What could be more welcome in a natural garden than nature? Birds, butterflies, bees – even toads – all deserve a happy reception. Not only are they thoroughly enjoyable to watch, they often help out in the garden, pollinating plants to produce fruit and vegetables, and eating and chasing away unwanted pests. Attracting wildlife with your natural garden is a wonderful way to give back to the animal kingdom, too. Your garden can provide a sanctuary and promote the survival of local beneficial insect populations – a benefit to the entire environment.
Provide a water source in the garden for birds to frequent, making sure that the source is at least 3 feet above the ground and away from any vegetative cover that can camouflage predators. Place toad houses in cool, damp areas of your natural garden.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Give birds an attractive home of their own by installing appropriate nesting sites and birdhouses that are out of reach of pets and predators. (If you want to attract a specific bird species, learn what types of nesting preferences that species has.)
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Plant the preferred food choices of your local butterflies and you’ll be entertained all summer by their flitting and fluttering about.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Orange and purple coneflowers bloom in striking colors, attracting butterflies. The blooms are later followed by ornamental seed heads, which can become a food source for birds.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
So how do you roll out the welcome mat for these garden-friendly creatures? As you may expect, different wildlife are attracted by different garden features.
Birds
Invite some feathered friends to your garden by providing four essential elements: food, shelter, nesting sites and water.
Like with most animals, feed the birds and they will come. Hanging a bird feeder is an easy way to call these animals into your yard. There are all kinds of feeders and birdseed available tailored for specific birds. Read the seed packaging carefully so you know what birds to look for in your garden, and choose a feeder style that suits your garden theme. (Then remember to fill it regularly with seed.)
Natural gardens on their own can be the perfect feast for birds – if you pick the right plants. Choose trees, shrubs, vines, grasses and perennials that produce edible berries, seeds, nuts and nectar. Native plants are your best choice for attracting birds native to your region, but many other birds will consume more exotic fare as well. (It’s a thrill to see a flock of goldfinches arrive to feast on coreopsis after it’s gone to seed or a hummingbird stop by to sip nectar from columbine.) Of course, many birds also eat insects. (You and the kids can enjoy watching acrobatic swallows catch pesky flying insects on a summer evening.)
While food is vital to attracting birds, your feathered friends also need protected cover to feel at home. Create welcoming habitats by planting an overstory of trees and an understory of shrubs, vines and grasses that provide shelter from wind, weather and predators. Evergreens are excellent selections for providing winter protection. (Just think of all the peeps and chirps you hear emanating from a large evergreen tree as you stroll by on a chilly winter’s day.)
Once you’ve come to know your local birds, you’ll want them to move right in and raise their young. To help them along, install rustic birdhouses and nest boxes. (Verify specific birdhouse height and nesting style requirements for the different bird species that frequent your garden – they do vary greatly among birds.) Make sure you hang your birdhouses out of reach of pets and other predators. Trees, including dogwood and American holly, provide food, as well as nesting space. You supply the plant, and the birds will do the rest.
Butterflies
Obviously birds are only part of the wildlife bounty. Attracting butterflies in the garden is a magical part of spring and summer. And where do butterflies come from? Caterpillars! And what helpful creatures some of these insects can be. So be sure to plant food sources for these critters, including hollyhock, goldenrod and windflower, and you may have the delight of someday actually watching a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis right in your own yard!
To attract butterflies in multitudes, plant nectar-rich flowers in sunny exposures. Certain flowers – including asters, coneflowers, Oregon grape and viburnum – are butterfly magnets. Also give these delicate winged creatures a shallow water source with protection from high winds. Include some flat surfaces near the water where your fluttery friends can rest and bask in the sun – it’s something they love to do.
Toads
And finally, we can’t forget the humble toad. While you surely won’t be seeing any princes in your back yard, toads can still help out a lot with those pesky pest problems – like slugs. And if your natural garden includes any water features or wetland spaces, then a toad abode or two may be just what your yard needs. All the food and water they need should be available right in your garden. A shelter can be something as simple as a broken terra-cotta pot or as fancy as a store-bought toad house. Not only will these lovely creatures eat up your problem pests while you sleep, they’ll serenade you with their croaky songs.
The truth is attracting wildlife to your garden can be just as fun as planning your natural landscape itself. It’s as interesting to learn about native animals as it is to learn about the local plants. With a little extra planning, you can enjoy all the extra life and beauty wildlife can bring to the natural garden.
