June 2026
Choosing Native Plants with Amy Meltzer
On June 16th, we were treated to a wonderful presentation by Amy Meltzer of the Massachusetts Pollinator Network! Amy generously shared a native plant spreadsheet loaded with useful information, along with resource slides packed with great links and references.
Amy went beyond plant lists and explored the many ingredients of a successful garden recipe—sunlight, heat, moisture, foot traffic, garden style, and more. One eye-opening takeaway was that our hardiness zones are changing as the climate warms, so it may be time to give a second look to plants that once seemed better suited farther south.
Perhaps the most liberating message of the evening: you don’t have to garden only for the next 20 years! If there’s a plant you love now, plant it and enjoy it. And no room for a mighty oak? A smaller oak can still be a powerhouse, providing food and shelter for countless insects and other wildlife.
Amy went beyond plant lists and explored the many ingredients of a successful garden recipe—sunlight, heat, moisture, foot traffic, garden style, and more. One eye-opening takeaway was that our hardiness zones are changing as the climate warms, so it may be time to give a second look to plants that once seemed better suited farther south.
Perhaps the most liberating message of the evening: you don’t have to garden only for the next 20 years! If there’s a plant you love now, plant it and enjoy it. And no room for a mighty oak? A smaller oak can still be a powerhouse, providing food and shelter for countless insects and other wildlife.
Resources:
Download the file below:
| resource_slides_june_16_2026_choosing_native_plants.pdf |
The following information is from Amy:
Answers to a couple of questions:
1) For propagating mountain laurel, check this book.
Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing, and Propagating North American Woody Plants By William Cullina
2) A salt tolerant tree to replace a red maple -
I suggest using the native plant spreadsheet, going to the Tree tab at the bottom, and looking at the column of salt tolerant trees. There are many!
The sequence of characteristics I would look for would be: salt tolerance; light; height and spread, moisture needs. Once you've chosen some trees to consider, scroll far to the right to check heat tolerance. You can also click the link next to the tree name to see more information about each tree. For a good display of images, google the Latin name of the tree, and click on ‘Images' in the top menu bar.
How about a gorgeous, super beneficial oak?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1l7kqWQ8l6dDX4cdRrZHvIS5jtF2JFJMQgBmmclL_htY/edit?usp=sharing
Enjoy your wildlife gardening, everyone!
Amy
Answers to a couple of questions:
1) For propagating mountain laurel, check this book.
Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing, and Propagating North American Woody Plants By William Cullina
2) A salt tolerant tree to replace a red maple -
I suggest using the native plant spreadsheet, going to the Tree tab at the bottom, and looking at the column of salt tolerant trees. There are many!
The sequence of characteristics I would look for would be: salt tolerance; light; height and spread, moisture needs. Once you've chosen some trees to consider, scroll far to the right to check heat tolerance. You can also click the link next to the tree name to see more information about each tree. For a good display of images, google the Latin name of the tree, and click on ‘Images' in the top menu bar.
How about a gorgeous, super beneficial oak?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1l7kqWQ8l6dDX4cdRrZHvIS5jtF2JFJMQgBmmclL_htY/edit?usp=sharing
Enjoy your wildlife gardening, everyone!
Amy