birds

“Is it native?” That’s the first question you should ask when you see a plant you like at a nursery, says John Messerschmidt, owner of Hudson Valley Native Landscaping in High Falls. “If the answer is no, it does nothing to contribute to the wildlife around you.” Here, the native plants expert explains why and how those non-native plants in your garden are affecting the local populations of caterpillars and birds that rely on native plants for food.