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| A flying squirrel eating suet in my garden |
Gardens are more than just collections of plants. For many creatures they are home. The massive
destruction caused by development is rapidly destroying habitat for many animals we are familiar with such as birds, but also
for many more that we don't see. The insects that pollinate flowers and insure our source of foods are in danger. Loss
of habitat and widespread use of pesticides are leading to the eradication of butterflies, honeybees and many other pollinating
insects.
Also in danger are the many soil organisms that keep the soil alive. Earthworms are the most
visible of these, but many microscopic organisms are killed when we use pesticides.
Other layers of the ecological tapestry are also in danger of unraveling. Predators such as
snakes that control rodent poulations and larger predators such as fox continue to loose habitat in the out of control suburbia
we create.
All is not lost however-gardeners CAN make a difference! Some things you can
do besides planting native species are:
- Composting
- Stop using pesticides
- Create habitat using brush piles
- Leaving your plant stalks at the end of the growing season until spring
- Use natural patterns when planting
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| A mockingbird in the Gardens at Wave Hill, The Bronx |
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| A monarch feeds on nectar from New York Ironweed |
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| A water snake suns itself at Stonecrop Gardens, Cold Spring , NY |
The pictures on this page are ones I have taken at different gardens. I will continue to take
and post pictures of garden wildlife here. Please take the time to look closely at your garden and see the incredible
life forms that call it home
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| Frogs in one of many pools at Stonecrop Gardens |
| Painted Turtles sunning themselves |
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| at Garden In The Woods, Framingham, MA |
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| Monarchs on Hyssop (Agastache) at Hovey Pond Gardens |
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| One of the "Wild " Parrots of Telegraph Hill, San Francisco |
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| A Western Scrub Jay at the Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco |
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| A Quail in the Australian Plants Garden, Strybing Arboretum |
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