Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides used in landscape and lawn maintenance run off into streams and creeks, polluting these water bodies. No Pesticides Needed. Native plants have been exposed to Florida's pests as long as they have existed in Florida, and continue to display their resistance to insects and disease in our own yards. Forty years ago Rachel Carson pointed out that pesticides are biocides - their toxic effects are not confined to pests, but spill over to cause health problems for wildlife and people. Now, Our Stolen Future reminds us that we have again underestimated the danger of pesticides.
Native plants are the best choice for attracting and nourishing our native wildlife.
Native plants provide the food and shelter that our birds and butterflies need. Links to Related Sites Gary Paul Nabham , essay on biodiversity. The Natural History Museum , London, on biodiversity. US Fish and Wildlife Service explains why we should save Endangered species.