When you mew about Bird and Butterfly Gardening,
take this badge for your site.

We all love to watch butterflies flitting among the flowers
and the birds playing and chirping in our yard.
Did you know that you can make special gardens that will attract them?
Some of our members have studied this and share their findings with you.

Attracting Birds by Midnight H Every year, millions of kitties discover the pleasure of watching birds. Understanding how birds survive in the wild increases our ability to attract them to our homes. Food, water and shelter are some of the birds' basic requirements. Birds eat from a wide variety of resources which nature (and mew) provides. They eat seeds, nuts, berries, nectar, grubs, worms, insects, spiders, buds of grass, and even eggs or nestlings stolen from another bird. There are many different varieties of bird seeds mew can buy at the local pet food store, dry goods store, or even Wal-mart. All birds must consume water to survive. In the wild, birds find their water from lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, puddles and even raindrops. There are many different varieties of bird baths and misters mew can choose from that will appeal to different types of birds. Birds also require a safe place to rest and raise their young. Woodpeckers often reside in dead trees, while Barn Swallows like to use mud. Mew can find birdhouses in all shapes and sizes to appeal to different types of birds. There are ones that look like tree limbs and ones that are decorative. The location of mewr bird house should be safe and secure so that ofur kitties or wild animals can't hurt mewr birds. If the birds don't feel safe, they will not move into the birdhouse. Mew don't have to rework your existing garden area to attract birds. Work with what mew have. For example, if mew have flowers beds, simply leave the dying flowers instead of plucking them. This can provide seeds for the birds. Some flowers good for this are Zinnia, Marigold, Sunflower, California Poppy, Bachelor's Buttons, Aster, Black-eyed Susan, Goldenrod, and Purple Coneflowers. If mew have hedges or shrubs, don't prune them until winter as birds prefurr informality! As mew can see, any kitty can attract birds to his or her garden. All it takes it a little effort and a lot of patience. How to Attract Birds and Butterflys by Smokey Amber The four basic need for birds and butterflies are water, food, shelter and nesting spots. A bird bath, flowers, trees, and shrubs can cover these basic needs. With a few simple changes in my small yard, many species of butterflies and native birds could benefit. Just imagine if some of the yards near me became wildlife friendly, too. Even more animals would benefit, as well as, anyone who enjoys watching robins raise a nest full of babies or colorful butterflies float from flower to flower. Many wonderful resources offer the information you need to help the birds and butterflies around your yard. Some basic ideas you can start with include: Butterflies are insects; many birds eat insects. Any insecticides you use to kill aphids, wasps, mosquitoes, grubs, etc. can kill butterflies and birds. Therefore, a poison free yard is essential to help wildlife. The four basic needs for life are food, water, shelter, and nesting space. Any thing you do to provide one or more of the basic needs will help wildlife. Here is a sample list of plants to take with you to the garden center. Annuals, perennials, herbs, shrubs, and trees that are attractive to birds and/or butterflies are listed. For a more complete listing see the resource list below. (*) indicates plants referenced as native species. Additional species listed below may also be native to North America. Annuals: Sunlight Butterfly and Bird Alyssum...full sun food Cosmos...full/part sun food Impatiens... part/full shade food Lantana ...full sun food Marigolds... full sun food Scarlet Sage... full sun food Pearly Everlasting... full sun food/host Verbena... full sun food Perennials: Sunlight Butterfly and Bird Asters, New England... full sun food/host food Blazing Stars ...full sun food food Brown-eyed Susan... full sun food food Coneflowers... full sun food food Coreopsis ...full sun food Milkweed, Butterfly Weed ...full sun food/host Monarda... part/full sun food food Shrubs: Sunlight Butterfly and Bird Butterfly Bush... part/full food Dogwoods...part/full sun food/shelter Privet (allow to bloom... part sun food Shadbush/Serviceberry*... part sun food/shelter Sumac... part/full sun food/shelter Willows varies... food/host nests/shelter HERBS Sunlight Butterfly and Bird Carrots... part sun food/host Mints... part sun food/host Parsley... full sun food/host TREES Sunlight Butterfly and Bird Birches varies food Fruit trees varies food/host food/shelter Maples varies food/nests/shelter Pines varies food/nest/shelter Information From: Neppa Seirra