The Garden Club of America-affiliated clubs in New Hampshire have announced the signing of a proclamation by Gov. Kelly Ayotte, officially designating May “New Hampshire Native Plant Month.”

Members of the Garden Club of Dublin, including Hancock resident Betsy Cochrane, who is chair of GCD’s Conservation Committee, lobbied Ayotte to declare May Native Plant Month.

“I’m thrilled that Governor Ayotte has declared May as New Hampshire Native Plant Month. Native plants are the backbone of our local ecosystems – they feed pollinators, support wildlife, and make New Hampshire uniquely beautiful. My hope is that New Hampshire Native Plant Month sparks more curiosity about these native species and how to incorporate them into your own garden… even if that garden is just a pot or two on the porch, collectively, that makes a difference,” Cochrane stated.

The proclamation encourages New Hampshire residents to observe the month by removing invasive plants, planting native trees and shrubs and educating others about native plants’ importance.

In the fall of 2022, the GCA launched the nationwide, multidisciplinary, cross-committee effort to promote native plants by formally establishing a Native Plant Month in all 50 states.

The GCA is committed to preserving and expanding native plant habitats, helping build awareness about the importance of native plants in sustaining healthy ecosystems, promoting biodiversity, encouraging the removal of non-native invasive plants and supporting all efforts to help native bees, butterflies, birds, other pollinators and wildlife.

GCA defines a native plant as “one that has evolved for thousands of years in a specific geographic region, alongside local flora and fauna, without direct or indirect human intervention.”

New Hampshire is home to more than 1,500 native species, including canopy trees, understory trees, grasses, shrubs, wildflowers and vines.

The Garden Club of America supports measures to protect the nation’s rare, threatened and endangered plants and their habitat and the wildlife they support. The GCA supports workable science-based recovery programs for all species.

Club members from all the GCA's 199 member clubs have worked to formally establish a Native Plant Month in their state with the assistance of GCA zone representatives from conservation, horticulture and national legislative affairs committees.

Contact nativeplantmonth@gcamerica.org for more information. For information about the Garden Club of America, go to gcamerica.org.