Wildlife Habitats

My Virginia neighborhood is interlaced with mature strips of hardwood forest and natural undergrowth with our yard bordered by creeks on 2 sides that meet in the back to flow into the neighborhood pond/lake. Native wildlife that has made its home nearby includes (but is not limited to) deer, groundhogs, skunks, raccoons, fox, coyote, beaver, rabbits, flying and grey squirrels, owls, hawks, great blue herons, wood ducks, snakes, turtles, skinks, frogs and toads, butterfies and dragonflies, various birds, bats, bugs and bees. The diversity of life we see around us daily is amazing and a pleasure to watch. We support the variety of species by not using outdoor herbicides and pesticides, adding a small front yard pond designed with native water and bog plants bordered by nectar and host plants for various species of insects. Our pond is host to various frog and dragonfly species and we constantly are able to see a multitude of wildlife visit daily through all 4 seasons. Although we do supplement feed upon occasion, with the use of hummingbird and bird seed/suet feeders, I prefer to offer native plants - annuals and perennials that are left to go to seed and not trimmed back until spring to better support the native fauna's health and diversity. We also put up various alternative nesting sites to support them through the breeding season (wood houses). We don't use one of our fireplaces.. and that chimney has been left uncapped and has been host to many generations of chimney swifts over the years. Follow along with our journey and share your favorite native plants and garden tips with us!

Wildlife Habitats