What does it take to be a Habitat Hero?

Written by Pam Piombino

Simply, this is a gardener who is willing to adjust their practices to nurture and sustain plants and animals that have evolved together in a given area. Colorado’s native perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees have adaptations that have allowed them to survive and thrive in both heavy clay and rocky soils, temperatures that range from -20*F to over 100*F, desiccating winds, low humidity, intense sunshine, hail, drought and floods.

Flowering Colorado native plants. Photo by Ben Blonder.

Most everyone associates the National Audubon Society with birds. The birds are why this organization was originally established and they remain a major focus of all of our conservation efforts. Yet, the birds cannot survive without the plants and insects with which they evolved. Birds cannot raise their broods without the protein in insects. Our native insects cannot assimilate the chemicals in non-native plants. Therefore, Habitat Heroes, by understanding these ecological principles, will be stewards of a complex ecosystem.

There are a myriad of other reasons why natives should take front and center in your yard or patio. Among them:

• Their flowering, seeding and fruiting are synchronized with the seasonal nutritional needs of native, birds, both resident and migrants, insects and other animals.

• They provide pollen and nectar for hundreds of species of pollinators other than honey bees.

• They are drought tolerant and can survive on sparse supplemental watering.

• They are adapted to grow in our various soils, needing little if any supplemental feeding.

• In many cases, their narrower leaves are less damaged by hail storms.

• You are not introducing invasive aliens via nursery stock.