Principle #3: Design all-season refugia gardens with native and other desired species, making use of natural landscape features, microhabitats, and microclimates that facilitate ecological functions.
Goal: Reduce plant stress and aid interactions with beneficial species.
Garden Design: Include native species that help provide continuity with natural/wild landscapes in a way that enhances ecological functions and promotes a sense of place.
- Why include native species? Natives have a history of interacting together in a given environment. They have developed relationships with other species that affect the characteristics of that environment, including its “look” and its resilience.
- Where do I find native species? The Homegrown National Park website lists helpful links for finding native plants in your region. We also encourage you to check for native plants at your local plant nurseries.
- Is it okay to include non-native species? Yes. There are many good reasons to include some non-natives in your refugia garden, including the fact that climate change is creating novel environmental conditions that challenge all species, including natives. Types of non-natives you might want to consider include edible flowers, fruits, and vegetables; plants with ornamental flowers and/or leaves; plants that serve as medicinal herbs and seeds; other plant species that have personal meaning to you (such as a memory, a meaning from your cultural history, or a source of delight). For further discussion, visit our natives vs non-natives page.
- What kinds of ecological functions should I pay attention to? Note the kinds of wild visitors that different plants attract. Do they use each plant for food, shelter, or a bit of both? When do they visit (seasonally, time of day, etc.)? Consider especially plants that serve as hosts for specialist insects and birds that serve important ecological functions themselves. This is especially important for native animal species that may be endangered. For further discussion, see Refugia Gardening principle #2.
- What does ‘sense of place’ mean and why does it matter? Sense of place refers to the particulars of a place that give it meaning and to which we feel attachment. The types of plants one grows in a garden contribute to this sense of place, especially when those plants connect aesthetically and ecologically to the surrounding natural environment. It is especially this latter sense of place that you will want to cultivate in your refugia gardens. Think of them also as an expression of your own reciprocity relationships with the natural world. See Refugia Gardening principle #4 for more on that topic.
Gardening Practice: Plant with attention to micro-environments.
- Plant stress: Abiotic features of the environment such as extremes in temperature and/or water availability are sources of plant stress. So are biotic features such as the presence of pathogens and/or herbivores. Plants have many different ways of responding to these stressors, which can present difficult trade-offs for the plant: prioritize a pathogen response or a heat response? Unfortunately, climate change presents many instances where plants (and other species) face multiple stressors at once. Together, these can adversely affect plant health and potentially cause death.
- Microhabitats: These are small areas that differ from the surrounding environment largely because of the different plants that predominate there. Because some plant species are more sensitive to sunny vs shady areas, this is often an important determinant. Experienced gardeners know to look for information about sun vs shade preference when deciding which species to plant where. In turn, these plants serve as food, hiding, and/or nesting places for specific animal species. Refugia gardeners, therefore, can take advantage of sun-shade differences in their yards to cultivate microhabitats that serve as refuges for different plants and animals.
- Microclimates: There are small areas that differ in temperature and moisture. During climate change, microclimate differences within your yard may increase. Because of weather extremes, some areas may become more prone to flooding, drought, or both. Consider building a rain garden or bioswale to divert run-off from intense storms. Deep-rooted perennials are well-sited to these wet-dry fluctuations. Especially on south-facing exposures near buildings or steep slopes, heat stress can be more pronounced and frequent, so be sure to plant heat- and drought-tolerant plants here. Wind is another microclimate factor to consider. Planting trees and shrubs can give more protection against wind damage and also help to reduce temperature extremes.
More Refugia Gardening Principles and Practices
1-Diversifying for the future
*Why not natives only?
2-Focusing on ecological functions
3-Enhancing natural landscapes
4-Co-creating with nature
5-Cultivating relational caring
Refugia Gardening 