Bird Friendly Gardens

ardens are living places. They are filled with life- and live themselves -in the growing, changing way that God has ordained. Gardens, like all parts of life, have layers of discovery, and the birdlife within the garden is one of color and song, of flight and feeding, even revelation for those with eyes to see.

Whether you issue the invitation or not, birds will visit your garden. The species will depend on where you live and what habitats you have nearby. Changing your plantings will induce some birds to feel more at home, and they may honor you with their permanent presence! I love to see new birds, and some I look forward to each year: song sparrows, hummingbirds, cardinals, mockingbirds, mourning doves, scissor-tail barn swallows, robins, brown thrashers....the list is a long one. Over the years, due to many causes for change, some bird sightings are rare. If gardeners create refuge and promote a healthy environment, we could protect the future of some of these creatures.

Birds in My Own Garden, in Ohio

Specific species of birds prefer certain environments, and what offerings are in your garden will determine the types of birds to find food and nesting opportunities there. Some types which prefer a wooded canopy are: blue jays, cardinals, woodpeckers; those of the fields are meadowlarks, red-wing blackbirds, killdeer, and bluebirds. Mourning Doves, mockingbirds, robins, sparrows and finches, especially love my garden. Hummingbirds like the garden environment as well, and they loved my mothers garden. I think it was the stand of monardas she had. Birds which I had seen here in a field environment (in former years) included the cedar waxwing and the oriole, downy woodpeckers and the titmouse. Of course, hawks are a regular in the country, but thankfully don't visit the garden very often (neither do the turkey vultures, who love roadkill around here). Some birds I love from AFAR.

Garden Ideas for you:

When in the city, I had planted a hawthorn tree beside the front porch within site of a window. It proved to be a magnet for migrating warblers, followed by white flowers in spring, and berries for the winter. A stand of bright red monardas beneath would attract the hummingbird in summer, and adding starfire phlox fronted by allysum or even woodland strawberries would make a beautiful picture through the early summer.
A meadow opening with different types of cosmos, batchelor buttons, daisies, coneflowers, and asters would prove to be a highlight all summer with a strong attraction for gold finches.
A stand of conifers (dwarf types are ideal for the city), with some berried bushes nearby (viburnum mariesii? a rosa rugosa?), a footed birdbath planted underneath with heucheras (coralbells) would make a most lovely peaceful retreat.
Only have a porch? Why not plant containers full of red geraniums and hanging baskets with fuschias and petunias? Hummingbirds will find you .
For those with a love of vegetable gardens, a row of sunflowers, along with trimmings of zinnias and marigolds is cheerful and will feed the birds later in the season. I love to see a finch hanging onto the drooping head of a sunflower heavy with seed.

Befriending your feathered visitors? Try some of these garden accessories for birds:

Many of the plants for butterflies are choice for birds, as well:

A LIST:

Annuals:: Dill; Calendula; Candytuft; Cosmos; Petunias; Nasturtium; Zinnias; Batchelor buttons
Perennials:: Asters; Campanula; Coneflowers; Echinops; Monardas; Phlox
Shrubs and Trees:: Pyracantha; Viburnums; Dogwoods; Cotoneaster; Honeysuckle; Mulberry trees; Small fruit trees, ie Crabapple; Roses, specie types

Birds in Your Garden

Birds in My Own Garden, in Ohio

Garden Ideas for you:

Many of the plants for butterflies are choice for birds, as well: