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 Aquilegia 'Clementine Salmon Rose'
You can get your garden certified, too, by doing four things: Plant bushes and trees and hang bird houses and bird feeders so that wildlings have a place to raise their young; Plant evergreens and dense shrubs to give wild ones a place to rest and take cover; put in bushes, trees, and flowers that produce seeds and nectar for the wild ones; most importantly, install a shallow place for birds and small animals to safely drink and bathe. Here is a short list of nectar plants: Evergreen trees: Food sources: This year, they have added one more requirement: Sustainable Gardening. For example, build a compost pile or a rain garden. Use chemical-free fertilizer. The National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program has been certifying backyards for over 30 years. As our population increases and the woods and streams become subdivisions and shopping malls, it is more important than ever to make a place for wildlife in our home landscapes. Winter poses special problems for wild animals in the city and the country. Stock suet in a feeder made especially for holding this food. It will supply calories that birds need to stay warm. Use a birdbath heater in your birdbath to keep ice at bay. Water is extremely important to wildlife in the winter. Most birds, I have found, prefer a bathing station on the ground rather than on a pedestal or hanging from a tree. The tiny birds, like chickadees and titmice prefer to drink from the water cup above the hummingbird feeder. (The water in the cup keeps ants out of the food.) To date, the NWF has certified over 90,000 habitat sites - special places that provide the essentials for attracting songbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife. I hope you will build in these wild features in your own garden. ---Posted by Anne K Moore, September 17, 2008---
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