It's no good denying that there are problems. It's no shame if you think about the harm we've inflicted on the world. But if you concentrate on doing the things you can do, and doing them well, it will make all the difference.

-Jane Goodall, from The Book of Hope, Survival Guide for Trying Times

A few years ago we stood on the sidewalk in front of a restaurant's massive blooming flower garden on a  narrow slope in front of their porch. The garden was a beautiful riot of color and textures with annuals and perennials, but we could not see one insect on any of the hundreds of flowers. Sadly, this observation of a lack of life in the landscape is becoming more common, and reflects the consequences of pesticides, the loss of habitat for native insects and other creatures that rely on native plants to survive. 

Have you noticed how much life is in your yard or neighborhood? 

Since about 90 percent of land in Connecticut is privately owned, many of us have an opportunity to protect habitat in our neighborhood and contribute to a pollinator pathway. Even renters can put a pot of native plants on their front step or balcony, which is also helpful. Doug Tallamy, an entomologist at the University of Delaware, writes and speaks about the idea of protecting biodiversity by planting 70 percent or more of our yards with native plants. 

Lawns have their place in providing an area for children to play, or on municipal or school sports grounds or parks where people can gather for a concert, or a pathway alongside gardens. But many of us could support biodiversity in our neighborhoods by reducing our lawns and planting native trees, grasses, perennials, and  sedges that are free of a class of pesticides called neonictinoids, the most widely used class of insecticide. Neonics have been referred to as the "new DDT" and described as 7000 times more lethal to insects than DDT, which was banned in the 1970s and had a devastating impact on birds. Since neonictinoid use has grown in the past 30-plus years, the total biomass of insects worldwide has declined 80 percent. Bird populations have also significantly declined.  

In 2025 Connecticut passed a law that will take effect n October 2027 to ban the use of neonictinoids on golf courses, lawns and most turf. However this pesticide that was banned in Europe in 2018 will still be permitted in agriculture and nursery plants, despite it's lethality to insects and ineffectiveness for farmers. You can read more about neonictinoids here:  https://www.ctpesticidereform.org/our-focus/wildlife 

More than 40 million acres of land in the United States have lawns on them, making them the largest irrigated crop in the country.  Maintaining lawns requires a massive amount of water, chemicals and fossil fuels. The chemicals run off into our watershed when it rains and pollute our drinking water. Treated lawns threaten exposing our children and pets to harmful chemicals. In terms of pollinators, lawns are dead zones. 

If you want to use your power to do something to protect biodiversity and habitat in your country, town, neighborhood and yard, educate yourself about invasives and remove them from your property, preferably without chemicals. Plants like burning bush, Japanese barberry, autumn olive and more were once introduced by the garden trade but are now considered invasive. Learn about native plants and start by adding native trees, shrubs or perennials to your yard as your resources allow. Deter mosquitoes with a mosquito dunk bucket instead of spraying which . Learn more about that here: https://homegrownnationalpark.org/mosquito-bucket-challenge/

Ask nurseries to sell native plants that are free of neonictinoids and find those that do.  We list some below. Consider asking your local businesses to plant native plants to support biodiversity in their landscapes. Using our voices and voting with our wallets are powerful tools for change. 

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE

Books

Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy

How Can I Help? by Doug Tallamy

Lawns to Meadows by Owen Wormser

The Northeast Native Plant Primer by Uli Lorimer

Websites

Audobon Society: https://www.audubon.org/get-involved

Guide to Invasives in your backyard from the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District https://www.conservect.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/invasives-guide-2025_final_web_reduced.pdf 

Homegrown National Park https://homegrownnationalpark.org 

Native Plant Trust   https://www.nativeplanttrust.org 

Pollinator Pathway- CT -based site with how-tos for planting for pollinators:  https://www.pollinator-pathway.org 

University of Connecticut list of Invasive Species https://cipwg.uconn.edu/invasive_plant_list/ 

Xerces Society https://www.xerces.org 

Local and Mailorder Native Plant Sources

Below is a list of a few businesses that sell native plants using organic practices, as well as some mail order catalogs that sell native seeds. 

EarthTones Native Plants & Landscapes, Woodbury, CT. https://www.earthtonesnatives.com 

ReWild Native Plant Nursery, at Thrive Farm in Simsbury, CT https://www.rewildct.com 

Tiny Meadow Farm, Danbury CT. https://tinymeadowfarm.com 

Prairie Moon Nursery (catalog), Winona, MN

https://www.prairiemoon.com

Northeast Seed Collective 

https://www.northeastseedcollective.com