FORT MYERS, Fla. - The next time you go to fertilize your plants or lawn, John Sibley says think about this. "It's estimated that about 60% of the chemicals found in our drinking water, the source is from urban landscape, over use...abuse of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides."

We may not be able to avoid those chemicals altogether but Sibley says if you plant native it's much easier to do so.

"They don't require a lot of maintenance, and no chemicals, they're healthier especially for people who have pets and children," said Sibley.

Sibley owns All Native Garden Center, which is near Page Field on 2nd Street. He says native plants are also hurricane resistant, drought resistant, and provide natural habitat for wildlife.

"The Golden Rod is an excellent plant for nectaring insects," says Sibley.

He adds gopher tortoises like the gopher apple and plants like the firebush attract butterflies.

"It's an improvement to the environment, that's the real key component of it," says Sibley.

Sibley says for those who think planting native isn't attractive, maybe it's time to take another look.