One could say I’m on a bee kick. A number of my articles mention bees and despite being allergic to them – the last time I got stung I ended up in the ER, where I left with an epinephrine prescription for constant carry - they fascinate me. Our native plants attract them, the hive under …
Favorite Plants for Attracting Birds/Butterflies (California/Southwest)
In a follow-up to my post (Favorite Plants for Attracting Birds/Butterflies (Midwest/East) here are some favorites from two of our homes, both landscaped with natives and other wildlife-attracting plants. (See Our Conversion to Low Water Landscaping). I also asked two friends in Arizona, for their …
Continue Reading about Favorite Plants for Attracting Birds/Butterflies (California/Southwest)
Favorite Plants for Attracting Birds/Butterflies (Midwest/East)
In a follow-up to my post (Landscaped Yard Ushers in Butterflies and Birds) about the Damons' yard in St. Paul MN, I asked Susan for her favorite plants. Most are natives, a couple non-natives. Here is her reply (thanks Susan!) and more photos.Favorite Forbs: New England Aster (Aster …
Continue Reading about Favorite Plants for Attracting Birds/Butterflies (Midwest/East)
Landscaped Yard Ushers in Butterflies and Birds
In an earlier article Going Native: Even Small Amounts Bring Benefits I gave Susan Damon's yard in St. Paul, Minnesota as an example. Recently I asked her more questions and wanted to share what she and her husband Paul have experienced with their landscaping, along with some photos. (These are …
Continue Reading about Landscaped Yard Ushers in Butterflies and Birds
Tree Pruning: Resist Topping Trees
Here in southern California, and especially in our city of Redlands, which is bestowed with 100+ year old trees, we have an epidemic of terrible tree trimming. Also, tree topping or pollarding -- where main branches are trimmed to stubs -- seems to be rampant. Here are two good references on what …
Going Native: Even Small Amounts Bring Benefits
Even small patches of natives bring pleasant surprises. (See below for Midwest resources and click here for a previous article about favorite Midwest native plants). One of my best walks here in Redlands CA takes me by some mature sections of chaparral and sage scrub that some owners left on their …
Continue Reading about Going Native: Even Small Amounts Bring Benefits