In Maryland, two sisters turned a shared love of nature and science into something that’s helping their whole community. Sufyana and Aydina Johnson were both interested in STEM and caring for the environment, and they noticed something exciting: a lot of people wanted to welcome wildlife into their yards, but didn’t always know what plants would help make that happen.
They created an app called Maryland Native Plants Search, designed to show people which local plants will attract butterflies, birds, pollinators, and other native wildlife — and which ones might help keep pesky insects away. As Sufyana learned to code the app and Aydina built the plant database, their project grew into something much bigger than just a school idea.
Conservation groups, local environmental organizations, and even national wildlife supporters started recognizing the sisters for what they’d built. Along the way, they also added helpful new features, like information about Maryland trees and tips for planting and caring for them.
What started as a passion project became a tool that invites people to create livelier, healthier outdoor spaces.