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 may just be trying to get a decent meal in their garden.

Photo Credit.

Articles on this Site

NEW! How to make your own solitary Bee House by Lise Mahnke of Dry-Ideas.

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.

Okay, here's a "critter" we don't like: Mosquitos, and How Gardeners Deal with Them.

Stories from the Garden

Amy Stewart's article about frogs

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.
Blogger Michele Owens's family is seriously into bees.
This article is about a wonderful talk I heard about Gardening for Wildlife.

Pollinating Bee News

Cornell's Craig Cramer on the disappearing honeybees and things we can do to help them.
Good New York Times article about pollinating bees.
Even big business loves bees, especially if the business if Ben & Jerry's.
Then over on Dry Ideas learn how to build your own solitary bee house.
Here's a great article about Gardening for Bees.
Seems that bumblebees are in trouble, too.

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

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

The NWF released some Tip Sheets for Wildlife (in pdf) - about bird feeders, nesting boxes, attracting butterflies and more good stuff. And here's more expert advice about feeding birds in the winter from HGTV's ornithologist.
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.