While I was in Utah last week, I went hiking daily in the mountains and saw numerous bumble bees buzzing around the native plants. I could hear them buzzing by me as if they were on their morning commute to work. This sight was particularly special to me as there aren't as many bumble bees in my area.
During my time in Utah, I also began reading a book by Douglas Tallamy called Bringing Nature Home. In the book, Tallamy discusses how in the U.S., we have developed and modified between 95-97% of all land, leaving only 3-5% as undisturbed habitat for plants and animals. He mentions a study estimating that 32-40 million acres of wild land in the U.S. have been converted to suburban lawns, replacing native plants with non-native ones that cannot support insects and wildlife. Tallamy emphasizes the importance of planting native species around our homes to provide food and habitat for the local species we live with. He points out that non-native plants, like the lilac bushes I planted, do not offer the necessary support for insects and wildlife. Bringing Nature Home offers practical solutions for supporting pollinators and wildlife in our environment. It's a great read for anyone looking to help preserve the planet and its wildlife.
