This is why we plant natives!
At first glance, this looks like a goldfinch enjoying a snack from a wild basil plant.
But there’s a much bigger story happening.
Unlike most songbirds, American goldfinches feed their chicks almost entirely seeds. That’s why they wait until later in the season to nest, when native plants are producing the seeds their young depend on.
Every native plant is part of that story. While the flowers are feeding bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, they’re also beginning to produce the seeds that will nourish the next generation of goldfinches.
A native garden isn’t just beautiful, it’s an ecosystem, supporting wildlife through every stage of the season.