Parks are closed, so I’m sticking with nearby nature. Yep, I’m sticking like Cleavers on corduroy.*
Today, I walked the yard to take phone pics of native flowers: only natives. (Non-natives, I’ll post tomorrow.)
Why is native important? Native plants and animals coevolved in Place, and they function deep and wide together. Native is what makes our local habitats work best.
The more native plants in our yards, the more invertebrates. The more invertebrates, the more bird food; and the more bird food, the better for everyone.
When coral honeysuckle blooms in Nashville, it means hummingbirds aren’t far behind.
Columbine blooms are another signal of Hummingbird Season…
Note that several of these plants are Yard Weeds: they just happen. And all are killed when a Lawn Service mows and blows and poisons. Even native flowers the size of a sesame seed are more functional than exotic turfgrasses…
*(Cleavers is also known as velcro-grass, sticky-willy, goose-grass, galium. The bristles cling to anything that isn’t super-smooth. And I only found out last week it’s a U.S. native. My family met it in England long ago, so I always figured it was from there…)
And these tiny buttercups in the lawn:
—What native plants do you see in YOUR nearby nature?—
Sidewalk Nature 
You have a lovely collection of plants here. I am amazed that Cleavers are native to the Americas, they have always seemed so British somehow!
Thinking about my little patch of earth I am wondering how many plants are really native; I would certainly rule out my Rosemary but what about Thyme, Sage, Parsley and Tarragon? Violets, Buttercups, Daisies, Ivy?
Great question, Toffeeapple! For you, I started looking at your Woodlands Trust and the RHS, but I think you might be better off with a proper field guide (if you can get one by mail?). Here in the US we have online “native plant finders” searchable by zipcode, offered by the Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Foundation. Maybe there is a similar service offered by an organization in England or the U.K.? Also, if you do facebook, there should be a native plant organization who welcomes photos and questions. Native plant people are usually extremely welcoming and helpful when they see someone is even remotely interested in identifying their own plants!
What beautiful flowers, I especially love the coral honeysuckle, so bright and colourful!
Thanks, Sue. It gets even better when all the trumpets open!