Bring in the Birds, Creating a Bird-friendly Landscape

Add a little food, shelter and water for the birds and wait for the year round entertainment to begin.

I like to use my landscape as a self-filling bird feeder. Include nectar plants to attract hummingbirds. The shade loving fuchsia attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies. The penstemons are great for hot dry areas and hosta flowers provide nectar for the hummingbirds and seeds for the juncos in shade gardens.

Use zinnia, cleome, coneflower & more to attract the seed eaters. And many of the winged visitors eat insects reducing pest problems in the garden.

Include a few evergreens, trees and shrubs for natural shelter. Those with small yards may want to team up with their neighbors to create an inviting environment with all the necessary ingredients.

Place an attractive birdbath, pond or fountain in your garden for added beauty and a source of water.

A bit more information: Add a few bird houses for additional shelter. Select right type of bird house with the appropriate opening for the birds you want to attract and house. You can also increase the diversity of winged visitors by adding a few feeders. I have been able to increase the number and variety of birds visiting my landscape by adding a thistle and safflower feeder. I avoid using sunflower seeds that seem to attract more squirrels to my yard than birds.