An Infinite Variety

After learning about the benefits of native plants, Martha introduced necklace pod, which attracts butterflies and other pollinators to the yard.

When Martha Willoughby and her husband Roger purchased their home overlooking the Indian River Lagoon in 1993, the majority of the three-quarter acre property was turf grass. Slowly but surely that changed, due to Martha’s concern about the effect herbicides and pesticides have on the lagoon and her championing the cause for environment-friendly native plants. Today the Willoughby’s yard has been intentionally replanted with the likes of mimosa strigalosa, corky stem passion vine, wild coffee and muhly grass. Two small patches of grass remain, just enough Martha says, “for the grandchildren to play on when they come.”

So what prompted a former kindergarten teacher and occasional gardener to become so knowledgeable about native plants? A desire to volunteer with a children’s program led her to the Environmental Learning Center where she heard a lecture about ways to protect the health of the lagoon and how native plants factored into the big picture. Her interest was piqued. 

“I decided I needed to learn more so I took a master gardeners course. Then I got involved with the Native Plant Society, which is a wonderful source of information,” says Martha, treasurer of Indian River County’s Eugenia chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, an all-volunteer nonprofit devoted to the preservation, conservation and restoration of native plants and native plant communities throughout the state.