OP, 70 days. The key ingredient in salsa verde, tomatillos are easy to grow and extremely productive. The firm fruits can be enjoyed raw, but they are cooked or stewed in most recipes. Theres something wild and wonderful about letting your garden become part of the landscape-not just sit on top of it. Thats what native plants do. They dont just grow, they belong. I started rewilding my home garden in Chelsea, Quebec (3.5 acres of edge-of- forest chaos) and what Ive learned is this: when you plant native species, your garden shifts from being decorative to being functional. It starts working for the land, not against it. Home gardens are often overlooked as tools for conservation. We think we need acreage or formal restoration projects to make a difference. But planting native species in a front yard or even a few containers on a balcony can reconnect fragmented habitats, support pollinators, and help stabilize local ecosystems. It adds up. Fast. Native plants have evolved with your regions climate, wildlife, and soil. That means less watering, no chemical inputs, and fewer pest issues. They show up in spring when the insects need them. They offer food and shelter throughout the year. They know how to?be here?in ways imported ornamentals just dont. In contrast, many invasive species sold at garden centres spread aggressively, outcompeting local flora and causing long-term ecological harm. That flashy ground cover? It might be displacing trillium in your nearby woods. That fast- growing vine? It could be starving your backyard birds of the insects they need to raise their young. In my?Rewilding Sustainable Landscape Design Series?on YouTube, I share the real-life process of redesigning my own garden using native species-from the muddy trial-and-error of plant placement to the small wins of spotting the first bee on a wild columbine. Its not about doing everything perfectly. Its about asking, What belongs here? Blue Flag Iris for soggy corners. Wild Strawberry underfoot. Serviceberry as a natural privacy screen. These plants dont just fill space-they bring it to life. If youre curious where to begin, start small. Swap one invasive for a native. Observe. Adjust. Let your garden get a little unruly. And if you want a glimpse into what rewilding looks like in motion, check out the series on our YouTube. Its part design journal, part call to action-because even the smallest garden can help heal the land. REWILDING SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Emma Terrell, The Urban Botanist 68.