It’s that time of year when insects and flowering plants provide a pleasing visual experience to the casual observer enjoying the abundant natural resources of the Upper Delaware River region.

As bountiful bugs visit blooming plants, we can frequently encounter artful expressions of nature’s handiwork and be inspired by the simple scenes of beauty to be found in the “wilds” of our regional landscapes.

“Wild roses are fairest, and nature a better gardener than art,” wrote American novelist and poet, Louisa May Alcott, born in 1832 in Philadelphia, PA.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Keystone state has 13 species of wild roses, five of which are native—meadow rose, pasture rose, prairie rose, swamp rose and wild rose. Unlike the deeply colored, double-bloomed cultivated classics we’ve come to love, native roses have only five petals and bloom in subtler shades of pink, white or light purple, with deep-green toothed leaves.

The pervasive multiflora rose we now recognize throughout our region is an invasive plant from Asia designated as a noxious weed due to its aggressive growth habits, which can create dense barriers.

Besides the blessing of their beauty, wild native roses contribute significantly to the health of our ecosystems.

“Native roses are important to pollinators, as well as birds and other animals (including humans) who eat the fruits, called ‘hips,’ which are extremely high in vitamin C,” writes Rebecca Bowen of DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry. “Rose bushes provide excellent habitat for nesting and shelter for birds and small mammals.”

Learn about the importance of native plants, landscaping resources and more by visiting www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/WildPlants/LandscapingwithNativePlants/Pages/default.aspx.