California-based Theodore Payne Foundation is a model for greening the world around us, as the organization provides plants and the necessary education to make them thrive and attract native birds and butterflies, according to its Director of Outreach and K-12 Education, Lisa Novick. Her message is clear: Plants are not interchangeable when it comes to habitats.

“In any part of the world, a native plant will support nature 10 times better than a non-native,” Novick explains. “For example, in Los Angeles, we don’t see many butterflies anymore. We have landscaped with plants from every other part of the world, and our butterflies and birds have lost their sources of food.”

G2 Gallery Director and curator, Jolene Hanson, returns to Green is Good to discuss the Venice, CA-based gallery’s commitment to showcasing environmentally focused photography. What sets this gallery apart from its counterparts is that it donates 100% of all of its sales revenue to environmental charities.

“I think that environmentalism and humanitarianism are starting to become the same thing,” Hanson says. “They are touching upon each other more dramatically. Our environments that we live in are becoming increasingly challenged. Environmentalism is looking at the entire environment and how it affects every species and thinking progressively about how we can maintain what we have now and take care of it in the best way possible.”

National Wildlife Federation naturalist and spokesperson, David Mizejewski, is back on the show to promote Garden for Wildlife Month, which takes place each May. The NWF urges everyone to spend May in their gardens with an ecological lens. Consider what your garden provides for local wildlife and how it can be bettered to thrive in its natural environment. Mizejewski names native plants as the backbone of creating a wildlife-friendly garden.

“Even though gardens are green, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are environmentally friendly,” Mizejewski says. “There are some really fun things you can do that will make your yard fit better into the local environment and attract backyard wildlife. Learn from Mother Nature, and mimic that in your yard. This program is designed to help people get outside, and you really will find out that nature is all around you.”