Explains how to create a garden that attracts birds, covering such topics as feeding stations, plant choices for various purposes, and problem solving, providing information for each ecological region of North America. Also includes an annotated resource list.
In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.
“With the twinned calamities of climate change and mass extinction weighing heavier and heavier on my nature-besotted soul, here were concrete, affordable actions that I could take, that anyone could take, to help our wild neighbors thrive in the built human environment. And it all starts with nothing more than a seed. Bringing Nature Home is a miracle: a book that summons butterflies." —Margaret Renkl, The Washington Post As development and habitat destruction accelerate, there are increasing pressures on wildlife populations. In his groundbreaking book Bringing Nature Home, Douglas W. Tallamy reveals the unbreakable link between native plant species and native wildlife—native insects cannot, or will not, eat alien plants. When native plants disappear, the insects disappear, impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. Luckily, there is an important and simple step we can all take to help reverse this alarming trend: everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity by simply choosing native plants. By acting on Douglas Tallamy's practical and achievable recommendations, we can all make a difference.
Describes nineteen different bird families with advice on ways to attract each family with nesting sights, shrub cover, and a variety of specific plant suggestions.
CLICK HERE to download sample native plants from Real Gardens Grow Natives For many people, the most tangible and beneficial impact they can have on the environment is right in their own yard. Aimed at beginning and veteran gardeners alike, Real Gardens Grow Natives is a stunningly photographed guide that helps readers plan, implement, and sustain a retreat at home that reflects the natural world. Gardening with native plants that naturally belong and thrive in the Pacific Northwest’s climate and soil not only nurtures biodiversity, but provides a quintessential Northwest character and beauty to yard and neighborhood! For gardeners and conservationists who lack the time to read through lengthy design books and plant lists or can’t afford a landscape designer, Real Gardens Grow Natives is accessible yet comprehensive and provides the inspiration and clear instruction needed to create and sustain beautiful, functional, and undemanding gardens. With expert knowledge from professional landscape designer Eileen M. Stark, Real Gardens Grow Natives includes: * Detailed profiles of 100 select native plants for the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades, plus related species, helping make plant choice and placement. * Straightfoward methods to enhance or restore habitat and increase biodiversity * Landscape design guidance for various-sized yards, including sample plans * Ways to integrate natives, edibles, and nonnative ornamentals within your garden * Specific planting procedures and secrets to healthy soil * Techniques for propagating your own native plants * Advice for easy, maintenance using organic methods
Reveals how to transform a yard into a bird haven, covering a range of needs from installing water sources and offering nutritional foods to providing various shelters and cultivating bird-friendly plants, in a guide that also shares recommendations for attracting specific birds. Original.
“A Way to Garden prods us toward that ineffable place where we feel we belong; it’s a guide to living both in and out of the garden.” —The New York Times Book Review For Margaret Roach, gardening is more than a hobby, it’s a calling. Her unique approach, which she calls “horticultural how-to and woo-woo,” is a blend of vital information you need to memorize and intuitive steps you must simply feel and surrender to. In A Way to Garden, Roach imparts decades of garden wisdom on seasonal gardening, ornamental plants, vegetable gardening, design, gardening for wildlife, organic practices, and much more. She also challenges gardeners to think beyond their garden borders and to consider the ways gardening can enrich the world. Brimming with beautiful photographs of Roach’s own garden, A Way to Garden is practical, inspiring, and a must-have for every passionate gardener.
A Practical Illustrated Bird-Oriented Gardening Book with Great Reference Charts Bird-watchers everywhere dream of a landscape dotted with fruiting shrubs, nests tucked into twining vines, and birds flocking to feeding stations. Let Natural Gardening for Birds show you how to lay out the welcome mat for birds by considering all of their needs, including year-round food, water, and shelter. Whether you’re looking to create a hummingbird garden, install a water feature, create alluring perches, or simply designate a corner of your property as a natural area, you’ll find all the inspiration and information you need in Natural Gardening for Birds, including: The best plants for nectar, fruit, and seeds The most attractive foods to offer birds Housing for cavity-nesting birds Simple habitat enhancements like snags and perches Region-specific planting ideas and charts
"South Florida is a unique and spectacular environment for both birding and gardening, and this is a thorough and enjoyable guide."--Carl Lewis, director, Fairchild Tropical Gardens "A step-by-step guide on how to create a garden that not only benefits birds but increases your enjoyment of your yard, patio, or balconies. No space is too small for helping birds, and this book tells you how to do it."--Stephen D. Pearson, director, University of Miami's John G. Gifford Arboretum "For all South Floridians concerned about vanishing stopover habitat and hoping to contribute to the re-greening of Florida in their own backyards, Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens is essential reading."--Brian Rapoza, author of Birding Florida Lush and warm, South Florida is a gardener's dream and a birder's delight. James Kushlan and Kirsten Hines draw on their years of experience to provide practical, ecologically sound advice for creating landscapes that will appeal to the many birds that can be found in the region. Aimed primarily at backyard gardeners and birders, but applicable for commercial landscapers as well, their precepts can be applied to a broad range of outdoor spaces, from balconies to suburban yards to rural estates. The authors identify plants that provide food or shelter and explain how each can attract specific bird species. They also explain what plants work well together, offer advice on simplifying garden maintenance, and provide tips on how other elements can make an area avian-friendly. Filled with brilliant photographs, Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens addresses a conspicuous void in the literature on two of America's most popular activities.
"It's up to every single one of us to do our bit for wildlife, however small our gardens, and The Butterfly Brothers know just how that can be achieved." Alan Titchmarsh Join the rewilding movement and share your outdoor space with nature. We all have the potential to make the world a little greener. Wild Your Garden, written by Jim and Joel Ashton (aka "The Butterfly Brothers"), shows you how to create a garden that can help boost local biodiversity. Transform a paved-over yard into a lush oasis, create refuges to welcome and support native species, or turn a high-maintenance lawn into a nectar-rich mini-meadow to attract bees and butterflies. You don't need specialist knowledge or acres of land. If you have any outdoor space, you can make a difference to local wildlife, and reduce your carbon footprint, too. "Wildlife gardening is one of the most important things you can do as an individual for increasing biodiversity and mitigating the effects of climate change. From digging a pond to planting a native hedge, the Butterfly Brothers can help you every step of the way." Kate Bradbury