MAEscapes

Mission : To use native plant materials to demonstrate conservation landscaping for educational purposes. MAEscapes was created to demonstrate conservation landscaping principles and techniques. The habitats created encourage diversity of native wildlife and have the additional benefits of lower cost and less maintenance. These ideals are appropria... te for homes, schools, businesses and public spaces. Native plants are vital for the survival of wildlife. The birds and animals we all enjoy will disappear if we take away their food and habitat. We must redo suburban gardens to include some of the native plants species that once nourished our local biodiversity before we lose it forever. DOUG TALLAMY Educating the public about the importance of restoring and preserving Mid-Atlantic ecological landscapes, native plants and their communities by demonstrating landscaping principles, processes and practices that are beneficial, responsible and sustainable. Ecological Values: There is a vital link between native plant species and native wildlife. Native insects cannot eat the non- native plants so commonly used in our yards. As development threatens natural areas and the native plants that grow there, native insects disappear. Since insects are the main food supply for nesting birds as well as many other animals, when native plants disappear, so does much of our wildlife. Economic Values: Plants are sources of genetic and raw materials that are used to expand or diversify agricultural and industrial products, including foods and medicine. Native plants provide a storehouse of genetic diversity for future exploration, discovery, and use, to meet human needs. Societal Values: The beauty of wildflowers is just one of the many aesthetic values of native plants. The presence of plants in their native habitats and in cultivation enhances our world in many ways. Native plant communities and natural areas provide opportunities for people to experience nature. The conservation landscapes at the County Annex Building in York, ...Read More