Highland has a new native plant/pollinator garden, located near the Memorial Garden on Magnolia Street. Planting native plants—species that naturally occur in a region—is crucial because they thrive with minimal care, support local biodiversity, and protect the environment. Adapted to local soil and climate, they require less water, fertilizer, and no pesticides. They also provide vital habitat and food for birds, pollinators, and insects. Here are some of the plants in the garden, pictured both in dormant and blooming seasons:

By planting a diverse palette of native plants, we invite not only the plant-eating insects, but also their predators as well as pollinators, seed dispersers, and recyclers, which work together to make a garden function like a system. Because our native plants and animals have evolved together, they support each other, and we enjoy the beauty and fruits of their labor.