Wildlife and the Garden

“Wildlife” is the word for critters 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.

Articles on this Site

• 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.
• Butterfly Gardening unravels the mysteries of “host plants,” “nectar plants” and exactly what plants really attract the most species of butterflies.
• All about attracting hummingbirds — with feeders and with plants.
• 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 Garden Blogs

• 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.

Hummingbird photo credit. Owl photo by Glenda Kapsalis. In collage, jade bee by the Flatbush Gardener; goldfinch by Runner Jenny.