Want to grow your own native Pine Bush species? The Glacial Lake Albany Native Plant Restoration Project now encourages the planting of native species in places that, before development, were Pine Bush. These native plants grow well in the sandy soil. And, by using native plants, residents can avoid planting non-native species. These non-native, or alien species, can invade the Pine Bush Preserve and wreck havoc on the native ecosystem. nesses and factories? Surely the City could help to attract reinvestment in the downtown. And we need to tell people what the downtown has to offer: its historic sites, its business and cultural centers, its river, its waterfront.

Planting native species benefits your garden too: Plants that grow naturally in the Pine Bush are accustomed to the sandy, nutrient poor soils. Money can be saved over the long-term by reducing the need for fertilizers, irrigation systems, and regular watering. Also, native plants provide food and cover for butterflies and other wildlife. Watching wildlife attracted to your native landscape is fun and educational.

Collection of plants from the wild is discouraged and prohibited in some places and is damaging to the ecosystem. Instead, buy plants from local nurseries that grow and sell native plants.

For more information, please contact the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission at 785-1800, and ask for their brochure ÒLandscaping with Native Plants in the Glacial Lake Albany Sandbelt.Ó

Printed in the May/June 2001 Newsletter