An entomologist explains why gardens full of native plants are essential for insects, birds and wildlife, and how any yard can help
Every garden is a habitat
Most suburban gardens are planted with ornamental species from other continents. They look attractive, but Douglas Tallamy, an entomologist, explains that most native insects cannot eat them, and without insects there is little food for birds and other wildlife. His book makes the case that ordinary gardeners can rebuild habitats simply by choosing native plants.
Who will enjoy it
Gardeners, birdwatchers and homeowners who want their yards to support wildlife, and anyone interested in practical conservation close to home.
What you will get
An eye-opening, practical case for gardening with native plants, explaining how ordinary yards can feed insects and birds and help restore the natural world close to home.
Bringing Nature Home Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Nonfiction · Native plants · Wildlife gardening · Insects and birds
Length
288 pages · ≈ 8 h
More about this book
Tallamy builds his argument step by step. Insects, especially caterpillars, are the main food that songbirds feed their chicks, and most caterpillars depend on specific native plants with which they evolved. When gardens are filled with non-native ornamentals, the food chain quietly collapses. The science is explained clearly, without jargon, and it changes how you look at a lawn.
The second half is practical. Tallamy profiles the native trees, shrubs and perennials that support the most wildlife, with oaks, willows and cherries near the top of the list, and introduces many of the insects that depend on them, illustrated with striking photographs. His tone is hopeful: small changes in many gardens can add up to real habitat.
The plant recommendations focus on eastern North America, so readers elsewhere will need local guides, and some may find the insect chapters detailed. An updated paperback edition followed. It is the kind of book that can change how a garden is planned for years afterwards, and it pairs well with field guides for identifying the visitors that soon arrive. Tallamy's enthusiasm for even the smallest creatures is infectious. About 288 pages in the Timber Press hardcover.
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