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'Pocket gardens' give native plants a place to thrive in cities

NPR | By Julie Depenbrock
Published May 15, 2026 at 3:45 AM CDT

"Pocket gardens" of native plant species are becoming more common in urban areas. We tag along with a volunteer tending to tiny gardens in a Washington, D.C., neighborhood.

Copyright 2026 NPR
Julie Depenbrock
Julie Depenbrock (she/her) is an assistant producer on Morning Edition. Previously, she worked at The Washington Post and on WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show. Depenbrock holds a master's in journalism with a focus in investigative reporting from the University of Maryland. Before she became a journalist, she was a first grade teacher in Rosebud, South Dakota. Depenbrock double-majored in French and English at Lafayette College. She has a particular interest in covering education, LGBTQ issues and the environment. She loves dogs, hiking, yoga and reading books for work (and pleasure).