In a few easy steps, you can make a big difference for local wildlife! Entice pollinators, like hummingbirds and butterflies, by transforming your outdoor space into a sanctuary enjoyed by humans and animals alike. It all starts with the end in mind by creating a plan for the space that you will transform. Not just for backyards, Gardening For Wildlife is possible anywhere that you live, learn, play, work, and worship.
* Plant a simple garden with native flowers that provide nectar for pollinators.
* Create a balcony garden with a variety of flowerpots to hold flowers and herbs.
* Transform a mowed grassy area into a milkweed patch with native grasses.
* Plant native trees and shrubs that produce berries and seeds to attract a variety of birds and wildlife.
With less than twenty percent of unclaimed space available, New Jersey is running out of land and is projected to be the first state in our nation to reach build out. This means that all land has been accounted for as protected or already developed. Human centered land use, such as shopping malls and housing developments, greatly reduce habitat for native wildlife. This is where you come in – by becoming a steward of your property and joining a nationwide movement of over 217,000 gardens!
Gardening for Wildlife is conducted through a partnership between New Jersey Audubon and the National Wildlife Federation. The program provides official recognition for properties that meet five key elements necessary for wildlife: food, water, cover, places for wildlife to raise young, and using wildlife-friendly landscaping practices. These properties are then recognized as Certified Wildlife Habitats™.
For more information visit:
www.njaudubon.org/garden