When I first
set out to landscape my property, I had certain goals in mind: a privacy screen, intoxicating scents and
seasonal interest. I wasn’t really
thinking about how to attract birds, bees, butterflies or other creatures to my
garden. I was actually thinking more
about keeping creatures out – like those pesky deer who seemed to think I
planted a smorgasbord just for them.
set out to landscape my property, I had certain goals in mind: a privacy screen, intoxicating scents and
seasonal interest. I wasn’t really
thinking about how to attract birds, bees, butterflies or other creatures to my
garden. I was actually thinking more
about keeping creatures out – like those pesky deer who seemed to think I
planted a smorgasbord just for them.
This year my
garden became home to some common and extraordinary creatures. As a result, I’ve taken note of the plants or
garden characteristics that seem to be most attractive to wildlife.
garden became home to some common and extraordinary creatures. As a result, I’ve taken note of the plants or
garden characteristics that seem to be most attractive to wildlife.
Installing a
bird bath made a huge difference. Birds
come in droves to splash around in the bird bath during the hot summer months. I often see them taking a drink early in the
morning or just before dusk. Robins,
catbirds, finches and cardinals are frequent visitors, but I have also seen
bluebirds and even a Baltimore oriole.
bird bath made a huge difference. Birds
come in droves to splash around in the bird bath during the hot summer months. I often see them taking a drink early in the
morning or just before dusk. Robins,
catbirds, finches and cardinals are frequent visitors, but I have also seen
bluebirds and even a Baltimore oriole.
 |
| The Baltimore Oriole who visited my property |
Having bird
houses is another garden accent that attracts feathery friends to your garden.
Bird houses come in all shapes and sizes and don’t even have to be manufactured
by man. My tall hedge of Green Giants is
a perfect nesting spot for a number of the birds that call my garden home. I have also noticed that birds love to perch on
the branches of my smaller trees like Stewartia, Cornus Kousa, Rhododendron and
Magnolia virginiana.
houses is another garden accent that attracts feathery friends to your garden.
Bird houses come in all shapes and sizes and don’t even have to be manufactured
by man. My tall hedge of Green Giants is
a perfect nesting spot for a number of the birds that call my garden home. I have also noticed that birds love to perch on
the branches of my smaller trees like Stewartia, Cornus Kousa, Rhododendron and
Magnolia virginiana.
A food source
is key as well. Almost daily I find cherry pits in the bird bath. The birds are fast to consume other fruits as
well. It’s rare that my winterberry
holds its berries for the winter. Most of them disappear before the end of
December.
is key as well. Almost daily I find cherry pits in the bird bath. The birds are fast to consume other fruits as
well. It’s rare that my winterberry
holds its berries for the winter. Most of them disappear before the end of
December.
Hummingbirds,
bees and butterflies seem to love my hosta flowers. I frequently see them zipping about, darting
from flower to flower as they traverse my back yard. The blooms of my Bottlebrush Buckeye, Echinacea, Clethra
and Phlox paniculata are butterfly magnets for sure. Even the hydrangeas seem to attract their
fair share of swallowtails.
bees and butterflies seem to love my hosta flowers. I frequently see them zipping about, darting
from flower to flower as they traverse my back yard. The blooms of my Bottlebrush Buckeye, Echinacea, Clethra
and Phlox paniculata are butterfly magnets for sure. Even the hydrangeas seem to attract their
fair share of swallowtails.
 |
| Clethra is a butterfly magnet |
My compost
pile and log pile seem to be particularly attractive to snakes, fortunately the
non-poisonous kind. I think these hiding
spots and the lush foliage I have in my backyard oasis attracts small rodents
too like squirrels, chipmunks, mice and moles.
These in turn attract bigger hunters like hawks who loiter on my roof
until they spot something to eat.
pile and log pile seem to be particularly attractive to snakes, fortunately the
non-poisonous kind. I think these hiding
spots and the lush foliage I have in my backyard oasis attracts small rodents
too like squirrels, chipmunks, mice and moles.
These in turn attract bigger hunters like hawks who loiter on my roof
until they spot something to eat.
I put in a
toad house to attract little hoppers to take residence. Maybe I’ll even find a toad I can turn into a
prince with a kiss. I haven’t been
compelled to do that yet, but you never know.
toad house to attract little hoppers to take residence. Maybe I’ll even find a toad I can turn into a
prince with a kiss. I haven’t been
compelled to do that yet, but you never know.
 |
| The bird bath and toad house are ready for visitors |
A couple more
uncommon visitors this year include a box turtle and a pheasant. You heard me right; I was pretty surprised
too. I really wasn’t sure what attracted
them to my backyard haven, but upon some research I discovered that pheasants like
shrubby borders in which to roost and enjoy eating insects, seeds, berries and
other fruits. I suspect Green Giant
hedge provided the perfect hiding spot, while my compost pile offered desirable
fruit and vegetable scraps.
uncommon visitors this year include a box turtle and a pheasant. You heard me right; I was pretty surprised
too. I really wasn’t sure what attracted
them to my backyard haven, but upon some research I discovered that pheasants like
shrubby borders in which to roost and enjoy eating insects, seeds, berries and
other fruits. I suspect Green Giant
hedge provided the perfect hiding spot, while my compost pile offered desirable
fruit and vegetable scraps.
 |
| Mr. Pheasant – a pleasant surprise |
As for the
turtle, I learned that they call deciduous forests home. Thank goodness for that woodland trail and
for the tall canopy of trees that provides shelter for these creatures. Even some of the local barn cats seem to like
the woodland setting; they enjoy sitting in a mass of Corydalis lutea at the
back of my property, ready to pounce on an unsuspecting rodent for a delicious dinner.
turtle, I learned that they call deciduous forests home. Thank goodness for that woodland trail and
for the tall canopy of trees that provides shelter for these creatures. Even some of the local barn cats seem to like
the woodland setting; they enjoy sitting in a mass of Corydalis lutea at the
back of my property, ready to pounce on an unsuspecting rodent for a delicious dinner.
 |
| The box turtle hanging out in the grass |
Next time I design
a garden for myself or someone else, I’ll think not just about the practical
elements of my design like color, structure and bloom time, but also about how
I can attract wildlife to the areas I am designing. I encourage you to do the same. As garden owners and visitors, our experience
is enriched by these moving garden accents that add so much vitality to our
spaces and to our lives.
a garden for myself or someone else, I’ll think not just about the practical
elements of my design like color, structure and bloom time, but also about how
I can attract wildlife to the areas I am designing. I encourage you to do the same. As garden owners and visitors, our experience
is enriched by these moving garden accents that add so much vitality to our
spaces and to our lives.
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