'Native plants, including trees, shrubs, vines, and soft-stemmed plants, take us back into history to help explain our roots. They were used for dyeing clothing, for food and shelter, provided the medicines of the past, and many are still used in modern medicine. Native plants can create a small ecosystem on our property to attract wildlife, birds, and butterflies to our otherwise sterile American lawns...They are 'environmentally friendly', less demanding than non-natives, and once established, will give you more time to relax and enjoy your garden' - from Chapter 1.Native plants and wildflowers are those that grow on their own in a particular area, thriving where many exotics and cultivated varieties fail. Plants designated as natives grew here before the settlers arrived. This is their natural range, their chosen environment, and they are happy in these surroundings. Their ancestors have weathered many winters and summers, survived drought, heat, torrential rains, and the ups and downs of temperatures and growing conditions that plague the area we call the Lower Midwest.After a severely cold winter, many spring-flowering trees and shrubs fail to flower. Korean Spicebush (Viburnum carlesii), for example, may be killed to the ground, while our native Cranberry Viburnum (V. trilobum) doesn't lose a bud. When we choose native plants for our landscaping needs, we accomplish many things. Our maintenance is reduced because these plants need less artificial watering. We help to preserve a part of our heritage. We assist in the preservation of a given ecosystem. Using a simple question and answer format, this informative and user-friendly book focuses on the Lower Midwest, and includes everything you need to know about gardening with native plants and wildflowers. It explains methods of planning, site and soil preparation, garden design, plant selection and propagation. Illustrated with 125 botanically correct drawings and approximately 100 colour photos.