A month later, I’d changed the home page a little, added some photos, and included a habitat inventory. The author page and the lists of resources, habitats, and wildlife observed were unchanged, so I didn’t repeat them here.
A Little Wrenaissance History
To the great amusement of my family and friends, over the last four years I have become devoted to the idea of creating a wildlife sanctuary in our suburban yard. I had no idea this was going to happen – in fact, when house hunting, I was an advocate of buying a townhouse or large condo and it was my husband-to-be who felt strongly about buying a single family home. We found a house we liked, we didn’t find a townhouse or condo, and we both got tired of house hunting, so we ended up with the single-family house and a yard and a deck and all the accouterments of life in suburbia, including a bird feeder.
And I fell in love with the birds.
I became fascinated watching them. My love of animals and my interest in the environment merged as I learned about the National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program. And so I began…
Confessions of a reluctant gardener
Having lived in apartments all of my adult life, gardening is a great mystery to me. I have no inherent green thumb. I’m not one of those people that loves to garden. Instead, I see planning, planting, weeding, and all those other outdoors chores as a means to an end. Fortunately, my “end” is to build a backyard wildlife habitat using native plants, which are by definition suited to the climate, soil conditions, and coexistence with other native plants and wildlife. Native plants are lower maintenance – i.e., less work – and strongly resistant to damage, disease, and inexperienced gardeners. Perfect for me!
Habitat Inventory
Plants that provide wildlife foods
- Large Trees
- Oak (2)
- Paw-paw (2)
- American Holly (1)
- Pine (1)
- Small Trees
- Dogwood (1)
- Serviceberry (1)
- Apple (1)
- Magnolia (1)
- Shrubs
- Cotoneasters (5)
- Butterfly Bush (1)
- Azalea (1)
- Blackhaw Viburnum (1)
- Highbush Blueberry (1)
- Inkberry (3)
- Winterberry (3)
- Spicebush (1)
- Holly (2)
- Juniper (1)
- Rhododendron (1)
- Rose of Sharon (1)
- Pussywillow (1)
- Annuals and Perennials
- Columbine (7)
- Cardinal Flower (10)
- Bee Balm (6)
Feeders & Food
- Tube feeders
- Thistle
- Sunflower
- Peanut
- Platform/Hopper
- Mixed Seed
- Suet Feeder
- Hummingbird Feeder
Water
- 1-2 birdbaths depending on time of year
Cover
- Pine tree
- Magnolia
- Holly-Juniper-Laurel Hedgerow
- Groundcovers – ivy, day lilies, irises, cotoneasters
Places to raise young
- Mature Trees
- Oak (2)
- Maple (4)
- Pine (1)
- Small Trees
- Dogwood (1)
- Serviceberry (1)
- Crabapple (1)
- Magnolia (1)
- American Holly (1)
- Redbud (1)
- Rose of Sharon (1)
- Shrub Masses
- Holly (2)/Juniper (1)/Laurel (3)
- Nesting Boxes (1)
