Late each winter our horticulture staff conduct prescribed burns to help maintain our native plant habitats and wildflower meadows throughout the garden.

And each summer, we get to highlight this showy transformation from “litter to glitter.” While conducting small, controlled burns may not yet be feasible for most homeowners or landscapers across the south, establishing native wildflower and grassland meadows in our own backyards and public spaces can still be an easy and effective alternative to the typical turf lawn. It’s also a great way to create habitat for insects and birds that benefit from uninterrupted spans of vegetation, however big or small. Luckily, engaging in small acts of biodiversity kindness is often easier than you think (e.g., Monarda by the Mailbox; Dichanthelium by the Driveway); we hope you too will reconsider redefining beauty with native plants. #NativePlants #Grasslands #Meadows #BringingNatureHome #Biodiversity