Julia Butch, owner of Designs by Nature – Huron Shores, LLC, said that Northeast Michigan is a native plant nursery desert, and she hopes by starting her own nursery, she can encourage residents to plant more native plants on their properties and in their gardens.
Butch explained that native plants are plants that are adapted to Northeast Michigan's climate and naturally grow in the Great Lakes region. She said that native plants are hardy and are adapted to withstand native predators and pests, making them an essential building block for the region's ecosystem.
"Native plants are the foundation of everything," Butch said. She explained that though native plants may not have the same aesthetic value as a rose bush, for example, she said they are more sustainable and require less maintenance.
"They are beautiful," she added. "They have the best success rates … they are used to our climate."
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