This book was full of information about native plants, the creatures they support, and why it is important to plant native rather than alien plants. I am in the process of planning what to add to my tiny suburban lot to support pollinators, etc. and this was helpful. ( )

A book that everyone concerned about the environment or global warming should have on their bookshelf or at least check out of the library and read. ( )

How native plants sustain wildlife in our gardens

Tallamy makes a strong case for homeowners to incorporate native plants in their yards since native ecosystems are so fragmented by development that their ability to sustain native insect and bird populations is waning. Alien species that are typically planted by homeowners do not fulfill the same functions as native plant species. Hopefully people will abandon alien plants in favor of native plants before it is too late. ( )

This is one of those paradigm shifting books. So, do you want the local insects to eat holes in your leaves? Resoundingly, YES! If you want a healthy ecosystem, you have to encourage all of the local life; you can't be particular and selective. And to keep the whole thing churning correctly, you can't displace the traditional foods of even the smallest members of the system. Witness the Monarch butterfly crisis because farmers have been eradicating milkweed from much of the US heartland. Grow those weeds. More importantly, grow all the local plants that the local animals rely on. One of the reasons some imported varieties do so outsize well is that they don't have their native nibblers here. That's not a good ecosystem.
This is a must-read for all people concerned with the ecosphere remaining alive. ( )