My true loves are birds, gardening and photographing them both. I wanted to create a wildlife habitat in my yard to attract more birds and have a place for them to come, eat, nest and rest. It's a wonderful life in my backyard, most times I never want to leave it!
In July 2002 my backyard became certified with the National Wildlife Federation. Upon applying for that certificate one of the things I had to do was provide the scientific names of all my plants and creatures that visit my yard. It was then that I discovered all the different butterfly's that were visiting my flowers and from there I started noticing cool bugs and then got interested in moths! Here in Kentucky our land is paved over and dissapearing at a rate of 100 acres a day and with that so does the wildlife as they have no food or nesting sources to raise their young. Using native plants and reducing your lawn area help to protect the natural resources and requires less watering, cuts down on chemical pesticide use and fertilizers. I would encourage each of you to do your part and put a little back into the earth that was here before we started disturbing it. It's amazing what will come and what you will see. Not to mention the hours of enjoyment just observing all the birds, mammals, insects both flying and crawling, butterflies and moths.
I add to my yard every year with fruit and nut bearing shrubs and trees, pollen, nectar and seed producing perennials and grasses to attract beneficial insects and wildlife
After creating, living and loving this place for 5 years, in October of 2005 we moved and I had to leave my backyard. We now live on 6 acres and although the task of starting all over again was daunting, in other ways it was very exciting. It's now been 3 years we have lived here and it's amazing what a person can accomplish! It took a good 6 months before the birds started coming regularly but I can't beleive my good fortune at all the birds and other wildlife I get to see on my own property. Something I always wanted was a designated native wildflower garden and I was able to do that, starting it all mostly by seed. We've planted over 75 trees and shrubs to house, feed and protect the birds.
So many of you have written to me to say you've been encouraged by showing how I started from scratch to build something inviting to wildlife. I will keep some of my pictures of my first habitat as well as the one I am creating now. Please come in and visit to see photos of before and afters, as well as all that come to visit it and what all I've planted. Links are below.
To find out how to go about creating a wildlife habitat in your yard please visit the National Wildlife Federation website. Just link from the banner below
From a bare backyard to my very own paradise! |
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