If you want to fill your yard with a vibrant variety of birds, your choice of birdseed is only half the equation. The other half is what you choose to plant in your soil.

Traditional landscaping relies heavily on exotic plants selected purely for aesthetics. Unfortunately, these manicured lawns and ornamental shrubs function as "ecological deserts" for local wildlife. Reintroducing native plants—the trees, shrubs, and flowers that have evolved naturally in our region for thousands of years—instantly creates a thriving, living sanctuary.

The primary benefit of native landscaping is food production, but not always in the way you might expect. While native plants offer nutritious berries, seeds, and nectar at perfect times throughout the year, their most critical contribution is insects. Nearly all land birds feed insects to their young. A single nest of chickadee chicks, for instance, requires thousands of caterpillars before they can fly. Native plants support an abundance of native insects, creating a critical, high-protein buffet for nesting birds.

Beyond supporting the food chain, native plants are champion resource-savers. Because they are adapted to local soil types and weather patterns, they require significantly less water once established compared to non-native species. They have built-in defenses against local pests, meaning you can eliminate harsh chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This keeps your yard safer for birds, pollinators, and pets alike.

Furthermore, native plants protect the wider environment. Their extensive, deep root systems act like giant sponges, anchoring the soil to prevent erosion and absorbing stormwater runoff far more effectively than standard turf grass.

By replacing just a portion of your lawn or traditional landscaping with native varieties, you are doing more than just gardening. You are restoring a vital ecological balance, saving water, and rolling out a welcome mat for birds and pollinators. It is a beautiful, sustainable choice where everyone wins.

Our Certified Bird Feeding Specialists are available to answer your native planting questions. Stop in and see us today!

What's happening in nature right now:

• June is Perennial Garden Month & National Rivers Month
• Young groundhogs and raccoons emerge and venture out with their mothers.
• Crickets begin their nightly serenade.
• Bird migration is finished. Birds that are here now are summer residents that nest.
• As the month progresses, feeders can become busy with visiting parents and fledglings.
• House Wrens are nesting.
• Flycatchers are back.
• Wood Duck and Mallard ducklings hatch and venture forth early in the month.
• Canada Geese begin molting.
• Coreopsis and Butterfly Weed start blooming; they're great butterfly attractors.
• Trumpet Vine starts blooming; it's a great hummingbird attractor.