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As a farm girl from New Jersey and a lover of nature, wildlife, and gardening, my move to Cape Cod was a challenge to see how I could create a garden not only for me and my family to enjoy, but also for the wildlife that abounds in the area. Living near Oyster Pond in a residential area presented opportunities for me and my husband to explore eco-friendly ways to reduce the use of chemicals on our lawn and garden, conserve water, and improve the air and the quality of our sandy soil. We not only wanted gardens for us to enjoy, but also for our neighbors. Our first step was to design and build four raised tiers of gardens spanning eighty-two feet in a crescent shape across the back yard of our house. Next came the installation of brick walkways and a patio all bordered with planting beds. In addition to the foundation planting areas surrounding the house, we created planting beds along the sides and back of our front and back lawns. Using a variety of native shrubs, trees, flowers and wildflowers, our lawn size was reduced and a more natural refuge for wildlife was created. The foliage, nectar, pollen, berries and seeds from these plantings provide needed food throughout the year to the local wildlife that visit our property. In addition, we keep six bird feeders full with different seeds, year round. Reducing the use of chemicals on our gardens and lawns, composting, amending the sandy soil with nutrient added soil contributed to a more natural environment for our feathered and furred friends. Using native species is beneficial as they require less maintenance and are more attractive to local wildlife. Since Oyster Pond is in our front yard, we installed two, fresh water fountains with moving water and a stationary bird bath in three different locations in the gardens to provide the wildlife with a constant source of clean, fresh, water which they need for drinking, bathing and reproduction. Of course if you are blessed with a natural source of water such as a wetland, marsh, or brook the wildlife will be even more appreciative. Now that we had created a source of food and water for our local "critters", we had to look at their need for shelter to raise their young and handle inclement weather, as well as, hiding places so that they would feel safe from predators. Native vegetation, both dead and alive, shrubs, thickets, and brush piles are great hiding places and homes to many different animals. Living in a residential area, we chose to use native vegetation, shrubs, leaving the thicket of brambles in the far back corner of our yard, and placing birdhouses throughout the gardens. Placing rocks and bricks in strategic places in the shade created "toad abodes", while our shrubs and wildflowers became home for the moths and butterflies to lay their eggs. Arbors and trellis' with thick, climbing, roses, clematis and wisteria became nesting areas for the many birds that frequent our property. Gardening in an environmentally friendly way can have an impact on the health of the soil, air, water, habitat for native wildlife as well as your neighbors. Mulching helps keep water in the soil versus evaporating into the air. This can reduce your watering time as well as the amount of water needed. It can also reduce the need for fertilizer. Just make sure the mulch is free from pests. Reducing lawn areas, use of a xeriscaping approach that minimizes outdoor water use, the use of rain barrels and removing invasive plants and restoring with native species will go a long way in making less work for you and a friendlier environment for the wildlife. Last year our one third of an acre, my husband calls it our "kingdom on a postage stamp", was recognized by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Our land is home and/or a rest stop to a wide variety of migrating, year round and shore birds, rabbits, fox, coyotes, squirrels, chipmunks, a variety of moths and butterflies, toads and bats. If you are interested in learning more on how your property and gardens can become a certified wildlife habitat, contact the National Wildlife Federation at www.nwf.org
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