CWF Certified Gardener: “Invite Wildlife Back Into Your Yard”

C. Lewandowski is a CWF Certified Wildlife-friendly gardener, living in Richmond, Ontario.

I remember staring across my desolate yard, feeling nostalgic for the past when nature abounded in the area.

Urbanization had become a creeping killer of all that drew me to the area in the first place. Fireflies had disappeared, beavers had been “relocated”, the chorus of toads and frogs silenced and pollinators decimated. There must be something I could do!

Looking out again I knew…. that yard! It was a blank canvas just waiting to be animated with life!

Enthusiasm replaced despair. I decided to act.

Google searches suggested many native plants to attract critters of all shapes and sizes. After deciding on a plan, I was armed with a roll of paper to lay over my pathetic looking grass. Soil and mulch followed. Next came a trip to the local nurseries to purchase my flowers. An organization called YourLeaf.org provided some native shrubs.

In only a few weeks, my yard had been transformed. As the summer progressed, colour and perfume dazzled the senses. Butterflies, hummingbirds and bees flitted amongst the blooms. Birds visited to eat seeds and snack on the insects, which are vital for fledglings. Neighbours frequently stopped to comment on the yard’s beauty, some of whom mentioned they will be doing the same.

After three years, my yard teems with activity. There was something to watch every season. Imagine the metamorphosis of the urban environment if more were willing to do the same? From a dull, flat landscape to a world teeming with beauty and life.

I wondered, what took me so long?

Learn how to transform your space into a Wildlife-friendly space!