Page 24 - Green Builder March-April 2016 Issue

Creating Habitat

When enhancing a landscape
for wildlife, make sure the
design includes all of the
elements of good habitat.

B IRDS, BEES, INSECTS and other wildlife need more
than food to thrive. High-quality habitat includes food,
water, cover and places for nesting and raising young.
To support pollinators, this means making sure there are
food plants throughout the year.
Wildlife water features in the Swaffords’garden include strategically
placed concave boulders. The depressions catch water, which is then

Milkweed for Monarchs CREDIT: FRITZ FLOHR REYNOLDS
CREDIT: JUSTIN JAMES MUIR
By now, many people are familiar with the plight of the beautiful
monarch butterfly, which makes impressive migrations of up to Water Feature. Depressions in the stones collect water, which can
3,000 miles. Intensified agriculture, which often involves the loss attract birds and butterflies.
of habitat at the edges of fields, along with increased herbicide
use and mowing along roadsides has decimated milkweed, the available for birds, butterflies and bees. It’s also important to provide
primary food plant of monarch caterpillars. Planting milkweed food for insects in different stages—for example, host plants for
is the best thing you can do to support the monarch. However, caterpillars as well as nectar plants for butterflies. In the Swafford
there are many different kinds of milkweed, and it’s important project, these caterpillar-friendly plants include milkweed (see
to plant species native to your region. For more specific Sidebar), elderberry and native rhododendrons.
recommendations, visit the Xerces Society’s Project Milkweed:
www.xerces.org/milkweed The different layers—tree, shrub and groundcover—create
structure in the landscape that supports wildlife. “We also left dead
22 GREEN BUILDER March/April 2016 snags and logs, which provide habitat,” says Muir.

Leaving slightly “wild” edges benefits wildlife, but you can also
enhance the landscape with nest boxes for birds, bats and insects.

www.greenbuildermedia.com