Native Plant Appreciation Week

Governor Gregoire has proclaimed April 29 through May 5, 2007 as Native Plant Appreciation Week in Washington.

Native Plant Appreciation Week is a celebration of the amazing diversity of Washington’s over 3000 native plant species that inhabit deserts, rain forests, high alpine environments, river valleys, and even backyard landscapes. This event is sponsored by the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS).

WNPS will maintain a Native Plant Appreciation Week Web site to highlight programs and activities by WNPS and its partners, which will be live starting in March.

More info can be found at the WNPS website

"Gardening with Native Plants for Wildife

Native plants provide the food, shelter, and nesting habitat favored by our local wildlife. Make your garden a sanctuary for songbirds, hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife using native plants.

Did you Know?

• Native plants are adapted to our climate of wet winters and dry summers.

• Require less water than most non-natives once they are established.

• Resist native pests and diseases better.

• Improve water quality by needing less fertilizer and no pesticides.

• Save resources and encourage a sense of Stewardship.

Native plants will need a little care in their infancy in order to develop a healthy root system so provide them with supplemental water the first couple of years, but after that most natives planted in a favorable site require little additional attention."