Rewilding My Lot

Until there was a pond here, this property was incomplete as a wildlife habitat because there was no reliable source of water. However, now that piece is in place, this garden is certified with the National Wildlife Federation as a Wildlife Habitat and I have a new sign to show that.

To qualify for certification, you need to supply some key features and below I list the ones that I have. (Here’s where you can take a quiz to assess whether you qualify.)

Sources of Food (minimum of 3)

• Native plants
• Nectar and pollen
• Fallen leaf layer
• Seed heads
• Berries and fruits
• Host plants for native insects
• Foliage and twigs
• Insects

Sources of Cover (minimum of 2)

• Ground cover
• Rock pile
• Evergreen trees and shrubs
• Log pile
• Meadow
• Pond
• Intact plant stems

Places to Raise Young (minimum of 2)

• Host plants for caterpillars
• Meadow
• Fallen leaf layer
• Pond
• Intact plant stems

Sources of Water (minimum of 1)

• Year round pond

Sustainability Practices (minimum of 2 categories)

• Soil and water conservation:
  • Limit water use
  • Capture rain water
  • Reduce erosion
  • Build soil
• Control non-native species:
  • Remove non-native plants
  • Keep cats indoors
  • Reduce lawn space
• Reduce pollution:
  • Eliminate chemical pesticides and fertilizers
  • Use electric mower
• Reduce/Reuse/Recycle:
  • Compost kitchen and garden waste
  • Don’t use plastic weed liners
  • Reuse garden pots

Of course, paying for a certification and displaying a sign does not help the environment in itself. What is important is what is actually happening here and I don’t need a sign to prove that. However, I like the idea of making a statement to indicate what I am doing, and it would be great if that would be a conversation starter for my neighbors.

Here are a few photo examples of the wildlife features here.

Seed heads as food (Sunflower)

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Native plants as food (Queen butterflies on Gregg’s Mistflower)

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Texas Mountain Laurel, an evergreen tree, for shelter

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Plant stems for shelter

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Fallen leaf layer to raise young

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Host plants for caterpillars (Giant Swallowtail caterpillar on Common Rue)

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Pond as source of water

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Rain barrels to capture water

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Compost system to recycle garden and kitchen waste