“I have loved being a part of the Neighbors for Native Plants project! Bieke and Bethany have made it so easy to create a little garden of beautiful, local flowers that also help support pollinators. My kids and I have loved watching the plants grow and bloom, and learning about different flower varieties. Sometimes it feels overwhelming knowing how to help the planet - it’s nice to be a part of something that makes a difference in your own backyard.”
- Anna C.

“After losing so many trees and plants to extreme weather (tornado, drought, freeze), I wanted to be very intentional about what I added back. I dreamed of a yard that was not only beautiful but also beneficial for the Earth and its inhabitants. If it could also be hardy and low maintenance, that would be even better! The one answer I kept finding in my research was native plants. But finding them was nearly impossible! I am so glad Neighbors for Native Plants came along when it did. With just one easy order I added so much to my yard. I love seeing how the plants change as they grow and am so happy with my little slice of Tennessee.”
- Maggie C.

“As a neighbor of Shelby Bottoms, I feel responsible to offer back to the wildness of the woods where my house sits adjacent. The Neighbors for Native Plants have been an integral part of my current gardening journey. Ordering seasonally appropriate, native, plants directly from their curated picks, removed all the overwhelm I usually feel walking into a nursery. With its endless options most of which are not native to this land. In the past I have planted all the wrong things and as a result these plants do not last more than a season. But now as I watch my native garden grow, I am amazed at how well it is thriving. I have more bees and butterflies and other pollinators than I have ever seen in my yard before. And while I am still learning about the positive effects this has on our ecosystem, I am truly excited about gardening again for the first time in a long time. I started small with just one bed of plants but I am currently preparing two additional beds to add more native plants in the fall. I can’t thank the Neighbors for Native Plants initiative enough for spreading this important message to the community.”
- Becca T.

“Becoming interested in native plants and their importance to our environment has opened my eyes to my day-to-day surroundings in rich new ways. Neighbors for Native Plants has given me access to native plants, knowledge about natives, and connection with like-minded people and energized me to act along with neighbors to grow more healthy habitats right where we live.”
- Joe M.

“I have loved giving our little piece of the earth back to nature. Participating with N4NP has been simple and joyful at every step. Diverting from traditional gardening practices can be overwhelming and I would not have known where to begin on my own. My friends at N4NP created a little starter garden for me that we mixed in with our current beds. With guidance from the organization, we picked some native seeds to sow in side yards, alley space, and other previously unused areas of our yard. A favorite part of belonging to the N4NP group is sharing the process with our kids. They helped us plant our new natives, and we talked about why we were choosing to work with nature instead of fighting against it by planting invasive ornamental plants. We have been learning to identify butterflies and birds we see in the garden. My hope is that we are raising them to be good citizens of the planet, who have awareness of the earth's needs and potential gifts. Maybe that's a lot to ask of a box of little plants, but you have to start somewhere!”
- Liz K.