FAQs

All of the plants we’re adding to the Humboldt Park Pollinator Garden are native to this region, meaning they were here before European settlers arrived.

In addition, all of the plants that we’re adding are great landscaping options for your own home garden! We recommend coming back when things have grown in and are in bloom later in the season so that you can find your new favorite native plants.

Native plants have been evolving and adapting to their habitats for millenia, and they provide many different benefits to the local ecosystem. They are tolerant of the types of soils that we have in this area, and their roots are perfect for preventing flooding and erosion. They are also great sources of food, shelter, and nesting sites for all sorts of animals, especially pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Right now the world is facing a catastrophic decline in insect populations, and the best way to support them is to provide native plants that serve as habitat for them. There are many insects that can only eat or breed on certain native plants, so they’re crucial to the insects they host. Native plants are the base of the food web that supports all of our wildlife, and without them many of our favorite critters will disappear.

We could use help with preparing the planting site, planting, and educating the public on what we’re doing during the planting day! Click here to sign up.

We recommend looking into some of the following sites if you’re interested in adding native plants to your garden:

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
Johnson’s Nursery Native Plant Guide
Prairie Moon Nursery Guides & FAQ