More wildlife in the garden
August 26, 2010
Since I wrote about inviting wildlife into the garden for Tuesday’s Garden Designers Roundtable, I’ve been looking more carefully to see who is visiting my garden. Lurking among the orange narrowleaf zinnias (Zinnia angustifolia), a tiny spider waits for lunch.
At the stock-tank pond, a scruffy (perhaps juvenile?) sparrow perches on the edge to get a drink.
Even your garden decor can express a welcoming attitude toward wildlife.
Of course, a garden should be welcoming to people too.
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Of course…I love the yellow chairs!!
People have been some of the wildest life in our garden. Beautiful photos of the spider attractor.
Hi Pam!
Love your blog! I absolutely love the art behind the little white bird statue. Did you buy that in Austin? Can I ask where or the artists name? I would love to get one for my mother =) Thanks!
Thanks, Sara. I got the tile art at Barton Springs Nursery in Austin. In fact, I’ve bought one for my mother as well. —Pam
That is a great capture of the scruffy bird. Love the previous post also.
Pam,
Everything is coming along so nicely! I love the zinnias. I was noticing how well they can take the sun. There are some by our Court House and they are in direct afternoon sun between a building and the side walk and they are just flourishing.
The photo of little scruffy is sooo cute. How did you even spot that tiny spider? I did not see it until I read about him. He is cute as well.
Ah, the unexpected pleasure of finding a detail on-screen that one misses with the naked eye. (I didn’t see the spider either until I looked at the image on my computer.) —Pam
I love the yellow chairs (I have two too) and the blue bottle tree. I have never seen a bird at my bird bath. Because of the cats maybe?
Could your birdbath be too deep or slippery, Commonweeder? If so, you might try putting a large stone in it to give them a perching place. —Pam
Love your shot of the little sparrow! There is so much for us to enjoy – if we just stop and look . . .
I put a link to your blog in my post yesterday and to the Garden Designers Workshop.
Now, this is weird. I assumed since I didn’t see the comment I left yesterday, that you moderated your comments. I had said something about enjoying the plants, wildlife, and garden art. I love those chairs, too.
Thanks for the link, Sue, and for trying again with the comment. I just visited your post and really enjoyed your thoughts about wildlife in the garden. —Pam
I love the spider and the scruffy sparrow. When the weather cools down, those pale yellow chairs will be great for sitting and watching wildlife!
I’m all for noticing and appreciating wildlife in the garden. I do have to say though that I consider non-native sparrows a pest, cute as they are. I find that by planting more and more native perennials in my garden that I see more native birds, bugs, and butterflies too. The native birds tend to be specialists, dependent on particular food sources, while the sparrows are generalists and quite happy to eat (and spread the seeds of) imported weeds. And who needs more weeds? I’d rather have some goldfinches or hummingbirds.