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Posted: Aug/04/2008 2:19 PM PST
A new book came out last year that focused on the importance of using native plants to encourage native insects. Now you may not think you WANT to attract insects, but native birds rely heavily on insect populations, especially when raising chicks. Baby birds are fed insects almost exclusively because they need the protein. While bird feeders and bushes with berries help adult birds, they don't support the chicks. The new book is "Bring Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Garden" by Douglas Tallamy. The book talks about how native insects feed mostly on native plants so using a variety of native plants will bring a variety of native insects to your yard. Native insects evolved to be chemically attracted to certain plants and the non-native plants that are being used are not used as substitutes by native insects. Now this doesn't mean that a horde of insects will attack your plants (not like japanese beetles that will eat ANYTHING). Mostly they nibble a little here and there. So if you are a serious bird lover, this is a great book to read. It has lots of references to studies and lists of plants (such as which genus supports the highest number of different insects - you'd be surprised). http://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Nature-Home-Sustain -Wildlife/dp/0881928542/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s= books&qid=1217884877&sr=1-1 |
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Posted: Aug/12/2008 8:12 AM PST
I choose native plants over hybrid cultivars where ever possible. I see lots of really neat insects all the time, and I don't get very much damage from them either. I also see lots of really neat birds- way more different kinds than what I would normally see at my feeders. It's so much fun to watch the drama of nature played out everyday in my gardens! This year has been a bumper crop for birds nesting on my property too  Just an important tip- If you plant native plants, and want to see the benefits of them for the local wildlife, then DON'T EVER use pesticides!!! It sort of defeats the purpose 
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Posted: Aug/19/2008 7:58 AM PST
I came across this article in the NY Times about this book by Douglas Tallamy. You don't have to be a NY Times subscriber to read it: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/garden/06garden. html |
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Posted: Aug/28/2008 5:22 PM PST
Great article! I think I know what to put on my Birthday/Christmas list
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