Butterflies, Bees, Hummingbirds and More!
A backyard wildlife habitat is a rewarding and impactful way in which individuals can help restore balance. As natural wildlife habitats decline for many valuable creatures, including safe habitats for pollinators we depend on, so do their critical populations. Creating a backyard wildlife habitat creates a sanctuary.
Our friends over at Proven Winners provided us with some fun worksheets for your little ones to learn about pollinators in the garden. You can download and print the worksheets here. Have them color and cut and have fun with the worksheets and then take them out into the garden to show them all the elements that your backyard already provides for our pollinator friends. And if you’re missing one of the critical elements you can find out a way to add it to your garden this spring!
To create a habitat for animals and beneficial insects provide items from each of the following categories:
Food
To help attract local fauna to your flora you need to provide sustenance. There’s a wide variety to choose from, and it’s best to have a little bit of a few different things to create variety.
Some Options are: Native plants, nectar, 
seeds, nuts, fruit, berries, foliage, pollen or supplemental feeders.
Water
All living items need a consistent water source. Providing one in your own backyard can be a statement piece like a birdbath or a pond or just a small tucked away butterfly puddling area.
Birdbaths, ponds, rain gardens, container water gardens or butterfly puddling area are all good choices. We have a large selection currently in stock at Glover Nursery to choose from. A water element in your yard can also have the bonus effect of adding some drama and artistic flair to your garden.
Cover
Create places wildlife can take shelter, hide from and stalk prey. There are a variety of elements that can provide this resource in your backyard. Dead trees, ground covers, rocks, crevices, dense shrubs, evergreens, or brambles are just a few.
A Place to Raise Their Young
If you’ve had the experience of watching a bird create a nest, hatch, and raise their young in your yard you know how special this can be. Help by providing the elements that make the perfect home. These can include mature trees, meadow areas, nesting boxes, host plants for caterpillars, dense shrubs, or water gardens.
Sustainable Gardening Practices
Convert your garden to an organic garden to help improve the conditions of your backyard wildlife habitat. Working with your local weather conditions and using local plants is a big step in creating the perfect backyard oasis.
Visit the National Wildlife Federation‘s website for more information. You can even apply to certify your outdoor space as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat at www.nwf.org
If you want to focus on butterflies or bees or hummingbirds we’ve got a post for that. Just click the link below.
Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden
And if you’re wondering why a buzzing backyard habitat is a good thing check out The Buzz About Bees from our friends at Gardners Path.
