Recommended books, apps and websites

Native Plants for Virginia’s Capital Region Free PDF download, and available in print for free at most county extension offices.

Native Plants for Virginia's Capital Region

Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping by the US Fish and Wildlife Service

Amazing source for finding native plants. Describes each plant’s native range, soil, water and light needs, and mature size of plant. Available free in PDF

Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping

Do I Have to Mow All That? produced by the Native Plant Society of Virginia. Brochure of ideas for reducing lawn size and increasing habitat areas. Free PDF

Do I Have to Mow All That?

Homegrown National Park Get your native plant garden on the map! This is Doug Tallamy’s website, launched in 2021. It is the largest cooperative conservation project ever conceived or attempted.

Homegrown National Park

Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy

This book discusses the importance of bugs in our yards and creating space for them. Reading this was a real eye-opener for me!

The Life Cycles of Butterflies by Judy Burris and Wayne Richards

Great book for adults and kids! Talks about each stage of a butterfly’s life, and has pictures of the life cycles of 23 common butterflies. Great gift idea!

Gardening for Butterflies by The Xerces Society

How to attract and protect butterflies, which will also help bees and other pollinators.

Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West

Written mostly for landscape professionals, good for gardeners who don’t mind the scientific (Latin) names of plants. Lovely pictures of landscapes that look wild and beautiful but are actually carefully designed.

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