Gov. Kelly Ayotte has proclaimed May 2026 as New Hampshire Native Plant Month, joining a growing national effort to promote the use of native plants and support local ecosystems.
The proclamation was announced Tuesday by the Garden Club of Dublin and the Monadnock Garden Club. The effort aligns New Hampshire with a bipartisan nationwide initiative highlighting the ecological importance of native plants. U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen co-sponsored a Senate resolution recognizing April as National Native Plant Month, while U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander introduced a companion measure in the House.
According to organizers, native plants support local insects, birds and wildlife because they evolved naturally within the region. The release states that native plants support higher bird populations and more butterfly species than non-native plants.
Ayotte’s proclamation encourages residents to remove invasive species, plant native trees and flowers and learn more about native gardening practices. The governor’s mansion in Concord includes a certified native pollinator garden intended to inspire gardeners statewide.
The release also highlights local efforts in Harrisville and Dublin to protect eastern hemlocks from woolly adelgid infestations and promote native landscaping.
Upcoming native plant events include the Monadnock Garden Club’s annual plant sale May 16 at Wyman Tavern in Keene and NH Audubon’s Pollinator Fest on June 6 in Concord.