Pascagoula River Audubon Center held native plant sale over the weekend

The Pascagoula River Audubon Center in Moss Point is encouraging Mississippians to take home some native plants from its nursery.

The Audubon Center’s plant sale ran Friday through Saturday with education opportunities sprinkled in.

Keeping native plants in your yard is a personalized method of conservation, attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and other local species while getting them the nutrition they need.

On site, the Audubon Center has more than 25 labeled species of plants which are a low-maintenance addition to yards. Education Manager Katie Fetzer said, “Native plants are great for the environment in the sense that they are native. They evolved to be here, and not only did they evolve to be here but insects evolved to be here with these particular plants. So, when you think about planting natives, they are great for the pollinators, yes, but they also act as host plants for other varieties of insects that in turn are food for birds. So that’s one reason why we push for native plants. Another reason is they’re here; they’re used to our climate, you end up using less water, less pesticides, less fertilizers to keep them looking good.”

The Pascagoula River Audubon Center is open in downtown Moss Point Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.