Creature Spotting in the Back Garden

One of the many benefits of having a garden in your back yard is that you may encourage native animals to visit. Of course, the best way to safely practise creating spotting in the back garden is to watch through a window. If you go out and watch, your children may be tempted to try to pet the animals and could be bitten.

What kind of animals could you draw to your back yard? That all depends upon what type of habitat you have created out there. If you’re interested in drawing butterflies to your yard, you’ll want to plant a variety of flowers that butterflies like. Here are some butterfly favorites:

* Annuals – Impatiens, marigold, phlox, zinnia, and sunflowers are good choices.

* Perennials – Chrysanthemums, daisies, nasturtium, and yarrow would do a good job of attracting them.

* Wildflowers – Depending upon where you live, you might want to plant black-eyed Susan, butterfly flower, asters, or purple ageratum.

If you’d like to draw animals to your yard, it helps to know what type of wildlife is likely to live in your area. You might want to check with your local park ranger, county extension agency, or animal control. They should be able to tell you which animals to expect. You can also look at the library to find wildlife books for your general vicinity.

You’ll then have a better idea of what type of habitat you need to emulate in your yard to make it appealing to the animals. Be sure to incorporate the following elements: food, water, cover, and nesting areas. If you want to draw animals to your garden or back yard, these are an absolute must for any wildlife that visits.

It’s a good idea to plant native trees, shrubs, and plants that wildlife will recognize and most likely already use for food or shelter in their native habitat. Be sure to plant on multiple layers instead of planting just ground level plants or trees. You want to incorporate each level of plant to have something for different animals.

A water element such as a pond or water garden would provide all the water they need. Plant vegetation around the water so smaller animals will feel protected as they come to drink. Don’t stress out about cleaning up dead or dying trees as they will attract varying types of insects, which will in turn attract birds such as owls, wrens, and woodpeckers.

If you’re trying to attract wildlife, you’ll want to avoid using chemicals which could harm the animals. You may want to look for non-toxic or natural herbicides.

Keep a pair of binoculars near a window so you and your children can safely watch the animals. You can see what they are doing, which animals are visiting, and not have to worry about getting too close for their comfort. Consider keeping a notebook and pen by the window, too – that way you can keep track of the animals that visit during the different seasons of the year.