Native plants have been part of our landscape for 10,000 years since the glaciers last melted. Having never been watered, fertilized, or sprayed before European settlement and by the indigenous peoples, these plants evolved to withstand sub-zero temperatures, summer heat, drought, and insect predation. Now we can use native plants in our planned and designed landscapes. We can eliminate the use of potable water and other chemical inputs, thus making our landscapes healthier and less expensive to maintain. In addition, by using native plants we can dramatically increase caterpillar, butterfly, bee, and insect populations which attract birds, amphibians, and other wildlife Learn the principles of sustainable landscaping and how you can do your part to reduce resource inputs and create habitat.