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.
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?
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)
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.
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.
How lovely!
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?
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)
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.
Good to know the distinction between butterfly bush and butterfly weed. And congrats on reaching 6000 subscribers!
Thanks, Judy!
Congratulations on your 6000-subscriber milestone!
Thanks, Lolly! I'd love to compare notes re Substack sometime.