Morning Croc!
anyhow, all of this got me to wondering if, in your work,
you find that there are people who want to create gardens
that go beyond the "butterfly garden" level, to something
that is planned to provide serious habitat for wildlife?
I do see that, and it really stimulates the juices when one of those projects show up on my desk. Habitat restoration projects have been very big in our area for the last half dozen years or so. Largely, the momentum behind these projects motivated by a desire to improve the amount of healthy spawning areas for salmon and other fish. And if you are going to have healthy streams and wetlands, you must have healthy habitat areas surrounding the streams, so vast wetland and stream areas are being restored. The establishment of rich habitat is the motivating factor, and these projects have been so successful, they are really fun to watch.
Right now, we are wrapping up construction of a new garden that is 3 acres cut out of the forest...at least 80% of that area will be planted with native materials to re-establish habitat and knit the forest back together somewhat...last year we replanted a lot of the conifers, and they have just taken off. Up around the house, we will be using some ornamentals, but I also tried to use planting that will offer seeds, berries, and nectar to draw in birds, squirrels, etc..
The ultimate editors of my design are the rampant elk and deer herds in the area....This house sits directly on the edge of protected old growth corridors that cross the Cascade Mountains....you can walk out the back door and hike up and over the mountains and never leave the forest.
I'll be setting out trees there all afternoon today, it makes going to work pretty easy!
ps...it's a great motorcycle ride, there and back, too. |
