Lawn & Garden

Take a look at more garden ideas in the image gallery.

If you’re a home gardener, you may want to turn your backyard into a habitat garden, a small space that welcomes wildlife. By creating a habitat garden, you can enjoy the presence of beautiful creatures such as hummingbirds, bluebirds, or monarch butterflies. Birds’ songs and colorful butterflies not only add beauty to the environment, but also make the garden feel like a natural refuge.

When building a habitat garden, it’s best to grow fruits, berries, and flowers that make up the natural diet of the species you want to attract. Water is also essential, whether it comes from a natural brook, a small fountain, or simply a birdbath.

It’s important to provide a secure environment for the wildlife by incorporating plants and landscape elements that provide hiding and housing. This natural approach benefits the animals, as they can enjoy the resources of your habitat garden without changing their normal behavior patterns or diet.

Check out more gardening ideas in the image gallery below.

This habitat garden features cultivated varieties of native wildflowers that combine well with each other. Aquilegia canadensis Corbet and Heuchera Montrose Ruby are pale-flowered and purple-leaved forms of a plant that occurs naturally with red-and-yellow blooms and medium-green leaves. Phlox stolonifera Pink Ridge completes the picture for an area that is both lovely to look at and attractive to hummingbirds.

If you love butterflies, consider creating a butterfly garden. Plant flowering plants that are favored by the butterflies in your region, and you will be rewarded with visits from these colorful creatures. The flowers provide both nectar and larval hosts for butterflies. Dahlias are multicolor annual flowers that can attract peacock butterflies when planted in a habitat garden. Planting native flowers is not only good for your garden, but also good for the environment, as the plants offer food sources for the birds and butterflies whose natural food supplies may be scarce in built-up areas.

The photo below features a mix of grasses and perennial wildflowers that provide both nectar and larval hosts for several species of butterfly in this butterfly garden. Butterflies seem to especially enjoy feeding from the multitude of tiny florets found in the center of compound daisy-like flowers; examples include these purple and white Echinacea purpurea coneflowers, gray-headed Ratibida pinnata coneflowers, and Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed Susans blooming here.

Looking for more gardening ideas? Try:

• Color Theme Garden Ideas
• Cottage Garden Ideas
• English Country Garden Ideas
• Foliage Garden Ideas
• Fragrant Garden Ideas
• Garden Ideas
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• Natural Garden Ideas
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• Traditional Shade Garden Ideas
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The butterfly garden is not only filled with flowers but also colorful plants that attract butterflies. One example is the orange lantana plant that monarch butterflies flock to. Different butterfly species have different meal preferences, with monarch butterflies also feeding on liatris and the rare Karner blue butterfly feeding on wild lupines in sandy Eastern areas. To attract butterflies, it is a great idea to plant a variety of native nectar plants in a border or bed, as butterflies are more likely to visit familiar flowers that are a natural part of their habitat.

In addition to butterfly gardens, wildlife gardens are also a great way to attract various types of animals. By incorporating natural environmental elements such as woodland edges, ponds, and flower gardens, a wildlife garden can provide a habitat for native wildlife in the region while also providing a beautiful and tranquil space for people to enjoy. Some wildlife gardens even feature fish ponds and colorful annual flowers like roses and dahlias.

To find the best plants for the butterflies and wildlife in your region, it is important to do some research. The photos in this article provide great ideas for starting a butterfly or wildlife garden, but there are also other gardening ideas to explore such as color theme gardens, cottage gardens, and traditional shade gardens.

