Hurray for Victoria council鈥檚 consideration of switching to native plants in many of the city鈥檚 garden beds. Not only can this save on water, energy and cost, it鈥檚 also good for the eco-system we live in.
Bird populations everywhere are declining. Insect populations everywhere are declining. These are indicators of trouble in the systems that keep us alive. The causes are many. One cause is widespread planting of non-native plants in urban landscapes.
Non-native plants fit into eco-systems elsewhere, but not here. Here, they don鈥檛 participate; they don鈥檛 support the insects here and therefore don鈥檛 support the birds here.
Urban neighbourhoods planted in mostly non-native trees support fewer birds because birds can鈥檛 find enough bugs to feed their babies. Think chickadees, sparrows and swallows. They need the bugs that grow on native plants.
The story said the city is considering replacing annuals with native plants. Wonderful. Are they thinking trees as well? Owing to their size and longevity, the choice of tree when planting is particularly important. Many non-native trees are ecological duds.
And rather than looking just like everywhere else, native trees and plants can create a look that will be our own: Our brand.
Ann Tiplady
Victoria
