An Easy Trade

These days people are looking for more from their gardens than ever before; gone are the days where “pretty” is enough on its own. Facing up to worldwide habitat loss, the huge decline of insects and songbirds and a changing climate, many folks are demanding more from their built landscapes. Happily, there is no need to give up anything when building gardens that support—and are supported by—wildlife. With just a little bit of guidance, we can build spaces that are beautiful, tasty, interactive and ecologically functional—while requiring much less maintenance than conventional gardens often do.

There are a number of strategies for creating easier and ecologically robust landscapes, but there’s only one rule: Use native plants. There is no