A landscaping idea that's both attractive and good for the environment:
The National Wildlife Federation asks: Are you ready to join the tens of thousands of property owners around the country who have put out the welcome mat for wildlife in their backyards, schools, workplaces and elsewhere? It's not difficult. Just follow these basic steps!
1. Assess your yard or garden space.
The first thing you need to do is identify the habitat elements that already exist in your yard or garden space. You may already be providing some habitat for wildlife!2. Provide the four basic elements for survival:
Food Select plants that provide natural foods such as fruits, seeds, nuts, and nectar throughout the year. Native perennials and annuals provide nectar for both butterflies and hummingbirds. Hummingbirds tend to visit tube-shaped, red flowers such as bee balm, wild columbine, and our native honeysuckles. Butterflies prefer flat or clustered flowers, such as purple coneflower, phlox, and zinnias. Supplemental feeders can provide nectar for hummingbirds in the summer months and a variety of seed (sunflower, niger, safflower, and millet) for other birds throughout the year. Keep in mind that bird feeders should only be used as a supplement to natural food provided by native plants.
This wildlife habitat includes(from front to back): false sunflower, purple coneflower, rosinweed and cup plant. It occupies a narrow space between two garages.
click here to learn more
about this butterfly gardenWater Wildlife needs water, for drinking, bathing, and in some cases, breeding. Water can be supplied in a birdbath, a small pond, a recirculating waterfall, or a shallow dish. However you decide to provide water, make sure you do so year round. This can easily be done with a thermostatically controlled bird bath heater to provide water during subfreezing weather when the need for water is critical.
click here to learn more about
this sunny habitat3. Cover: When choosing your plants, make sure to include at least one good clump of evergreen trees and shrubs to provide year-round protective cover from weather and predators. Good choices are juniper, hollies, and live oaks, as they provide food as well as cover. You should also plant deciduous shrubs to offer effective summer cover for nesting and escape from predators. Rock, log, and mulch piles also offer good cover.
This front yard is dominated by a large cup-plant, whose leaves hold water for several days after a rain.
Note how the foundation shrubs, which provide cover, are rendered insignificant by the addition of bold and exciting native wildflowers.
4. Places to Raise Young: Evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs provide nesting areas for birds. Dead and dying trees (called "snags") provide nesting sites for many species such as owls, flying squirrels, and other cavity-nesters. Rabbits, shrews, mice, snakes, and salamanders lay their eggs or raise young under boughs of plants as well as in the rock, log, or mulch piles. Nest boxes for bluebirds, chickadees, wrens, and purple martins can be placed in your backyard. Aquatic animals, such as frogs, toads, newts, dragonflies, and other insects, deposit their eggs in ponds, vernal pools, and other wetlands. Butterflies require "host" plants that serve as food sources for butterflies during their larval (caterpillar) stage. Butterflies almost invariably lay their eggs on the host plant preferred by the caterpillar, so make sure to include some of the host plants in your habitat.
False Solomon's seal and celandine poppy highlight this old dead log. In the fall, the Solomon's seal has a cluster of red berries, formed from the feathery, white flower cluster.
3.Practice resource conservation in your own backyard. Conserving resources will not only help the wildlife in your own yard but will help improve your community's environment.
4.Certify your backyard. Details on how and why you should become certified in the National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Wildlife Habitat program. Visit the National Wildlife Federation's Site for more information
Other ideas for wildlife habitats include:
click for more about turning this front yard into
a wildlife habitat
Art's garden in Cicero started as a typical, grass-covered yard. The garden is in full sun. Bird feeders and water abound. Plants include: Goldenrod, trumpet vine and purple coneflowers.
This horseshoe-shaped backyard garden belongs to nature photographer Mike MacDonald. Wildflowers, grasses and sedges have been planted for interest during all four seasons and to provide habitat for wildlife.
This shade garden in Barrington makes an ideal wildlife habitat. There are lots of protected places for birds to hide and nest.
Note the bird houses attached to the tree. (Webmistress's Note: nailing wood directly into the trunk is not recommended.)
This simple yard in Oak Park was easily converted into a wildlife habitat.
This wildlife habitat garden was planned with a "sculpted" look - the plants in the front are low growing and clumped, the plants in the back are tall and stately.
