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#11 |
Fox
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Carolina
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I agree with what many here have said about the NWF and your states native plant societies. Don't forget extension services, local forestry services online and offices of coastal resource management if you live in a coastal zone. Check with local university publications as well. I found an excellent publication this way for "Living at the Water's Edge" published by Clemson and DHEC. The Audubon Society has a book I liked called, "The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds" by Stephen W. Kress and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I think I ordered it from www.cornellpress.cornell.edu The Cornell site actually has a lot of good books.
We just completed stage one of our backyard. Every plant that we planted was a native to this area. We studied pictures and what types of what bird or mammal used what tree. We considered season of fruit and whether or not it would provide nesting. We're just getting started but that's okay. I still have a list of native plants that will make it to our yard. I just want to see how what we have now spreads. Then I'll use my list for filling spaces. |
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#12 |
WG Facilitator
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Cajun Country, Louisiana, USA
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That's the direction I'm leaning toward for the area near our pond. 2 sides are full shade, 2 full sun, a boggy area and the rest dry, so there could be a spot for almost anything that really appeals to me. I picked up an american beautyberry at the master gardener's fall plant sale, so I have one berry. I only want to get a couple of plants at a time, and since I'm just starting and have nothing wildlife garden-ish, it doesn't matter whether I start with berries or nesting/protection type plants. But I know I need all of those eventually.
I'll be taking the master gardener class this year, and part of the volunteer time is growing plants for this sale. They seem to be pretty heavy into the native plants, so by this time next year I should know a little about natives.
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My yarden and I lean a little to the wild side. |
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#13 | |
Unicellular Fungi
Join Date: Nov 2008
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"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum, Senegalese ecologist |
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#14 |
Fox
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Carolina
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The american beautyberry is one that we have. We planted a whole bunch down one side of our property. The Mockingbirds really seemed to enjoy them. I think we may have lost a couple due to irrigation issues, but they'll be replaced if that's the case. I'm really looking forward to seeing our plantings this spring.
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#15 |
Unicellular Fungi
Join Date: Nov 2008
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I have an area that is a microclimate where I think it might have a chance. Catbirds, robins, and cardinals eat the berries and I do have those birds visiting. This is one very attractive plant to me.
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"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum, Senegalese ecologist |
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#16 |
Salamander
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Olympia, WA
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Beautyberries grow like weeds on my property. (Nice weed to have.) The mockingbirds do love them. They cleaned them out early this year. I wish I could share them out to you guys ...
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Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. -- Kahlil Gibran |
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#17 |
Unicellular Fungi
Join Date: Nov 2008
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The only thing that grows like weeds on my property is weeds.
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"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum, Senegalese ecologist |
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#18 | |
Co-Administrator
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Midwest
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#19 |
Official Plant Nerd
Join Date: Dec 2008
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"We just completed stage one of our backyard. Every plant that we planted was a native to this area. We studied pictures and what types of what bird or mammal used what tree. We considered season of fruit and whether or not it would provide nesting. We're just getting started but that's okay. I still have a list of native plants that will make it to our yard." MaggyNoLia, what have you come up with since you last posted? What is stage 2 of your backyard?
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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss |
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#20 | |
Fox
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Carolina
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We still need ground cover and flowers and this is what we will concentrate on over the next year or two. We do know we want to add more Button bushes by the water, and we need to look into other plants that are edible for waterfowl for that area. We also know we have nothing that will be flowering or fruiting in Nov or Dec so we need to be on the lookout for something that will fit that need. Next month the Native Plant society here will be having a sale and we plan on being there bright and early to look for some of the flowers and button bushes we want. We'll be taking it slow until we are ready for stage two proper. Hopefully in two years we'll be able to afford to expand the beds and decrease the size of the lawn. This is when we'll add more shrubs and grasses as well as filling in all the beds with ground covers and flowers. Once stage two is completed we'll re-evaluate the property and we'll decide if a stage three is called for. |
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