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Take Action

Invite Them In

To get rid of destructive bugs in your garden, create habitat for the "good ones" and leave the pest control to the birds. More >

Perk Up Your Plants

A cup of joe will chase away that "slug"-ish morning by giving your garden a wake up call. More >

Make It Official

If you've been having a life-long love affair with wildlife, it's time to take the next step. More >

The grass may be greener on the other side, but most animals care little for green grass and even less for the exotic flora that often surround it. More readily coveted would be a sundry assortment of native trees, shrubs and flowers — and somewhere to take cover.

Habitat loss poses the greatest threat to wildlife, while the disruptive presence of invasive plant and animal species takes a close second. The natural balance of ecosystems around the world is frequently skewed by the introduction of invasive plants, making it increasingly difficult to pair animals with their native food sources and suitable shelter. Finding viable ways of protecting, managing and restoring native habitat has become central to most conservation plans.

Closer to home, you may be surprised to discover the critical role your backyard plays in maintaining a healthy ecosystem and how many animals benefit when you landscape with native plants.

Most of us don't equate venturing out of our homes with taking a journey into "the wild", largely because the wild of today is a far cry from what it once was. Imposing steel structures and fields of concrete have created an urban wilderness while suburban development rapidly overtakes open space outside city limits. Over time, many animals have adapted to a significantly altered natural habitat, happily nesting on building ledges and rearing their young under newly constructed backyard decks. At first glance, "the wild" of Greater Philadelphia appears hugely different from that of Latin American rainforests or the African savannah; but a second look reveals a mutual dependence. The role played by native plants in maintaining healthy ecosystems is just as vital in West Philadelphia as it is in Brazil or Kenya and the need to reduce invasives is just as great.

Underestimating the amount of damage an invasive plant can do is a grave mistake. According to the Department of Natural Resources, "There are now more than 4,500 species of plants and animals of foreign origin established in the United States." These alien residents are costing the U.S. an estimated $137 billion annually in economic losses. Despite their beauty, many invasive plants are treacherous usurpers of valuable soil space, quickly displacing their native neighbors.

Purple loosestrife, a handsome garden plant with tall spikes of magenta flowers, is one of the leading offenders. This aggressive non-native species has taken over millions of wetlands in the U.S., crowding out indigenous plants and jeopardizing native biological diversity.

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