Thinking outside the garden box: Native garden contest now open in Towson

TOWSON, Md. — The Green Towson Alliance has launched its annual native garden contest, encouraging homeowners to incorporate Maryland's native plants, shrubs, and trees into their lawns and backyards to benefit local ecosystems.

Patty Mochel helps to the run the competition that began a few years ago.

“The bird population is dropping. The butterfly population is dropping, and plenty of other insects,” Mochel said. “People don't realize that insects are vital. Insects are food for more than birds and amphibians, but like 30% of a fox's diet.”

In Lutherville, an expansive native garden stands out from the traditional manicured lawns that line the street, featuring last year’s winners: Rahul Bharadwaj and Rujuta Narurkar.

The couple has spent five years building their native plant paradis