>> NOTHING SAYS SPRING LIKE A PARK IN BLOOM.
MANY PARKS, HOWEVER, ARE CULTIVATED WITH POPULAR PLANTS NOT NATIVE TO THE AREA.
>> HOW WE DEFINE NATIVE IS PLANTS THAT GROW WITHOUT HUMAN INTERINTERVENTION WITHIN THE ECOREGIONS OF NEW ENGLAND.
>> FOUNDED IN 1900, THE NON-PROFIT NATIVE PLANT TRUST IS AMERICA'S FIRST PLANT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION.
ITS BEST KNOWN ATTRACTION, GARDEN IN THE WOODS IN FRAMINGHAM, HOME TO DIVERSE PLANT LIFE CURATED FROM ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND.
>> AS WE'RE SEEING THROUGH MANY STUDIES, THE DEFINE OF INSECTS, DECLINE IN SPECIES, ALL IS TIED TO THE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY OF NATIVE PLANTS.
>> THE DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE HERE.
THIS BOTANIC GARDEN NORMALLY RECEIVED 2500 VISITORS A YEAR.
SPRING IS HIGH TIME IN GARDEN IN THE WOODS.
YOU SEE AND HEAR IT.
>> THERE'S A BOG SECTION AND SPRING, ACCESSIBLE BY THIS TRAIL.
>> BETWEEN 2,000 AND 3,000 NATIVE PLANT SPECIES FLOURISH HERE.
THIS PRETTY LITTLE FLOWER IS CALLED SQUIRREL CORN.
SQUIRRELS LIKE TO DIG IT UP AND EAT THIS, WHICH LOOKS LIKE A KERNEL OF CORN.
RARE BLOOMS INCLUDE SWAMP PINK AND TRILLIUM WHICH CAN GROW SEVEN TO NINE YEARS BEFORE IT FLOWERS.
>> WE HAVE A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED COLLECTION OF TRILLIUMS.
THERE ARE OVER 36 DIFFERENT SPECIES.
>> ONE OF THOSE SPECIES IS A PRANKSTER WITH A PECULIAR NAME.
THIS FLOWER IS THE STINKING BENJAMIN.
OH!
AND IT IS TRUE TO ITS NAME!
THE STINKING BENJAMIN SMELLS LIKE WET DOG OR ROTTING MEAT, DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK.
>> THE WHOLE POINT IS THAT THIS IS A FLOWER THAT WANTS TO BE POLLINATED BY FLIES, FUNGUS GNATS AND BEETLES.
IT'S AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO BE TOO CLOSE TO.
>> FOUL OR FRAGRANT, NATIVE PLANTS HAVE A PURPOSE AND MUST BE PROTECTED, SAYS LORMER.
>> THE IDEA IS THAT THE PLANTS THAT EVOLVED HERE, CO-EVOLVED WITH REALLY SPECIFIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH INSECTS AND BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM ALIVE AND
AROUND, YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY HAVE EVOLVED WITH.
>> BOTANIST AND ARBORIST AT THE NATIVE PLANT TRUST STUDY THIS ISSUE CONSTANTLY SAYS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEBBIE EDLE STEVE NASH.
>> NATIONWIDE, 25% OF THE PLANTS ARE RARE AND ENDANGERED.
IN NEW ENGLAND, THERE ARE 389 SPECIES THAT ARE RARE.
MOSTLY IT'S BECAUSE OF MANMADE CHANGES TO THE LANDSCAPE, WHETHER DEVELOPMENT OR ABUNDANCE OF DEER, TRAMPBLING, CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> TO HELP COMBAT THESE PROBLEMS, NATIVE PLANT TRUSTS BUILT A SEED BANK IN THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS TOWN OF WAITLY.
>> WE COLLECT SEEDS OF RARE AND ENDANGERED PLANTS AND WE HAVE THEM IN CASE THEY DIE OUT ON THE LANDSCAPE.
>> LORMER SAYS WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT GARDENNENING AT HOME.
>> ASKING HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF LIFE IN MY GARDEN RATHER THAN WHAT'S PRETTIEST FOR ME.
WE WOULD LOVE IT IF PEOPLE USED ONLY NATIVE PLANTS BUT USING SOME IN YOUR GARDEN IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ANTHONY: GOOD NEWS ABOUT GARDEN IN THE WOODS -- IT IS ONCE AGAIN
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
ADMISSION IS LIMITED FOR NOW, AND BY ADVANCE TICKET ONLY.
AND IF YOU'RE PATIENT ENOUGH TO CULTIVATE SOME TRILLIUM, REST ASSURED, THEY DON'T ALL SMELL LIKE THE STINKING BENJAMIN!
UP NEXT -- THE FARM RU