As we are trying to move away from expansive water-loving lawn areas, why not consider creating areas for a wildlife habitat garden.
While local native plants are always the best, mixing in non-natives from similar climate zones such as Mediterranean, Mexican, and Southwestern can also support a myriad of wildlife.
Begin in a small perhaps less maintained area of your yard and add decomposed granite rock pathways with a mixture of native plants.
Create a more peace-evoking area rather than committing many hours to maintaining a highly manicured lawn surrounded by overly sheared shrubs.
These wildlife habitat gardens attract beneficial insects and birds through pollination and help control other unwanted insect pests.
An addition of a small ‘pondless’ water feature that is less maintenance than an open body of water, could also be appropriate for wildlife as we experience longer periods of drought conditions.
Plants To Consider
Botanical name – Overall size (width x height)
- Achillea millefolium – 1.5’ x 2’
- Asclepias speciosa – 4’ x 5’
- Aster novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’ – 1.5’ x 2’
- Epilobium canum ‘Everett’s Choice’ – 1’ x 3’
- Erigeron glaucus ‘Wayne Roderick’ – 1’ x 3’
- Festuca idahoensis – 2’ x 2.5’
- Lavandula ‘Munstead’ – 2’ x 3’
- Salvia gregii – 3’ x 3’
- Arctostaphylos ‘Howard McMinn’ – 10’ x 10’
- Ceanothus ‘Concha’ – 8’ x 10’
- Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ – 20’ x 15’
- Ceanothus ‘Skylark’ – 5’ x 9’
- Ceantohus ‘Valley Violet’ – 2’ x 4’
- Heteromeles arbutifolia – 15’ x 10’
- Rhamnus californica ‘Eve Case’ – 6’ x 8’
- Sambucus nigra – 15’ x 15’
Questions, Need Help?
Contact me today for a consultation for your wildlife habitat garden!