Garden Critters
"Critter" is a word for garden wildlife we like. The ones we don't like we call "pests," though sustainable gardeners have a pretty high tolerance for insects that might happen to be trying to get a decent meal in their garden.
My Articles on this Site
Butterfly Gardening unravels the mysteries of "host plants," "nectar plants" and exactly what plants really attract the most species of butterflies.
Turn your Garden Into a Wildlife Habitat is a whole-hearted endorsement of the National Wildlife Federation's plan to make our gardens - and our communities - more wildlife-friendly.
Worms - Nature's Composters is all about the amazing abilities of earthworms to turn your garbage into gold. It's called vermiculture, and it's actually fun.
Organic Mosquito Control - Bats! is an affectionate look at these much-maligned but human-friendly critters. Great books for adults and kids, and bat houses for your very own yard.
Stories from the Garden
- Amy Stewart's article about frogs
- Cornell's Craig Cramer on the disappearing honeybees and things we can do to help them.
- In this article Amy attempts to set the record straight about some alarmist anti-worm reporting.
- Check out Sure, Blame the Worms, Amy's reaction to worms being blamed for global warming.
- Here's a great article about Gardening for Bees.
- This article is about a wonderful talk I heard about Gardening for Wildlife.
Great Information in Print
- Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Wildlife
by the National Wildlife Federation. - Field Guide to North American Butterflies
by the National Audubon Society - Butterfly Gardening
The Xerces Society and the Smithsonian Institution - Taylor's Weekend Guide to Attracting Birds and Butterflies
- The Butterfly Gardener's Guide
from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Silent Spring
, the classic by Rachel Carson.
- The Natural Habitat Garden
by Ken Druse, the leading writer in the back-to-nature gardening movement. - Projects for the Birder's Garden
by the Editors of Yankee Magazine. - Welcoming Habitat to the Garden
: Creating Backyard and Balcony Habitats for Wildlife - Creating Small Habitats for Wildlife in Your Garden
- The Earth Moved - On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms
by Amy Stewart (great book!) and her blog. - Worms Eat My Garbage
by Appelhof and her site Worm Woman - Diary of a Worm
is another good one for kids. - Worms Eat Our Garbage - Classroom Activities for a Better Environment
- Beginner's Guide to Bats
- Understanding Bats
- Walker's Bats of the World
- Bats in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book
For Kids
- Kids' Easy-To-Create Wildlife Habitats
- Wonderful Worms
- Little Lost Bat
by Markle and Marks - Pippa's First Summer
Badgley & Miljour
- Boo, the Little Brown Bat
by Pifer
- Bats at the Beach
by Lies - The Butterfly Book
- a Kid's Guide to Attracting, Raising and Keeping Butterflies by Hamilton
More Good Info on Line
- NC State has a good compilation of information about wildlife.
- New tips from the National Wildlife Federation about backyard habitats.
- Guidance about feeding birds in the winter.