I think the best way to "educate" people in seeing that this is a deliberate garden (and not a patch of weeds) is to 1) make labels for your plants, and 2) keep it well tended so that weeds don't overtake it.

You can get nice metal markers from almost any garden shop (often in packs of 10 or 25). You can write neatly on them with the special black writing instrument provided or you can make labels (the Brother label maker has tape that is suitable for outdoor use). If you need a lot of labels (perhaps not true for you), I have used gardenfonts.com to order labels.

By the way, there are easier native orchids to grow than ladyslippers and people are always impressed when you say "these are native orchids".

I like Esh's suggestion. Also, if you make it look a little bit formal, with some edging for instance, they will be more likely to recognize it as something that someone cultivated on purpose and will be more inclined to leave all of that hard work alone. You might also want to leave behind some photos so that if they arrive when things aren't actively growing, they will know there are some nice plants waiting for them there.

It sounds beautiful your little garden...

Do you have siblings? Who is going to help with the estate when your parents pass? I'd assume they have a will and an executor all picked out? Include a letter and some photos to go with the lawyer at closing and possibly make sure it looks tip top when the house is on the market...take pics make a collage for when it's not in bloom

When I moved away from a home I created a rose garden in I mailed a letter to the new residents and told them all about the plants they had and pointed them to garden web if they needed more advice. I do not know if they acted on the info... but it was all I could do KWIM?
Good Luck!

I have a native shade garden not only in my backyard, but in my front yard as well. One swath in the front garden contains more than 200 Trillium grandiflorum with another hundred scattered throughout the front and back woods. We have no guarantee; we can only hope that the next owner(s) recognize and appreciate what we have done and maintains it.

It sounds like a lovely shade garden.

Unfortunately its often impossible to control what happens to the landscape once the property is sold.

I do like the suggestions of labeling the plants and photos...
Often time new property owners don't know what they have and the labels and pictures would help with that...

Well I have no siblings, and though my dad may make the property into a group home by selling it its unlikely, because of money and house prices being the way they are, The ideal suitation would be I stay there in my house after it becomes a group home. Then Id maintain it as I do now

Do you think I could contact the MN DNR about threatened or endangered natives in MN I could get a permit to obtain, (seed, root stocks from labs)that way ( Using your landscaping ideas, I've already mulched and am getting a border) then hopefully they would then put up a sign saying rare, threatened types of natives grow there and digging or tampering with it is illegal or not looked upon well

A good example for my plan would be something like the showy Lady slipper, I'm sure somewhere in captivity its propergated for planting in national parks or wildlife preserves, it has to, after all its our state flower and its seed only can grow with a curtain type of fungus and take take up to 12 years to flower from seed. But this is just one example, there are probably others, maybe and hopefully cheaper, to obtain after getting a permit

I first want to applaud you on your future move. It's not always easy to be able to get the help you need from non-profit organizations that are designed to help people with special needs. I speak from experience with my own daughter. So congrats to you!

I'm not sure that the threatened or endangered "rules" apply to ones own yard/property. I believe it's set up more for in the wild, in the timber, in undisturbed native/natural areas. Is there any way to take some or all these plants with you? I can also speak from experience that once the property is sold, it's up to the next homeowner as to what they wish to do. If it's not possible to take with you, then keep tending it with all the love you do now and hope the next homeowners appreciate the work and time you put into your little area. esh's idea is a good one also, marking the plants as to what they are, so if they're totally clueless, they have someplace to start by having Latin names to go by.

My home internets, down otherwise I'd be emailing the MN DNR about this, I think maybe digging them up and placing them in pots to dig up and take with me may be the best option, as I dont realistically think a plant that protected would be legal for anyone to just get. ( One of my friends at work told me that idea would work/ putting them in pots ). If not I could say in my sign that the DNR itself has been notefied about this garden, maybe that would help.

wheather or not I make the sign or pot up the natives to take with me or sell/give away depends on if Orions rules about cats are to my liking,/ thats the companey that provides for me. ( No declwing or anything horrible like that) otherwise I'll probably try to move away into another group home run by another companey in the hopes of a better outcome for my cats/ I may just give the cats away to better homes if all group homes are the same on the matter and stay at the house, it depends.

I staked the cloumbine and its looking nice, I live in St paul MN, anyone want seed?

You should get some comfort from the fact that by planting some natives you have probably helped them to spread or to at least not go extinct. The pollen from your plants might have helped to fertilize others that you don't see. Some seed from your plants probably made its way to other places as well. If you don't want to or can't take all of the plants with you you could take a little "Noah's Ark" sampling of what you have and leave the rest in place where hopefully the new owners will do the right thing.

I think your overall best bet is to move your plants that you love with you. You should dig them up and get them growing in pots at least a couple of years before moving.
As for native orchids the kind you are talking about can be purchased, for a dear price, over the internet. I doubt if any legal digging of native orchids would be allowed apart from that done on private property, except in cases where the orchids is CITES listed where any take would not be allowed.
Just be sure to give yourself and the plants time so that the move is successful.

I have had many native wildflowers and some trees growing in pots for up to 12 years. When I moved from my parents'house, I took seedling trees and wildflowers. They grew well for me. Of course, as they spread (especially the wild geranium), I would divide them and share them with friends. The trees needed to have their roots trimmed (and an equal amount of branches) to keep from getting root bound. Planting the wildflowers at the base of the trees gives a fuller, more natural look. So, it *is* possible to grow them as a container garden.

Hopefully the rules at the group home would allow for container gardening...or, better yet, allow you to create your own wildflower garden there. Maybe providing them with information about companies and schools who have created native gardens will help convince them.

I agree that you should take divisions of your plants and leave some for the next homeowner...hopefully you will convert them!

I finally bought a house and land of my own. So, I've begun planting all that I had potted up. I was surprised to find a small patch of Dutchman's Breeches and a Trillim growing in the previous owner's flowerbed! So, who knows, whoever moves into your parents' home may already recognize and appreciate what you've planted.

Good luck,

David

I believe the Nature Conservancy has a program whereby they certify native gardens, even small ones, as Certified Wildlife Habitats or something of the kind. If you're able to obtain such a certification, it should be a point of pride for any owner and even an advertising point when the house goes up for sale.

It's the National Wildlife Federation. Here's the link:

Here is a link that might be useful: Backyard Habitat Program

Thanks, I will order a sign, from them, I've seen the show and its lovely. Plus I'll make up my own

As for the digging up and all I think I will wait until I know if this homes gunna be a group home or not. I've not on perpose lowered the value on my parents home by being hard on it growing up so this may help insure the natives well being.

BTW I have some natives to swap if anyones interested. Swamp milkweed, lotsa baby brown eyed susan, a sumic seedling and bunches of asters, In return I'd like any of the following if you have any some White trilliums, Bloodroot, columbine Jack in the pulpit and wind ginger. I live in St paul Mn and my number is 651-699-9112