I recently talked with a neighbor in Midtown Palo Alto who’s really into animals. I asked if their backyard landscaping was completed. She showed me how the family had “gone wild” to reintroduce native tree frogs and toads to the environment with their new pond and supporting vegetation.
This family is not alone. The National Wildlife Federation has certified over 80,000 Backyard Wildlife Habitats nationwide. There are 77 certified in San Mateo County and 237 in Santa Clara County!
It seems we can create a landscape that incorporates locally appropriate planting for wildlife and human habitation. Locally-developed Sustainable Landscape Standards give wildlife habitat one point out of 49. The fascination factor is much higher. It is not as difficult as you’d expect to help support wildlife in your backyard. My neighbor incorporated a water feature in the garden for birds and other animals, including local fish. The downside may be that the local egrets eat the fish.
Another gardening for wildlife suggestion is to provide food, shelter, cover, and water for wildlife such as mammals, birds, hummingbirds, salamanders, beneficial insects, bees, and butterflies. You can pick and choose what you want to attract. No one will convince me to support my yard’s ant population.
A third, obvious choice is to eliminate pesticides whenever possible by using integrated pest management practices to preserve native insects, birds, and other small creatures.
