Learning to recognize plants often leads to a deeper awareness of the challenges facing the natural world. When you know what grows around you, you begin to notice changes in the landscape — invasive species spreading, habitats shifting, and the effects of how land is used and managed.

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Plants aren't just part of the scenery — they form the foundation of the entire food web. Many birds, for example, depend on native plants to survive. As entomologist Doug Tallamy has shown, a single pair of Carolina chickadees raising their young may need to gather thousands of caterpillars in just a few weeks. These soft-bodied insects are essential food for nestlings — adult birds can survive on the contents of your bird feeder, but baby birds can't eat hard bird seed. The caterpillars that nestlings need are best supported by native plant communities, not ornamental or invasive species. We can support healthy populations of native insects by providing a variety of native flowering plants.

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Tree Lovers School encourages not only awareness and understanding, but also responsibility, such as supporting conservation organizations, volunteering, or making more thoughtful choices about the land you care for. As Carrie often reminds her students:​