Good on you. It all has its emotional ups and downs, but not all is lost. People planting out their spaces as you have are doing good that is only just beginning to be studied. With the compounded impact of climate change and habit loss, a native garden is a critical space for rest, food, and often a launch pad for further movement. A lot of species, both plant an animal, are experiencing sudden range shifts, so every little stepping stone is unimaginably important. It’s not hyperbole to think of those gardens as a sort of link in an ecological Underground Railroad.

Some days I plant in a full blown rage, like each root in earth is a rebellion against loss and extinction. Other days there is a somber hopefulness. As Audrey Hepburn put it “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” We really can’t comprehend the challenges that lie ahead of us. My hope is that we continue to reach greater public understanding of the biosphere. We don’t know who will pick up the torch next, but it may well be that the inches we fight for today will help the next generation to run miles.