The sixteen Garden Club of America member clubs in the state of Connecticut announce the signing of a proclamation by Governor Lamont officially designating April 2023 “Connecticut Native Plant Month” in recognition of the importance of native plants to Connecticut’s rich biological heritage and source of food and habitat for pollinators and native wildlife.
The Garden Club of America has led this effort across all 50 states and Washington, DC to increase awareness of the critical role native plants play in supporting a healthy environment, thriving wildlife and pollinator populations, reducing use of pesticides and fertilizers, cleaning air and water and so much more.
All plants protect our planet’s natural resources, including air, water, and soil. A significant number of North American native species, including insects, caterpillars, birds, and other animals, are at risk of extinction because they cannot eat non-native plants. In addition, habitat loss, the use of invasive species, climate change, and pesticide use are contributing to their steep decline.
Through a Native Plant Month proclamation, Connecticut and its citizens can engage and make a difference right at home. Native plants are low maintenance, offer four-season beauty, require less fertilizer thereby creating a healthy yard for your family and pets, conserve water as they are adapted to the local environmental conditions, and provide a vital habitat for birds, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, native bees and other species of wildlife.
The Garden Club of America and its 199 member clubs are committed to preserving and expanding native plant habitats, helping build awareness about the importance of native plants in sustaining healthy ecosystems, promoting biodiversity, encouraging the removal of non-native, invasive plants, and supporting all efforts to help native bees, butterflies, birds, other pollinators, and wildlife. Founded in 1913, the GCA is a nonpartisan, issue-oriented advocate for a beautiful, healthy planet. It is a nonprofit national organization recognized for its leadership in horticulture, conservation, creative arts, historic preservation, and environmental protection. Its mission is to bring its 199 member clubs together to cultivate a bond among people, plants, and the environment. The GCA member clubs consist of almost 18,000 club members who devote energy and expertise to projects in their communities and across the United States.
To learn more about the initiative, visit www.gcamerica.org
To read the GCA’s Position Paper on native plants, visit www.gcamerica.org/nnpmi
