Almost five years ago, I started converting my southeast Michigan suburban lawn and garden to native plants.

My neighbors wondered what I was doing when I planted native plants where an old basketball hoop once stood.

And then expanded it to the now angled 25 foot by 6 foot bed of red, purple, yellow, white, and orange flowers that bloom from April through November.

Over the years, I’ve added multiple native plant beds to the front and backyard.

Last fall I converted a 15 foot by 10 foot section of the hellstrip (also known as easement; it’s the area between the paved sidewalk and street) to native plants.

The questions from neighbors never stopped; many asked why I would convert green grass to what looked to them to be weeds.

Others were curious about the brightly colored flowers that attracted American goldfinches, Ruby-throated hummingbirds and monarch butterflies.

I would have been better prepared for their questions if I had attended this month’s How to Talk to Your Neighbors (and Your Homeowners Association) About Your Garden free webinar from Wild Ones offering helpful advice and tips.

Continue reading Free Webinar: How to Talk to Your Neighbors (and Your Homeowners Association) About Your Garden