The Scoop

Environmental Action Team

March- April 2025

Earth Day reminds us of our responsibility to protect and nurture the environment. And if each of us does a small part, the collective can eventually have a huge impact.

Did you know that in the last 20 years, the country has lost 22 percent of its butterflies? Creating a sustainable landscape is an effective way to celebrate Earth Day and contribute to the planet’s health. By incorporating native plants, practicing eco-friendly gardening (not using chemical pesticides) and fostering wildlife-friendly habitats, we can have a meaningful impact, increasing the numbers of butterflies and other pollinators. 

This may sound like a lot to manage, but we can create habitat refuges for butterflies and other insects simply by planting native flowers, shrubs and trees. Incorporating native plants into gardens and green spaces can reduce our ecological footprint while providing essential habitats for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. And, native plants contribute to soil health and reduce the need for chemical pesticides, which can harm surrounding ecosystems.

With a little planning and foresight,  we can cultivate landscapes that not only enhance our surroundings but also promote environmental sustainability for generations to come. This Earth Day, let us commit to nurturing our landscapes in a way that supports the planet and its inhabitants.

Some resources: 

Homegrown National Park: homegrownnationalpark.org

Carolina Native Nursery: https://www.carolinanativenursery.com/

The Wild Ones: https://wildones.org/