Vincent is an urban forester and has spent the last two years creating a flourishing native garden in this yard. He was exposed to the benefits of native ecological restoration through his work.

(See a bit about the work of Rod Simmons, a wildlife manager and advocate. (https://vnps.org/pocahontas/events/native-biodiversity-conservation-and-restoration-challenges-in-urbanized-areas-with-rod-simmons-via-zoom/  ) During this video presentation, Mr. Simmons expounds on issues of restoring and replanting native areas plus issues of ecological concern like climate change, air pollution and overdevelopment. He was excited and heartened to discover that when invasives were removed from a plot of land and native fauna restored, wildlife started coming back too. He liked that the salamanders and small reptiles returned.

Vincent’s yard was full of our typical Takoma Park invasives. And that’s where he started, pulling things out! So, start by removing things. You can have some non-native non- invasive plants because they bring you joy, but do not plant non-native invasive plants and pull out the ones you have. His advice to us: Do your yard in chunks. Pick out a small manageable project to do. Every year convert another small patch to native plants.

His favs are:

Tree: Nyssa sylvatica – blackgum

Shrub: Cephalanthus occidentalis – buttonbush

Herb: Packera aurea – golden ragwort

Grass: Eragrostis spectabilis – Purple Lovegrass

Fern: Onoclea sensibilis –  Sensitive fern

Vine: Lonicera sempervirens – trumpet honeysuckle

Aquatic plant: Hibiscus moscheutos – rose mallow

Spring ephemeral: Dicentra cuccularia – Dutchman’s breeches