A woody wildflower garden is a serene and stunning environment that benefits both humans and wildlife. If you’re interested in creating one, you’ve come to the right place! This article offers woody wildlife garden ideas and photos to inspire you. Native wildflowers, when combined with woodland elements like ferns, shade trees, meadows, and ponds, create lovely woody wildflower gardens that serve as ideal wildlife habitats. Additionally, many varieties of native wildflowers thrive in shaded areas, making woody wildflower gardens perfect for those less-than-sunny spots in your yard. The photos in this article showcase various woody wildflower garden ideas that you can explore, such as poppies and cornflowers thriving in a wildflower field, Dicentra eximia fringed bleeding heart and Tiarella cordifolia foamflower creating a lovely display above their leaves, and black-eyed Susans dazzling with their contrast of colors. Remember, a habitat garden is a wonderful way to enjoy nature’s beauty while helping the environment. So go ahead and experiment with butterfly gardens, wildlife gardens, or woody wildflower gardens in your own backyard!

Need more gardening inspiration? Check out:

• Ideas for Color-Themed Gardens
• Ideas for Cottage Gardens
• Ideas for English Country Gardens
• Ideas for Foliage Gardens
• Ideas for Fragrant Gardens
• Gardening Tips and Ideas
• Ideas for Natural Gardens
• Ideas for Rock Gardens
• Ideas for Traditional Shade Gardens
• Ideas for Water Gardens

Plants to Attract Wildlife to Your Garden

The tall stalks of the Purple Coneflower make it great for wildflower borders.

Choosing plants to attract wildlife to your garden serves a dual purpose of adding beauty to your home and providing a sanctuary for the wildlife you choose. Careful selection of the blossoms and berries in your garden can influence the species attracted to it.

Whether you prefer butterflies or bluebirds, monarchs or magpies, these plant profiles will help you select the perfect mix of food and sanctuary to help your local bird and butterfly population thrive.

Arrowwood

This North American shrub produces flower clusters that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, as well as berries eaten by a variety of birds.

Aster, Michaelmas Daisy

A fall-blooming perennial, Michaelmas daisy adds a touch of pink, red, or lavender to your garden.

Bergamot, Bee Balm, Oswego Tea

The lilac-purple flowers of Bergamot are sure to entice hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees from midsummer to autumn.

Bloodroot

Named for the red sap in its underground stem, bloodroot is a hardy wildflower with white blossoms and large, scalloped leaves.

Butterfly Weed, Milkweed

The bright orange flowers of the butterfly weed are known for attracting butterflies — they are a favored food source for swallowtails and monarchs alike.

Columbine

Columbine’s sun-loving red-and-yellow flowers bring hummingbirds into your garden — as a perennial, you’ll see the beautiful birds and blossoms year after year.

Coneflower, Purple

In addition to being a lovely cut flower, the Purple Coneflower is frequently visited by butterflies and bees.

Flowering Onion

During the summer months, the rose-colored or white blossoms of the flowering onion draw in a plenitude of butterflies.

Gaillardia, Blanket Flower

With their red, orange, and yellow petals, Blanket Flowers provide a lovely backdrop for the butterflies they attract.

Garden Phlox

The star-shaped flowers of Garden Phlox bloom in spring, and add splashes of white, pink, blue, or lavender to your garden.

Geranium, Scented

Whether pink or lilac-white in color, Scented Geraniums are perfect for use in a perennial border.

Golden Alexanders

The yellow flowers that give this plant its name bloom during spring, and make a wonderful addition to a wildflower garden.

Goldenrod

A summer-blooming native of North America, Goldenrod is a hardy plant that will provide beautiful yellow blossoms in full sun.

Lavatera, Rose Mallow

This perennial shrub grows in pink, red, rose, white, or bicolors from midsummer until early winter, and the darker colors are known to draw hummingbirds.

Lobelia

Hummingbirds love these scarlet, lance-shaped flowers, which bloom in summer’s partial sun or shade.

Mayapple

Each spring, the Mayapple’s leaves grow out folded like an umbrella, bloom into a lovely white flower in summer, and bear rounded fruits in autumn.

Merrybells

Long, delicate bell-shaped flowers hang suspended from arched stems, preferring a woodland environment.

Wildflowers for Your Garden

Prairie Coneflower

The prairie coneflower produces beautiful mauve-pink flowers that can grow taller than five feet. These flowers are a popular spot for bees and butterflies.

