Happy Earth Day & National Wildlife Week!

I feel a little guilty that I’ve wasted so much time this winter not doing so many of the things I had planned for my yard. Sloth, procrastination, laziness. I did plant a few things, but the wholesale yard makeover just never happened. And the National Wildlife Federation even sent me my “Backyard Habitat” certification sign for the yard. MJ asked me yesterday why I hadn’t asked him to put it up yet. I said that I want to do a few more things before installing it. Like it should look like a habitat before I advertise it as one. You know?

But I did plant my “Bleeding Heart” vine against the back fence this morning. And last week I finally got my second mulberry and last beautyberry into the ground. One of my butterfly sage shrubs didn’t make it, so I’ll have to replace it at the Fairchild spring plant sale next week.

I love the Fairchild plant sales. You don’t find this stuff at Home Depot. It always feels like a new beginning. New plants and shrubs, and a fresh surge of purpose and dedication. Now that our water restrictions have tightened, I feel even more justified – dare I say, even foresighted – that I’ve been concentrating on planting native and naturalized plants. They may not be as instantly showy, but once they get acclimated to their new surroundings, I never water anything. Unless you’ve got little kids that need to run on the stuff, or dogs who need to poop on the stuff, lawn grass is such a waste of space, time, and resources (including money). I preach to an empty choir most of the time, but I’m betting that new converts will be popping up the longer this drought and these water restrictions go on.

It’s so easy to make a mini-habitat, I can’t believe that more people don’t do it! A couple of bird feeders (or even just one), a bird bath (I use the catch tray from a large plastic planter set on top of the turned-over planter – easy to dump out and refill with the garden hose). Let an inconspicuous corner of the yard go wild. Plant native grasses, plants, and shrubs. Above all, give up the pesticides and weed killers! The birds themselves will do a bit of “planting” for you, if you catch my drift. It’s so much fun and interesting to see what shows up.

We’re so urbanized and concrete-ized, we tend to forget where our water comes from, how our air is cleaned. Want to see butterflies, cardinals, and hummingbirds up close and personal? Plant for them! They don’t have to be just static images on prints and knick-knacks. Bring on the grackles, the blackbirds, the hawks, and yes, even the squirrels!

This is the perfect opportunity to learn about your personal habitat: sit back and watch what visits your yard naturally. Learn what grows in your area that attracts the wildlife you enjoy. Once established, there’s almost no effort involved.

So, Happy Earth Day & National Wildlife Week! Plant something and enjoy!