Bringing Nature Home

Bringing Nature Home by Douglas W. Tallamy, 2007,Timber Press

            The subtitle is “How you can sustain wildlife with native plants.”  That is a good description of what this book is all about.  It may not be conducive to a group study.  This book is more like a reference book for how to make the natural world, including your own yard, a place where plants, insects, and other living things can best thrive.

            First and explanation of a term.  Tallamy distinguishes between ‘native plants’ and ‘alien’ plants.  Alien is any plant that comes from someplace other than the area where plants grow.  For instance, the purchase of exotic plants from other countries for ornamental use.  The reason stated is:  “If our native insect fauna cannot, or will not, use alien plants for food, then insect populations in areas with many alien plants will be smaller than insect populations with all natives.”  Less insects may sound desirable but, Tallamy, an entomologist, makes the case that more insects the better for a healthy environment.  (maybe mosquitoes excepted) 

Another reason for not purchasing alien plants is that invasive insects and diseases come along with them.

            Insects are crucial for many reasons.  Pollination of course.  We are a pollinator friendly network.  And, just as crucial, insects provide food, protein, for the next level of fauna, birds, reptiles and some mammals.  “In fact, a large percentage of the world’s fauna depends entirely on insects to access the energy stored in plants.”  And on page 93:  “My message in this book is a simple one.  By favoring native plants over aliens in the suburban landscape, gardeners can do much to sustain biodiversity that has been one of this country’s richest assets.”  Tallamy, over and over, makes the case for getting rid of sterile, mono-culture lawns in favor of yards with diverse plants, trees, flowers, etc.  I like that since I never planted grass in my yard.

            Then Tallamy makes the case for developing our own yards to help restore the balance of plants – insects – animals – humans.  “Because food for all animals starts with the energy harnessed by plants, the plants we grow in our gardens have the critical role of sustaining, directly or indirectly, all of the animals with which we share our living spaces.”  This is important because an estimated 3-5 percent of the land in the U.S. is considered undisturbed wild land.  Cities and suburbs have even broken the contiguous connections between wild areas.  Tallamy makes the case that we should consider occupied properties as necessary for the survival of plants, insects and animals. 

            And how to transform our properties to fight global warming.  “If you are concerned about the human impact on our planet’s climate, reducing the amount of lawn you mow each week is one of the best things you can do to reduce your family’s carbon dioxide emissions.  On average, mowing your lawn for one hour produces as much pollution as driving 650 miles.  Moreover, we now burn 800 million gallons of gas each year in our dirty little lawnmower engines to keep our lawns at bay.  Converting lawn to trees or garden would not only save us some money and create much needed food and habitat for our wildlife,  but it would also have the twofold benefit of producing less and absorbing more carbon dioxide: a win-win endeavor.”  (My own yard has never been touched by a lawnmower.)

            The book is filled with pictures of plants, insects (beneficial and pests), and garden plots.  There are useful appendixes.  The first one lists available native plants by region around the country.  Another lists all kinds of butterflies and moths and their host plants. 

            I hope this book review will be timely as you begin to think about your garden and landscaping the yard.  Many county extension services have native plants for sale.  Local nurseries might be helpful as well.  And keep in mind that many of those birds you love to see in the yard depend on insects as a food source.  Even hummingbirds feed insects to their young before they swarm the feeder.  Soon they will return to delight us with their antics, the pollinators will get busy doing their important work, and we will feel satisfied that we have made it possible for all to thrive on this delightful and miraculous planet.

John Hanson