One of the biggest changes that comes with planting native plants isn't in your garden. It's in your mindset.
Leaves with holes aren't a problem. They're proof that your garden is feeding caterpillars and the countless other creatures that depend on native plants.
A fallen branch isn't yard waste. It's a natural border, habitat, or the beginning of a brush pile.
Nature doesn't strive for perfection. It strives for balance.
The more we learn to work with nature instead of trying to control it, the more life our gardens support and, often, the easier they become to maintain.
The more space you give back to native plants, the less lawn you have to mow. If you can, leave the leaves where they fall. If you need to rake them, consider moving them to a quiet corner of your yard instead of sending them away. They'll continue providing valuable habitat for fireflies and countless other beneficial insects.
Sometimes the most important thing we grow isn't another plant. It's a new way of seeing the world around us.