MADISON, Wis. — The ground is soft and wet, the official start of spring has passed and in some parts of the state, colorful flowers emerge from the soil.
Native plant sales in Wisconsin began Friday and will go until June, if anyone is looking to add a splash of color to their yard while helping local wildlife flourish, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Some call them weeds, but butterflies, bees, and other pollinators rely on native species for survival. Planting in yards can also be a way to get outside when the weather is nice.
“These sales by local organizations and Wisconsin native plant nurseries offer an easy way to exercise your green thumb, whether you’re a beginner or more experienced gardener," Amy Staffen, DNR conservation biologist, said in a release.
The majority of sales happen in May and June, but some require advance orders with a deadline of March or April, according to the DNR.
Different plants attract different species of wildlife, and depending on what the gardener is looking for, a variety of animals and insects will swoop by.
Monarch butterflies are a popular insect to want fluttering around the yard, and flowers like the aromatic aster and the showy goldenrod are good choices for this orange and black beauty.
Lots of colorful native flowers attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Other birds like places to perch and look for food. Viburnum are shrubs that grow red berries — a popular food source for songbirds in the fall and winter. Oak trees attract hundreds of species of birds who eat the caterpillars, and other bugs living in the tree.
A list of places to buy seeds and additional information can be found here.
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