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    Home | Learning Center | Confessions of a Wannabe Gardener

    Confessions of a Wannabe Gardener

    Published on
    March 29 2022
    Updated on
    March 18 2025
    Dawn Rodney

    Tagged: National Wildlife Federation Staff Spotlight

    Confessions of a Wannabe Gardener - Garden for Wildlife

     

    I have a confession to make. I’m not a gardener. At least I don’t think so. I always wanted to be a gardener. Gardeners are some of the best people I know. Really cool words like symphyotrichum cordifolium and etiolation roll off their tongues with ease. They know about Germanification and Stratification, and, without a moment of hesitation, can answer the question “what zone are you?” 

    I can’t do any of that.

    Now don’t get me wrong, I love plants and trees and shrubs and anything that is green or flowering. I want my yard to look beautiful. I plant. I mulch. I weed. Ok, if I’m being honest, my husband weeds. I supervise. Does that make me a gardener? I don’t think so.

    As Chief Innovation and Growth Officer of the National Wildlife Federation, my perspective on gardening has changed over the last couple of years. The Garden For Wildlife social enterprise is a result of the innovation work I led. I had to learn a lot about the horticulture industry, the difference between true natives and cultivars, carbon sequestration, and many other things along the way thanks to many patient and knowledgeable scientists, naturalists and yes, some of my favorite gardeners.   

    The plants, trees and shrubs I plant in my yard do matter. It matters to the birds I love to watch in the morning and it matters to the butterflies I want to help save. So now I plant native Blue Wood Asters, Milkweed, Wild Geraniums, Cardinal Flowers and Eastern Columbine with their gorgeous hues of reds, blues, and purples. I plant as many as I can so I can one day convert my typical suburban lawn into a beautiful oasis for wildlife.  

    I may never remember the Latin names for all these wonderful native plants. And, I don’t know if I’ll ever consider myself a true gardener. There are two things I do know for sure: you don’t have to call yourself a gardener to Garden For Wildlife, and my husband will always be the one to pull the weeds.

    Powerhouse Plants: Meet the Keystones

    Keystone plants are natives that support 90% of butterflies and moths, and up to 60% of native bees in a specific ecoregion.

    Planting keystone species maximizes your positive impact on the local ecosystem and helps wildlife populations thrive.

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    We took the guesswork out of planting native. Check your zip to see what ships!

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    Published on
    March 29 2022
    Updated on
    March 18 2025
    Dawn Rodney

    Tagged: National Wildlife Federation Staff Spotlight

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    March 29 2022 Invest with Impact: Cultivate a Greener Future with Garden For Wildlife

    March 29 2022 Western Monarch Butterfly Decline: Understanding the Causes and Seeking Solutions

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