Earth Day!

Today, April 22, is Earth Day. The Earth is an amazing planet; some of it has smack-you-in-the-face beauty and in other places it can be more subtle. Like a lot of Oklahoma. Here, we have to slow down, look at the details. Except for our sunsets, of course! They can blow you away some evenings. And sunrises, too. But it’s easy to dismiss the prairie we live in, to think of it as boring. But these oceans of native grasses that sequester carbon in soil contain their own beauty. (Prairies sequester more carbon below ground than forests can above ground, according to soil scientists at the USDA.) Think of our many wildflowers. Think of the many blooming shrubs and trees that offer delicious berries, cherries and pecans, for all the prairie’s residents. Prairies are a vital part of sustaining our pollinators and the entire, interwoven, ecosystem that keeps life going on this beautiful planet.

There are numerous resources on native plants for our area if you are interested in putting a little bit of the prairie in your yard. The National Wildlife Federation is developing a tool that lists native plants by zip code along with terrific resources on gardening for wildlife. The Oklahoma Native Plant Society is another source for invaluable, local information, both on their website and at meetings. The Nature Conservancy in Oklahoma offers education on Oklahoma’s native plants and animals. Or come by and visit with us. We carry a good selection of native perennials, shrubs and trees. And we love to talk about plants!