Tag: Gardening for wildlife

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Online Chapter Meeting October 14, The Humane Gardener: Nurturing Habitat for Wildlife, with Nancy Lawson

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Join NPSOT-Wilco online on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at 7:00 pm,  when author Nancy Lawson will present The Humane Gardener: Nurturing Habitat for Wildlife. 

About our topic: Why do we call some insects “beneficial” while others are “pests”? Why do we welcome some larger animals to our garden while calling others “nuisances”? Why are some plants considered “desirable” while others are “weeds”? In this myth-busting talk, learn how common growing methods divide the natural world into false dichotomies and perpetuate misperceptions about the wild species living among us. Discover practical ways to put humane gardening philosophies into action by protecting nesting sites for insects, birds and mammals; eliminating unintended hazards; identifying and nurturing plants that provide food and shelter; restoring habitat with minimal disturbance to animals; and humanely resolving conflicts with mammals and other commonly misunderstood creatures.

About our guest speaker: Nancy Lawson is the author of The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife, a habitat consultant, and a national speaker on garden ecology. She founded Humane Gardener to pioneer creative planting strategies and other animal-friendly landscaping methods. Lawson’s presentations at diverse venues—from national wildlife refuges to local wildflower preserves—have inspired even seasoned horticulturists and wildlife experts to look at their landscapes in a new way. Certified as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional and master naturalist, she partners with Howard County Bee City, the Audubon Society of Central Maryland, the urban wildlife department of the Humane Society of the United States, and other conservation and animal advocacy organizations. Her book and garden have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other media outlets.

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At every meeting, we give away a book — about native plants or the meeting topic — to one randomly chosen meeting attendee!

NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend!  Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook.

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Brush Pile 101

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— by Beth Erwin

A fundamental element for attracting birds to your yard is a brush pile. The familiar perching birds in our backyards like wrens, chickadees, titmice, and cardinals will appreciate the extra spot to dart into for cover. In turn, their activity will attract other birds that are passing through to check out your space for hanging out.

The recent winter storm has left plenty of material for brush piles. If you already keep a brush pile on hand for the birds, this might be a good time to refresh and relocate it. A brush pile left in the same place becomes a feeding station for predators after a couple of years, much like bird houses without predator guards. Your resident birds catch on quickly when the neighbor’s cat or a rat snake starts lurking in or near the pile. Migrants and casual visitors remain on the menu. In addition, the limbs at the bottom of the brush pile begin to disintegrate and pack down, leaving less space to dart around in.

You do not have to move far from the first brush pile when you relocate. You are going to have a bare spot where the old pile was. You can look for sprouts of the seeds the birds have left you once the ground is exposed to light or use the space to plant some native annuals or perennials. It should be rich in decomposed organic matter.

For those of you who cannot bear the thought of a pile of limbs in your yard, cohabitate with such a person, or know that your HOA would have a fit, try thinking outside the box. There is no rule on how the brush should be stacked other than there needs to be space for small birds to dart into when fleeing for cover.

Stand the limbs up, cut ends to the ground, bind the top ends together and make a cone/teepee shaped pile. Another option is to cut the thicker branches in pieces of the same length and stack them much like a split rail fence, only create a square tower configuration. Add some twigs in the center. Artistic brush piles! Please post pictures on our social media pages-> Facebook or Instagram.

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Program Summary for Feb 13: Wildlife in Your Garden with Kelly Simon

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— by Randy Pensabene

At our February 13, 2020 chapter meeting, Kelly Conrad Simon showed the audience how to use a variety of native plants to create a Texas Wildscape that can meet human needs for a visually appealing landscape while also providing the plants much-needed by wildlife. She demonstrated how by providing the basic elements of habitat (food, shelter and water) in your garden, Texans can attract an exciting variety of birds, butterflies, frogs and lizards and bring the beauty and vitality of nature home.

The most important step in developing a Wildscape is learning about the plants and soils that characterize your region. Since wildlife thrives in the presence of plants they have adapted to, native plants are encouraged in Wildscapes. Introduced plants are not good substitutes for the native plants used by wildlife.

Plants native to your area provide both food and shelter requirements for wildlife. Select plants for their food value as well as plants that will grow to different heights and density. This layering effect will allow wildlife to select areas they find most comfortable.

View Kelly’s presentation at this link.

Learn about native plants through the Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP)  with classes focused on the local area. Find schedule info here.

You can see the February 13, 2020 business presentation slides here.

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