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OUR STORY
LEARN MORE ABOUT US
Meet Patty
As the founding owner of Leaves for Wildlife, my journey stems from a deep-rooted love for nature and gardening and is fueled by a passion for creating wildlife habitat. I started the nursery as a platform for educating visitors on the beauty and importance of native plants. My background in natural medicine also played a pivotal role in this venture, as I firmly believe there is an intricate connection between human health and the well-being of our environment.
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Leaves for Wildlife isn't just a business for me; it's a reflection of my commitment to fostering a healthier planet and, consequently, healthier lives.
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— Patty Shipley | Owner | Leaves for Wildlife Native Plant Nursery & Leaves of Life Integrative Wellness Center
Why Planting Natives is Important
Conserving and restoring habitat is especially critical for native pollinators, local birds, and the more than 325 bird species that migrate through Ohio twice yearly along the Mississippi Flyway. Because urban sprawl and land development have fragmented natural habitats, scientists are sounding the alarm about the rapidly increasing rates of wildlife species extinctions. Each of us can help, by creating habitat in our yards, and/or as part of a volunteer effort in parks and other spaces.
Native pollinators - bees, flies, butterflies, bats, moths, beetles, birds and other animals - provide stability for every terrestrial ecosystem in the world, because wild plants depend on them to reproduce. Most of the world's wildlife — and more than 250,000 wild flowering plants — need native pollinators to exist. Humans also rely on these important insects since about 1/3 of the food we eat depends on pollination.
METALLIC SWEAT BEE
AMERICAN LADY BUTTERFLY
EASTERN BUMBLEBEE
When growers tinker with plants to change the shape of flowers (think double blooms), this often lowers or completely negates pollen and nectar production. Additionally, some pollinators have adapted their mouthparts to fit particular flowers, so changing the flower's shape means they can no longer access whatever pollen and nectar may still be present. Similarly, plants with altered leaf color (such as the red leafed redbud cultivar and the many wine-colored cultivars of ninebark) contain plant compounds that were not originally there, meaning that native butterfly and moth caterpillars can no longer use them for food. This is why wild native species are preferable to most “native cultivars” aka “nativars”.
Indigenous plants are perfectly adapted to the soils, moisture levels, and weather patterns in our region. They thrive without soil amendments or special attention. Moreover, these native plants actively participate in regulating rainwater runoff and nurturing a robust soil food web. This, in turn, prevents soil compaction and fosters increased diversity within the ecosystems they call home. Opting for native plants and establishing habitat in our surroundings becomes a meaningful contribution to safeguarding crucial ecosystems and the diverse life forms they support.
ZEBRA SWALLOWTAILS HOST ON PAWPAW
Host Plants
Just as monarch butterflies need milkweed for their caterpillars to develop, other Ohio butterflies also require specific host plants for their young.
SPICEBUSH SWALLOWTAILS HOST ON SPICEBUSH AND SASSAFRAS
PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAILS HOST ON DUTCHMAN'S PIPEVINE
Overwintering
When your garden finishes for the season, fallen leaves, twigs and branches form habitat for many overwintering insects and other small wildlife species. In Ohio, several butterflies overwinter as adults in the leaf litter.
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MOURNING CLOAK
RED ADMIRAL
POLYPHEMUS
CECROPIA
IMPERIAL
LUNA
Silkmoths
In late summer, we often share caterpillars or eggs for several species of silkmoths. Reach out if you’d like to rear the caterpillars of some of our largest and showiest moths.
EASTERN COMMA
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