Enjoying Outside, Inside: Making your Garden a Wildlife Sanctuary
Eliana Thompson • September 24, 2021
March 1, 2021
I don’t know if it’s just me, but it feels like there’s a palpable excitement in the air for the arrival of Spring this year. As the days get longer and little green buds emerge on bare tree branches, the urge to garden feels primal. If you’re preparing for spring gardening or a refresh of the outdoor space around your home, consider making a few additions that can turn your garden into a buzzing, chirping, wildlife habitat. Welcoming local wildlife is a great way to make your garden feel more alive as well as offer a safe haven to those whose natural habitats are impacted by urbanization. Here are a few ideas to make your outdoor space more attractive to a variety of animal and insect life.
- Plant a tree: Native trees will attract birds and insects, and are well adapted to the local soil, climate, and wildlife. They act as a nesting place, shelter, and even food for backyard visitors. Use this Native Plant Finder to see what grows best in your area.
- Build an Insect Hotel: Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and moths are key to a healthy garden. You can attract these creatures to your garden by providing a safe haven, which you can make using a mixture of recycled materials. Here is how to make an insect motel.
- Make a Ladybug Feeder: Ladybugs are like natural pesticides for your plants, killing aphids and other pests. Build a bamboo ladybug feeder with just a few things to encourage them to go to work on your garden.
- Grow wildflowers: Native wildflowers will support pollinators and make your garden buzz with life. Just to name a few Northern California natives, we have: Hummingbird sage and columbine for hummingbirds, milkweed for monarchs, poppies and asters for bees, goldenrod and magnolias for beetles, and calendula and cosmos for ladybugs. Learn more about how to select the right plants to help your pollinators thrive here.
- Add a water feature: A small water feature will help to attract a diversity of creatures to your garden ecosystem. A small bird bath can act as a water source for drinking and washing, and a larger water feature like a pond can allow you to keep fish and frogs as well as attracting beautiful insects like dragonflies.This article has some helpful tips on creating a useful water feature.
- Add a birdhouse: Providing a place for birds to breed is a sure way to attract them to your garden. Place your birdhouse where it’s sheltered from the elements and install before spring so that you do not disrupt the breeding season. Different types of birds favor different types of boxes, and there are a few features that make a good one, which you can learn about here.
Eliana Thompson; ethompson@tuleyome.org
Tuleyome Engagement and Advocacy Associate
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