When Cleveland Heights couple Peggy Spaeth and John Barber began to fill their yard with native flowers a few years ago, they had no idea how far the seeds would spread.

Today, they lead the Heights Native Pollinator Pathway, with about 1,200 members throughout Greater Cleveland and beyond on their Facebook page. The members uproot invasive plants and sow native ones, which nurture bees, butterflies, birds, and, indirectly, all species.

The 1,200 are far from the only gardeners in Cleveland Heights or elsewhere whose native plants support the Earth’s declining numbers and diversity of living things.

More than 160 people belong to Wild Ones Greater Cleveland, part of a national network. More than 80 people participate in Nature in My Backyard, a program of the Shaker Lakes Garden Club and the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland.

It makes sense that countless unaffiliated gardeners are helping restore the local ecosystem.

A butterfly feasts on a flower at Jessica Ausnehmer's home in BereaYou might think that a little milkweed, witch hazel, serviceberry, and the like wouldn’t much help the planet. But Spaeth, who is also the founding executive director of Heights Arts, says, “It’s one small way to address the climate emergency.”

Insects flit from flower to flower. Local Wild Ones president Jessica Ausnehmer says that native gardeners are “helping them get to the beginning and end of their journeys.”

Ausnehmer explains that native plants excel at feeding native insects, hosting their eggs, and attracting native birds. Having evolved here, they don’t need chemicals or much tending. Native or not, plants are much better than lawns at absorbing and cleaning air and water—thereby reducing pollution, floods, and sewer backups.

Advocates say that native flowers are as pretty as any others. And don’t worry too much about the bees they draw. Those kinds of bees seldom sting.

Weeding out the invasives

Most local yards often teem with invasive honeysuckles, knotweeds, privets, trees of heaven, and other troublesome species. At their homes, Ausnehmer, Barber, and Spaeth simply use shovels and muscles to uproot the unwanted species.

Additionally, the Heights Pollinator Pathway’s Barber and Spaeth use herbicides on the invasive species at several local parks as members of Friends of Heights Parks, of which Spaeth is president and Barber serves as secretary.

Once the invaders are gone, long-dormant natives tend to rise from the seed bed. Gardeners nurture them and sow many more. Several local nurseries specialize in natives.

Heights Pollinator Pathway sells natives twice a year. The next sale is on Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Forest Hill Church, 3031 Monticello Blvd. in Cleveland Heights.

Wild Ones stages many events—virtually and in person—such as talks, demonstrations, tours, and hikes. The group has also created gardens at Cleveland’s Impett Park on West 153rd Street and Amherst’s Rotary Pollinator Park. The group is planning more events at Cleveland’s Wendy Park, at Lakewood’s Wagar Park, and in other areas of Amherst.

Insects are drawn to native plantsSpread the word

Ausnehmer and Spaeth encourage gardeners to plant native plants in their front yards and to post signs publicizing the pollinator networks. Spaeth says the signs allow front-yard gardeners to meet neighbors and spread the word.

The Nature in My Backyard group even sends volunteers to participants’ homes to recommend what to pull and what to plant.

Activists say you don’t have to go completely native to help. “Start somewhere,” says Ausnehmer. “Progress, not perfection.” Spaeth agrees, saying it’s fine, for instance, to keep a beloved non-native like a lilac, which doesn’t spread fast and crowd out natives.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently formed a panel to make recommendations about pollinators and issued a proclamation supporting Pollinator Week. “Healthy pollinator populations are essential to the continued success and well-being of agricultural producers, rural America and the entire U.S. economy.” he said in a press release. “Without them, many of our nation's crops wouldn't be able to produce as many fruits, nuts, or vegetables.”

Members of the Heights Pollinator Pathway’s Facebook page support the cause. One member commented, “We are stewards of nature and have a responsibility to care for nature rather than take from it. Plants are our teachers.”

“I love putting extra plants in pots to give away to neighbors and friends, and I love to trade plants with fellow lovers of pollinator gardens,” another member wrote. “Seeing a hummingbird or a finch on my flowers never ceases to amaze me. And I raise a dozen monarch butterflies every summer.

Spaeth stresses that tending a few species helps them all. “We need to save the planet to save ourselves.”