Primrose

With its bright red to purple blossoms, primrose is a stunning addition to any wildflower collection. These flowers bloom in early summer.

Salvia, Meadow Sage

The Midwestern meadow sage, also known as salvia, is a favorite among hummingbirds and butterflies. Its stunning blue flowers bloom late in the summer, making it a rare sight for the season.

Virginia Bluebells

Virginia bluebells are an elegant wildflower that bloom in brilliant blue every spring and disappear by midsummer.

Wild Ginger

Wild ginger is an attractive ground cover with heart-shaped leaves. Its long-tailed, brown or reddish flowers bloom in early summer.

Looking for more gardening ideas? Try:

• Color Theme Garden Ideas
• Cottage Garden Ideas
• English Country Garden Ideas
• Foliage Garden Ideas
• Fragrant Garden Ideas
• Garden Ideas
• Gardening
• Natural Garden Ideas
• Rock Garden Ideas
• Traditional Shade Garden Ideas
• Water Garden Ideas

FAQ

1. What is a habitat garden?

A habitat garden is a type of garden that is designed to attract and support local wildlife. This can include birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The goal of a habitat garden is to create a sustainable environment that provides food, water, and shelter for these creatures.

2. What are some benefits of having a habitat garden?

Having a habitat garden can provide many benefits. It can help to support local ecosystems and biodiversity. It can also help to improve soil quality, reduce water usage, and decrease the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. In addition, a habitat garden can be a beautiful and peaceful place to spend time outdoors.

3. What are some key features of a habitat garden?

Some key features of a habitat garden include a variety of native plants, water sources such as a bird bath or pond, and shelter such as bird houses or bee hotels. It is also important to avoid using chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and to provide a variety of plant heights and textures to support different types of wildlife.

4. What are some good plants to include in a habitat garden?

When choosing plants for a habitat garden, it is important to select native species that are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. Some good options include wildflowers such as coneflowers and black-eyed susans, shrubs such as elderberry and serviceberry, and trees such as oak and hickory.

5. How can I create a habitat garden in a small space?

Even if you have a small yard or balcony, you can still create a habitat garden. Consider using containers to grow plants, or incorporating vertical elements such as trellises or hanging baskets. You can also create a mini-habitat by providing a bird feeder or butterfly house.

6. How can I attract pollinators to my habitat garden?

To attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, it is important to provide a variety of flowering plants that bloom at different times throughout the season. Avoid using pesticides, as these can be harmful to pollinators. You can also provide a shallow water source such as a bird bath or shallow dish filled with rocks.

7. How can I make my habitat garden more sustainable?

To make your habitat garden more sustainable, consider using compost instead of chemical fertilizers, and using rain barrels to collect and reuse rainwater. You can also choose drought-tolerant plants that require less watering, and incorporate permeable surfaces such as gravel or mulch instead of concrete or asphalt.

8. How can I incorporate art and design into my habitat garden?

You can incorporate art and design elements into your habitat garden by using sculptures, mosaics, or other decorative features. You can also create garden paths or seating areas to enhance the visual appeal of the space. Just be sure to choose materials that are safe for wildlife.

9. How can I maintain my habitat garden?

Maintaining a habitat garden involves regular watering, pruning, and weeding. It is also important to monitor the garden for pests and diseases, and to avoid using chemical pesticides and herbicides. Finally, be sure to provide winter shelter for wildlife such as brush piles or evergreen shrubs.

10. How can I involve children in creating a habitat garden?

Involving children in creating a habitat garden can be a great way to teach them about nature and the environment. You can have them help with planting, watering, and maintaining the garden, and encourage them to observe and identify the wildlife that visits. You can also provide educational resources such as books or field guides.

11. How can I connect with other habitat gardeners?

You can connect with other habitat gardeners by joining local gardening clubs or environmental organizations. You can also attend workshops or events related to sustainable gardening or wildlife conservation. Finally, consider sharing your garden on social media or through a blog to inspire others to create their own habitat gardens.