths
Appendix 3: Experimental Evidence