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Connecticut Garden Journal
Connecticut Garden Journal is a weekly program hosted by horticulturalist Charlie Nardozzi. Each week, Charlie focuses on a topic relevant to both new and experienced gardeners, including pruning lilac bushes, growing blight-free tomatoes, groundcovers, sunflowers, bulbs, pests, and more.

Connecticut Garden Journal: Keeping It Native

Winterberry is a native plant in Connecticut.
Infiniteswg (Flickr)
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Creative Commons
Winterberry is a native plant in Connecticut.

Everyone wants to plant native plants. The advantages to growing native plants are many. These are plants that have stood the test of time. They're adapted to weather, climate, insects, diseases and even human activity. They provide habitat for pollinators, butterflies, birds and other wildlife and, sometimes, food for us. But finding a good, economical source for lots of these trees, shrubs, perennials, fruits and berries can be problematic.

Well, here's a tip. Each spring the Connecticut Conservation Districts have plant sales where you can purchase bare-rooted and container-grown native plants for growing in your yard. The plants range from seedling pines and spruce trees, to holly and mountain laurel shrubs, to blueberries and raspberries and even native ground covers such as bear berry. The plants may be small, but with a little attention, they'll grow to a full size.

The state is broken into five conservation districts with plants adapted to your region. There will be plants for seashore and riverbank erosion control, attracting pollinators, and providing food and habitat for birds and wildlife.

Most of these districts ask you preorder plants online for a late April or early May pickup, depending on the district. You may be able to buy additional plants on pickup day, too. Not only can you get quality, native plants at a good price, the conservation districts offer workshops and assistance in land stewardship and watershed and pollution management.

The Connecticut Conservation Districts are a good source for plants and information on how ecologically manage your yard. Find your district at www.conservect.org.

Charlie Nardozzi is a regional Emmy® Award winning garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert information to home gardeners.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

Fund the Facts

You just read trusted, local journalism that’s free for everyone, thanks to donors like you.

If that matters to you, now is the time to give. Join the 50,000+ members powering honest reporting and a more connected — and civil! — Connecticut.

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