Helpful things you can do

There are many steps along the way from nothing-but-lawn to something you might call a national park. It might seem a daunting project, but the steps don’t have to be huge, and they don’t all have to be done at once. There are also a ton of resources available to help you plan.

Tallamy’s book is one starting point, and is helpful in getting a deeper understanding of how complex the environmental web is. Another aid is the National Wildlife Federation (https://www.nwf.org/Gardenfor-Wildlife). Here you’ll find lots of information on how to garden for wildlife, along with clear-cut steps on how to turn your property into a Certified Wildlife Habitat®.

At https://www.pollinator. org/7things, you can learn how to register your property as a Pollinator Habitat Site. Visit the website of The Herb Society of America, and learn how you can become part of their GreenBridges™ program. In exploring these resources, you may find that you already do a lot to help pollinators and other wildlife. species have shown up based on new plants you’ve added to your landscape. As a friend told me recently, “We don’t have big game here—no bear, no bison— but we have a lot going on. It’s like a party! They all come up on the deck—squirrels, chipmunks, even rabbits.”

What are you observing? Which plants are attracting which pollinators? What have you invited that you didn’t use to see? Did your property already have park-like features when you arrived? Describe what wildlife you see/enjoy as a result. Overall, what are the positive effects you experience from living in a HNP?

I’m suggesting this in the form of an informal contest. I’ll select the three most inspiring/intriguing/unusual entries and feature them in a future column of “From the Ground Up.” Send your entries by July 30 to pcbaxter@verizon.net, or by regular mail to Pam Baxter, P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442.