Welcoming Wildlife to the Garden: Creating Backyard and Balcony Habitats for Wildlife

Beryl Hamilton is a freelance writer in Thunder Bay who specializes in
home gardening.

As the authors point out, “good intentions are clearly not enough”
when embarking on the creation of a wildlife garden habitat. What is
needed is precise information about where one lives and what creatures
would be living in one’s garden if there were no human interference in
the area. This book expertly furnishes that information in a lively text
that’s full of anecdotes, illustrations, and hundreds of splendid
colour photographs.

The authors make clear the rewarding and satisfying results of
welcoming wildlife, while explaining the benefits of large networks of
“greenways” and safe places (such as backyard habitats) that provide
sustenance and shelter to wild creatures. They also emphasize that
introducing native plant species to one’s garden will mean major
changes in the way one views gardening. For example, some species
originally planted for their beauty “will [now] be there for
caterpillars to munch on.”

The book includes essential information about the ecology of wildlife
gardening; instructions on how to create a viable habitat for birds,
mammals, reptiles, and insects; and plans for dozens of
wildlife-friendly projects, such as ponds, birdbaths, hummingbird
feeders, bee houses, bird houses, stepping-stone paths, amphibian homes,
bat nurseries, and baffle blocks. In an appendix at the back of the book
is a very useful list of further reading for those interested in
learning more about backyard habitats.