Down Nature's Path LLC email us at: dnpnatives@gmail.com

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Feeding Nature While Feeding Your Soul!

About Us

Down Nature's Path is a small backyard native plant business that offers a wide variety of native plants. Our focus being plants that are primarily valuable for wildlife and are untreated and safe for butterfly and pollinator gardens. If you are looking for caterpillar host plants, nectar plants or pollinator plants, we are happy to help you!

-Native plants and wildlife, especially insects, have evolved together over thousands of years. They have formed symbiotic relationships. So many of them, especially caterpillars, rely of specific host plants to live. That means if you want a specific butterfly, moth, bee in your garden, you will most likely need to grow a specific plant for it. For example, most people know that to have monarchs, you MUST have milkweeds. It is the ONLY plant that the caterpillars can eat. You can't have the butterfly without the caterpillars.

-Native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife in all seasons.

-Native plants are generally easier to grow and cheaper to maintain. Once you get your plant established and if you plant according to that plant's needs, you do not need to amend the soil. Native plants are already accustomed to your local soils and weather. They need little to no pruning, deadheading, watering or fertilizing, save your time and money! Think of all that extra time you have to photograph your flowers and learn about the cool insects you are seeing!

-Native plants need no chemicals, you WANT insects on them, using them, eating them. The insects are not going to destroy plants that they need to survive. No wasted money on poisons!

A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.

Unfortunately, over the years they were replaced by exotic plants from other countries. While the non-natives might be beautiful, they are unable to support our wildlife.

Not at all! You can still have some plants

that are "just pretty". Just make sure that

they are not invasive species, and yes,

nurseries do sell them. When we know

better, we do better. When you

understand the importance of native

plants, you soon start learning more

about them. The ones that appeal most to

you, will be added to your gardens. We do recommend that the majority (70%) of

your garden is native. Ask yourself if it is

providing food for some creature, then

you know that it is worthy..

If these plants are native,

why do I need to buy

them?

Are you saying I shouldn't

have any non-native plants?

Why Do You Want Native Plants?

What's a Native Plant?

2025 Native Plant Events:

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT 2025 FOR DOWN NATURE'S PATH-I have been going through some health issues for several months and will be for several months to come. Unfortunately, that makes it very hard to plan for the year. It is very possible that I will be unable to attend some or all of the events listed below, but there are other friends of ours (native plant businesses) who will be there so we encourage you to still attend these events. Please follow us on Facebook to get updates in regards to events, sales, etc. We will have plants this spring and will still be taking appointments for on site shopping.

You are welcome to do a pre-order before any event and we will have your order boxed and ready for you when you arrive. Just email us at dnpnatives@gmail.com at least 3 days prior.

*April 27 - Yellow Springs Earth Day & Community Habitat Celebration

Held at the corner of East North College St & Livermore St, Yellow Springs OH 45387

From 1:00pm to 4:00 pm

*May 4 - Grange Insurance Audubon Center Native Plant Backyard Challenge

Held at Grange Insurance Audubon Center, 505 W. Whittier St, Columbus OH 43215

From TBD

*May 11 - 2nd Street Market Spring Native Plant Sale

Held at 2nd Street Market, 600 E 2nd St, Dayton OH 45402

From 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

*May 30 - Miami County Park District Native Plant Sale

Held at Lost Creek Reserve & Knoop Agricultural Heritage Center, 2385 St Rt 41, Troy OH 45373

From 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

*June 7 - Darke County Parks Native Plant Sale

Held at Bish Discovery Center, 404 N Ohio St, Greenville OH 45331

From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

*June 14 - Beavercreek Wetlands Association-Nurturing Nature & Our Community/Native Plant Sale

Held at Coy Middle School, 1786 Dayton Xenia Rd, Beavercreek OH 45385

From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

*August 2 - Midwest Native Plant Conference

Held at Bergamo Center, 4400 Shakertown Rd, Beavercreek OH 45430

From 9:30 am to 5:30 pm (they ask that you pre-register a shopping time slot due to parking restrictions, you can do this at https://midwestnativeplantsociety.regfox.com/registration-for-native-plant-artisan-sale)

*September 20 - EcoFEST 2025

Held at FRAZE/Lincoln Park, 675 Lincoln Park Blvd, Kettering OH 45429

From 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

*October TBD - 2nd Street Market Fall Native Plant Sale

Held at 2nd Street Market, 600 E 2nd St, Dayton OH 45402

Times 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

You can always make an appointment and come out to shop, just email me at dnpnatives@gmail.com or call me at (937) 548-1948 (leave a message), you can also send me a text at (937) 239-5131.

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