An old Chinese proverb stated “The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. The second-best time is now.” Make it an oak.

When it comes to benefiting birds, no group of plants is more important than the oaks. They support hundreds of species of moth and butterfly caterpillars, offering a bird food buffet. Planting oaks and other native plants in your yard will provide enormous benefits for birds, pollinators and other wildlife.

Case in point: noted entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamy estimates a pair of chickadees needs to find 6,000-9,000 caterpillars to raise a clutch of four young. The adult chickadees won’t find caterpillars on hydrangeas, gingkos, lilacs or hostas. They will find abundant native insects, including caterpillars, on oaks, native cherries, asters and goldenrods.

You can beautify your yard and help our birds by “going native.” The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources native plants webpage offers “how to” information for property owners.

The following vendors offer native plants suitable for the Driftless area gardens:

Prairiemoon.com – Winona, Minnesota

Prairienursery.com– Westfield, Wisconsin

Shootingstarnativeseed.com – Spring Grove, Minnesota

Driftlessareanatives.com– Southeast Minnesota.