That was the question 14-year-old Charlie Zhong typed into the AI chatbot before turning a patch of his family’s front lawn into a native plant garden that now attracts bumblebees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

A ninth grader at Great Neck South High School, Charlie had little gardening experience when he began researching ways to help declining pollinator populations. His project has since grown into a small-scale example of the goals behind the Town of North Hempstead’s Plant Native North Hempstead 250 initiative, which encourages residents to plant native species that support pollinators and protect the environment.

Charlie’s interest began after he read about declining bumblebee populations. He realized he could make a difference close to home.

“If I wanted to combat bumblebee decline, I could just do things right where I live,” he said.

In early April, Charlie dug up a section of grass and planted five large and three smaller native perennials, initially spending about $90 on plants from Dropseed Native Landscapes in Malverne. His selection included clustered mountain mint and bee balm.

He used ChatGPT to identify plants suited to Long Island’s climate and his yard’s conditions, then researched planting techniques online.