Heard of the NWF's Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program?

[Bertha Venation]

(NWF = National Wildlife Federation)

I bet a lot of DUers have land that could be part of this program. Here's a link to Bertha & Mrs. V.'s backyard wildlife habitat

So much more I want to do in our backyard, like put in a flowing pond. :bounce: We are extremely lucky -- WAY very lucky a lot -- to live on this land.

Do you have a yard? What's it like? Show pictures too!

[jedicord]

1. I almost have a postage stamp backyard, but...

I have a goldfish pond with waterfall, TONS of plants, many of which I've planted on a whim (definitely not landscaped) and have really taken off. It's like a jungle, with a winding path to the far corner, where I have a small square that hold a bench and potted plants, surrounded by elephant ears, a banyan tree, huge gardenia bush (mmmmm! in the Spring). My son says it looks like it belongs in the yard of a mansion!

Wildlife? I have several different types of bird feeders and hummingbird attracting plants, so I get a good show (my little square hides me well). Raccoons visit off and on, rats too (UGH!). Of course the pond contains tadpoles, so I have frogs. A garden snake also likes to take a dip in the pond now and then.

Large windchimes that are tuned to A Minor and can sound like a symphony in a heavy wind.

I wanna go home!

[Bertha Venation]

4. sounds heavenly....

thought of posting it on NWF?

[jedicord]

6. Once I get my digital camera figured out!

Just got it, haven't had time to download the software to retrieve pix. OK, I'm slow when it comes to technology!

Your yard is wonderful, by the way. Wish I could have more room! My dog is running out of pee space! :7

[Bertha Venation]

7. Our yard is wonderful by chance. Totally by chance.

That page makes it look like we have set it up this way, but really, we lucked into it. We have a large area -- maybe an eighth of our land (our lot is just over one acre) that's a stand of tall trees with undisturbed underbrush. Our lot is bordered on one side by a deep ravine with a little streamlet, and at the back by more trees with underbrush.

All we've really contributed so far is bird seed, suet, and cat food & water for the ferals, squirrels, braver birds, and the occasional sweet gray fox.

[4morewars]

2. That's real nice !!!!

I can't believe the fox ! They are usually real shy!

[Butterflies]

3. Is that a wild fox?

On your 1/2 acre property in Maryland? You must be surrounded by woods. You're lucky. :-)

[Bertha Venation]

5. EXTREMELY lucky

Yes, she's wild. Once I caught her eating at one dish while one of our feral cats ate at the other. :bounce:

We are surrounded by woods in the rear and at the side. Narrow bands -- maybe 30 feet? Mrs. V. would know -- because of encroaching sprawl. :grr: Hopefully the woods around us are mostly on our property. Must look into that before some jackass with a backhoe tears into our backyard.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. My backyard is like a jungle

The birds love it! I've seen orioles and indigo buntings in addition to the usual backyard songbirds we have around here. Oppossums, raccoons, and an occasional black snake have visited our yard, too.

Of course, the code guys hate us...but that's another story.