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Feeding Nature While Feeding Your Soul! 

About Us

Down Nature's Path is a small backyard plant nursery that grows almost entirely native plants.  Our focus being plants that are primarily for butterfly and pollinator gardens. They are chemical free.  If you are looking for caterpillar host plants, nectar plants or pollinator plants, we are happy to help you!

-Native plants and wildlife, especially insects, have evolved together over thousands of years.  They have formed symbiotic relationships.  So many of them, especially caterpillars, rely of specific host plants to live.  That means if you want a specific butterfly, moth, bee in your garden, you will most likely need to grow a specific plant for it.  For example, most people know that to have monarchs, you MUST have milkweeds.  It is the ONLY plant that the caterpillars can eat.  You can't have the butterfly without the caterpillars.

-Native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife in all seasons.

 

-Native plants are generally easier to grow and cheaper to maintain.  Once you get your plant established and if you plant according to that plant's needs, you do not need to amend the soil.  Native plants are already accustomed to your local soils and weather.  They need little to no pruning, deadheading, watering or fertilizing, save your time and money!  Think of all that extra time you have to photograph your flowers and learn about the cool insects you are seeing! 

 

-Native plants need no chemicals, you WANT insects on them, using them, eating them.  The insects are not going to destroy plants that they need to survive.  No wasted money on poisons!   

A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.

Unfortunately, over the years they were replaced by exotic plants from other countries.  While the non-natives might be beautiful, they are unable to support our wildlife.

If these plants are native,

why do I need to buy

them?

Are you saying I shouldn't

have any non-native plants?

Not at all!  You can still have some plants

that are "just pretty".  Just make sure that

they are not invasive species, and yes,

nurseries do sell them.  When we know

better, we do better.  When you

understand the importance of native

plants, you soon start learning more

about them. The ones that appeal most to

you, will be added to your gardens.  We do recommend that the majority (70%) of

your garden is native.  Ask yourself if it is

providing food for some creature, then

you know that it is worthy..

Why Do You Want Native Plants?

What's a Native Plant?

See Us At the Following 2023 Events:

*May  7 - 2nd Street Market Sprint Native Plant Sale 

   Held at 2nd Street Market, 600 E 2nd St, Dayton OH 45402

  From 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

*May 27 - Miami County Park District Native Plant Sale

    Held at Lost Creek Reserve & Knoop Agricultural Heritage Center, 2385 St Rt 41, Troy OH 45373

    From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

*June 3 - Darke County Parks Native Plant Sale

    Held at Bish Discovery Center, 404 N Ohio St, Greenville OH 45331

    From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

*July 29 - Midwest Native Plant Conference

    Held at Bergamo Center, 4400 Shakertown Rd, Beavercreek OH 45430

    From 10:00 am to 4:30 pm (they ask that you pre-register a shopping time slot due to parking restrictions, you can do this at https://midwestnativeplantsociety.regfox.com/registration-for-native-plant-artisan-sale)

*October 1 - 2nd Street Market Fall Native Plant Sale 

   Held at 2nd Street Market, 600 E 2nd St, Dayton OH 45402

   Times  11:00 am to 3:00 pm

You can always make an appointment and come out to shop, just email me at dnpnatives@gmail.com or call me at (937) 548-1948 (leave a message), you can also send me a text at (937) 239-5131.

Did you know 
that April is 
Native Plant
Month in Ohio?
 

Now that is something to 

REALLY be happy and proud

of!!

You can read more about it

by clicking the button below.

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