Pollinator Power: How Native Plants Like Oaks and Milkweeds Keep Nature Buzzing
In this episode of Do Beautiful Things, host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful®, welcomes renowned ecologist, author, and co-founder of Homegrown National Park, Dr. Doug Tallamy, for an inspiring conversation on the vital role native plants play in restoring our nation’s ecosystems.
As planting season blooms across the country, Dr. Tallamy shares his expert advice on how homeowners, renters, and even apartment dwellers can help protect pollinators, support wildlife, and build resilient landscapes—right in their own backyards or on their balconies. He reveals the incredible impact of simple choices—from planting oak trees and milkweed to reducing lawn space and managing light pollution—on the health of birds, insects, and the entire environment.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this episode offers practical, accessible tips that empower everyone to make a difference—no matter where you live. Discover how you can be part of the solution to biodiversity loss, and why planting native is one of the most beautiful things you can do for your community and the planet.
Tune in to the full episode to learn more, find out how to choose the right plants for your area, and get inspired to join the Greatest American Cleanup™ initiative and pledge to plant native this spring.
Quotes:
“We’ve got to redesign our human dominated landscapes in ways that support life, help the pollinators, help food webs, manage the watershed, sequester carbon, do all those things right at home.”
– Dr. Doug Tallamy Co-Founder, Homegrown National Park
Show Notes:
- 00:00 Plant Native, Beautify America
- 06:26 Insect Specialization on Native Plants
- 07:29 Plants: Beyond Decoration, Essential Roles
- 12:23 Urban Gardening and Education
- 15:42 Reducing Light Pollution for Insects
- 17:16 Empowering Individual Environmental Actions
- 20:37 Embrace Native Planting for Change
Show Links:
- Greatest American Cleanup: https://kab.org/greatest-american-cleanup/
- Reel it in for the Reefs: https://reelitinforthereefs.org/
- Homegrown National Park: https://homegrownnationalpark.org/
About Keep America Beautiful®:
Keep America Beautiful®, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful® strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The organization is driven by the work and passion of 700 Keep America Beautiful® affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org. MEDIA CONTACTS: McCall Vrydaghs Keep America Beautiful® communications@kab.org