Nature needs our help—our society has used up a lot of the land for agriculture, roads, homes, workplaces and recreational areas. Once, nature surrounded our  communities, but now our communities surround nature! Many people are connecting with nature in their own backyard by choosing native plants for their homes that help protect our local biodiversity. By adding native plants to our backyards, we can restore balance between the developed and natural worlds. Native plants are important because they support native wildlife, such as insects and mammals. Today, many of our children are growing up in a world lacking access to outdoor places. How will they explore the beauty of butterflies, wooly worms, bluebirds, chipmunks, wildflowers and trees? How will they play and form long-lasting emotional bonds to the earth? You can provide this natural environment and introduce your child to the benefits the outdoors in your own home by creating a native landscape. Five Rivers MetroParks has created this page to assist local landowners with this effort.
The National Wildlife Federation has created a wildlife habitat program for landowners to get certified as having a backyard “wildlife habitat.” Discover how your backyard habitat can help save the world by conserving our local biodiversity. Download a backyard conservation booklet that can be used for planning.
As you investigate local sources for native plants, consider these links:
Find helpful hints on making a kid-friendly outdoor yard:
A special Partnership with the City of Miamisburg
Five Rivers MetroParks is seeking help to save our local biodiversity by establishing backyard habitats. We have teamed up with the City of Miamisburg to promote native landscaping in this community. The City of Miamisburg has established an application procedure for homeowners’ native landscaping plans so they can avoid lawn maintenance violations. We are looking for city residents to apply. Review this handbook to learn how, and read our FAQ document. Use the handbook extension links and appendixes for more information.
Get Inspired
Want some ideas to help you plan your own native landscape? Below is a list of some recently installed and well-established landscapes to spark your gardening creativity:
- Germantown MetroPark Nature Center, 6910 Boomershine Rd, Germantown: Take the front sidewalk to see native plantings (installed by late spring 2011).
- City of Miamisburg Service Center, 600 N. Main St., Miamisburg: Check out plantings that were installed fall 2010.
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark, 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton: This MetroPark features an established Woodland Wildflower Garden off the red trail.
- CountyCorp, 5870 Beth St., Huber Heights; and 709 MacMillan, Trotwood: Montgomery County’s non-profit development corporation has created “green rehab” homes in Huber Heights, Trotwood and West Carrollton. The model homes are located at the Beth Street and MacMillan addresses. Five Rivers MetroParks has assisted them in establishing two raingardens (using natives and native cultivars), which can be observed at the model homes. CoutyCorp also has attached rain barrels to the downspouts, in addition to all kinds of Energy Star ratings inside.
|