Though Your Garden May Be Fading, It's Still Filled With Seeds of New Life - collecting seeds for habitat restoration

National Wildlife, Oct-Nov, 1999

According to the Center for Plant Conservation, a St. Louis-based organization dedicated exclusively to preventing the extinction of rare plants, one-quarter of U.S. species-roughly 5,000 native plants-are currently "of conservation concern," plagued by development, overcollecting and invasion by exotic species. Taking special care not to disturb such plants in the wild and educating others about their importance is key to their survival.

"So often we forget that the most intelligent response to finding a new plant population or community is to do nothing-just look and enjoy," says Rowe. "By focusing your attention on your yard and the native-plant seeds available there, you can help support biological diversity in your community."

"By focusing your attention on your yard ... you can help support biological diversity in your community."

Assistant Editor Kelly Senser wrote in the February/March issue about how to get a jump on the spring gardening season by starting plants indoors during winter. For more information about natural plantings, write: Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program, NWF, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia 22184; web address: www.nwf.org/habitats.>

COPYRIGHT 1999 National Wildlife Federation

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