As spring inches closer and closer, there is no better time to start thinking about your garden or even planting some indoor seedlings.
One increasingly popular trend in sustainable landscaping is the planting of native gardens, featuring plants that naturally occur in your area. Starting a native garden can begin to restore biodiversity to even the most urbanized areas.
Not only are native plants good for biodiversity, they are generally low maintenance, having already adapted to your specific climate zone. They often need less watering, and their strong roots hold soil in place to prevent flooding and soil loss during heavy rains.
In western Pennsylvania, there is no shortage of native options for your garden! Pittsburgh is a Zone 6 climate, which includes black-eyed susans, milkweed, royal ferns, columbine, and more! Learn more about zone 6 native plants.
This year, we are sharing simple tips and tricks for greener living in tandem with our exhibition We Are Nature: Living in the Anthropocene, which explores the interconnected relationship between humans and our environment. A first of its kind in North America, the exhibition utilizes interactive exhibits, innovative gallery design, and specimens from our hidden collection in an unflinching exploration of the Anthropocene.
The Anthropocene is the current geological era in which humans are making a profound impact on the geological strata. While the term itself is still being debated by geologists, the museum is embracing it as a social and cultural tool for exploring the broad sum effect humans are having on the planet.
