Native plants and pollinators are not a new concept: they were here well before humans. But we have changed our landscapes so much that many people have never seen a native plant or, if they did, were not aware it was something special. Native gardens are often considered to be “messy” or not cared for. The truth is, native gardens can be as tidy or as wild-looking as you want! And too often, insects are thought of as dirty, gross, or scary, when in fact the vast majority of them are harmless to humans, and essential to the production of food and clean air that we get from plants. So the key is education! And, as with so many things, starting with children is the best way to spread the word.