start your landscape inventory now

A good starting point in landscaping is to inventory what is already there, and why not start in the winter months? Pay attention now to where the wildlife hangs out in your yard, and what plants are providing winter shelter or winter food. And notice, too, which plants are good for you – are there plants that have an attractive shape in the winter, or colorful fruits?

Gray Dogwood has lovely white berries
that fall migrant birds love!

Do this same inventory each season, from top to bottom. Are there trees with small flowers you hadn’t noticed before, such as willows, which provide an important nectar source for early-arriving orioles? Is there an open spot where you could plant an attractive (unmown) native grass, such as Little Bluestem, that would provide shelter and food for small ground birds?

Black Gum provides blue berries that
this Gray Catbird loves, and a wonderful
shape and fall colors for you.

Ideally, your yard is providing food year-round, with seeds, berries, insects, leaves, etc., for a wide variety of wildlife. For example, raspberries and serviceberry are excellent summer fruits, strawberry puts a fruit down-low for turtles and ground-feeding birds, dogwood berries are favorites of fall migrants, and winterberry (Michigan holly) is an excellent winter fruit.

Don’t fight what you have, but find plants that will enhance your property. Whether you have wet soil or dry, sun or shade, there are hundreds of native plants that can enhance your yard for both you and wildlife.