9 Comments

Yes, since I wrote a book called Butterfly Baby meets Mr. and Mrs. Toad at Siler Forest Pond I have been trying to turn my tiny city back yard into a garden. Books inspire the writer as well as the reader. It is slowly working. While watering this spring I've seen an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, a huge dragonfly and another butterfly I couldn't name but was a sort of monarch look-a-like but with some other markings. Next I will try to transform the front yard as well. The fertilizer is compost and vermiculture, no chemicals. Feels like a haven even for humans.

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How lovely!

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My backyard birds and rabbits seem to find so many bugs and edibles in my lawn. Although I’d like to reduce my lawn size, does a lawn without lawn chemicals applied offer some benefits to wildlife that we should recognize?

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I'm definitely keeping some lawn, too -- a mix of traditional (nonnative) turf, clover (also nonnative), and turf. I love walking on it! As for wildlife value, it's all relative: lawn (traditional turf) without chemicals or irrigation < same with some natives < unmown natives, etc. See my article on the New American Lawn for some stats. (https://www.dearavantgardener.com/p/the-new-american-lawn)

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I think it's all a question of what you're comparing it to. A lawn is definitely better habitat than concrete (allows water infiltration, cooler temperatures, living roots in the soil) but not as vibrant as a meadow or prairie that grows longer and has more species in it.

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Good to know the distinction between butterfly bush and butterfly weed. And congrats on reaching 6000 subscribers!

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Thanks, Judy!

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Congratulations on your 6000-subscriber milestone!

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Thanks, Lolly! I'd love to compare notes re Substack sometime.

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