Gardening for Wildlife Month!

Today marks the start of Gardening for Wildlife Month! Gardening for Wildlife Month, held in May each year, aims to get more people to celebrate and honor local flora and fauna. A devastating byproduct of human growth has been the loss of natural habitats worldwide. Wild animals and plants can no longer rely on woodlands, marshes, and ponds — these places have been slowly disappearing to make way for roads, homes, factories, etc. As a result, wildlife that was once thriving is now facing multiple threats, and their populations are dwindling. Since private residential property took almost one-third of the urban landscape in many developed nations, one way to revive the wildlife was to plan urban gardens that would be completely wildlife-friendly. Much of wildlife gardening revolves around protecting local wildlife. Planting native plants and trees to attract local wildlife is a great way to create local ecosystems without harming the biodiversity of your region. Wildlife-friendly gardens don't need to look wild; an ordered green space with a healthy and balanced flora is enough to attract wildlife.

Here are some ways you can contribute to Gardening for Wildlife Month. 

#1 Plant native plants. Wildlife evolved alongside native plants in your area, and they are used as food, shelter, and places to raise young. Nearly every living creature on the planet relies on native plants. They are the foundation of local food webs, giving butterflies, birds, and other wildlife what they need to survive.

#2 Don’t use chemicals! If you choose native plants, you’ll have less need for chemicals. 

#3 Wildlife needs water. A water source can be anything from a puddling dish or bird bath to a rain garden or pond. Just be sure to keep it clean for your visitors. 

Over the course of this month, I will post ways to attract certain critters, discuss their importance, and even share some of the ways I am contributing. Watch my blog and my Instagram account for daily posts this month! Sources of Knowledge: https://nationaltoday.com/gardening-for-wildlife-month/ and  https://gardenforwildlife.com/blogs/learning-center/how-to-make-an-impact-during-the-10th-annual-garden-for-wildlife-month