Reader’s Viewpoint: Native Plants Key to Area

By Vickie Babyak
The Tube City Almanac
August 30, 2022
Posted in: Commentary-Editorial

Vickie Babyak is a photographer and freelance writer from Dravosburg:

Bee balm (Monarda), native to eastern North America, and black-eyed Susans (Rudbekia hirta), native to eastern and central North America, naturalized in the western part; both plants are perennials attracting hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)

The end of summer is near and the first day of autumn arrives on Sept. 22. In reaction to the shorter length of days, seasonal changes can be observed in surrounding trees and plants.

Each season displays its own beauty with growth that is attractive to humans and supportive to the environment.

Native plants are particularly important to nature and some bloom throughout autumn before winter arrives, providing necessary nourishment for a wide-range of diverse wildlife.

Sensitive partridge pea (Chamaecrista nictitans) is an annual native to North America (east of Rocky Mountains); it attracts bees, songbirds and several species of butterflies. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)

Fall-blooming perennials, annuals or biennials provide needed pollen and nectar for bees as well as pollinators whose life cycles begin in late summer. Nectar is also critical to the survival of endangered monarch butterflies and ruby-throated hummingbirds during migration.

Birds need direct food sources such as insects, seeds, nectar and fruits that are vital to an avian diet. Non-native plants do not attract the quantity of insects that native birds depend on.

There are excellent online resources available to learn more about native plants and wildlife. Two local sources, the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Game Commission provide information in environmental awareness.

Next planting season, consider a backyard habitat garden with native plants to support our ecosystem and to experience the natural beauty of Mother Earth.

Rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) is a perennial native to southern and eastern North America and attracts bees, butterflies, beetles, and hummingbirds. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)

Oxeye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) is commonly called oxeye sunflower or ox-eye daisy, it is a short-lived perennial, native to eastern and central North America. On top of the oxeye is a Pennsylvania leatherwing beetle (Goldenrod soldier beetle) a pollinator and predator of garden pests, causing no harm to plants or humans. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)

Blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), a perennial flowering plant native to North and Central America, attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, bumble bees and other types of bees. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)

Woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus) is a native perennial in the aster family growing five to seven feet tall and is native to eastern and central North America. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)

Tube City Community Media is committed to printing viewpoints from residents of the McKeesport area and surrounding municipalities on issues of importance to the Mon-Yough area.

Commentaries are accepted at the discretion of the editor and may be edited for content or length.

To submit a commentary for consideration, please write to Tube City Community Media, 409 Walnut St., Suite 200, McKeesport, PA 15134, or email tubecitytiger -at - gmail -dot- com. Include contact information and your real name. A pen name may be substituted with approval of the editor.

Originally published August 30, 2022.

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