Make your yard into a natural tribute to your beloved. Any yard can become a sanctuary that welcomes wildlife with just a few simple modifications.
1) Make Your Patio Permeable A porous surface allows water through to the soil, where it is able to soak up rain and inhibit run off. Consider designing your patios and pathways with pores in order to prevent run off. This also keeps local streams clean.
2) Add Water to Your Yard or Patio A concave rock collects and holds drinking water for insects such as: ladybugs, dragonflies, and more. Birdbaths provide water for birds that is the best depth of water for play, bath time and hydration.
3) Widen a Fence By removing a few panels or widening space between fence panels, small flying wildlife such as small birds or butterflies, can pass through more easily to your garden. Oftentimes, it makes for a nicer view as well.
Plant a tree just beside the grave and decorate it with lights on their birthday each year.
*Expand your planting beds to include trees, ground-covers and shrubs. This helps to provide shelter and food for helpful bugs. By including both broadleaf and confier evergreens, this helps provide additional shelter in winter.
*Flowers like tulips, lilies or daffodils can be planted to adorn the burial mound.
*Plant a variety of greenery that produces both berries and seeds throughout the year. This helps to feed the birds.
*Dried rose petals can be spread over the burial mound.
*Add flowering plants with pollen to attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.
*Hang wind chimes nearby.
*Add plants that are best for butterflies to offer caterpillars leaves to eat.
*Plant a tree just beside the grave and decorate it with lights on their birthday each year, like Bill Cosby does for his son, Ennis' backyard burial ground.
Try adding plants to your yard that will attract wildlife during each season of the year. In Oregon there are several plants to consider.
Oregon Grape
Flowers attract mason bees & butterflies.
Blue-blackberries are eaten by birds.
Beautiful bronze new growth occurs on evergreen leaves.
Kinnikinnik
Berries are a favorite of birds.
Flowers are visited by butterflies and bees.
Leaves help feed the butterfly caterpillars.
Glossy evergreen leaves are a beautiful addition to any garden or yard.
Red Flowering Currant
Flower nectar feeds hummingbirds.
Berries are eaten by birds.
Leaves help feed the butterfly caterpillars.
Bright pink flowers add vibrant color to any yard or garden.
Western Columbine
Hummingbirds enjoy the flowers.
Seeds are eaten by the birds.
Glowing red and yellow flowers brighten up the garden.
Vine Maple
Seeds are eaten by birds.
Leaves help feed the butterfly caterpillars.
Nectar from the flowers is collected by bees.
The orange and red fall leaves ornament any yard during autumn.
Make your yard into a natural tribute to your beloved. Any yard can become a sanctuary that welcomes wildlife with just a few simple modifications.
1) Make Your Patio Permeable
A porous surface allows water through to the soil, where it is able to soak up rain and inhibit run off. Consider designing your patios and pathways with pores in order to prevent run off. This also keeps local streams clean.
2) Add Water to Your Yard or Patio
A concave rock collects and holds drinking water for insects such as: ladybugs, dragonflies, and more. Birdbaths provide water for birds that is the best depth of water for play, bath time and hydration.
3) Widen a Fence
By removing a few panels or widening space between fence panels, small flying wildlife such as small birds or butterflies, can pass through more easily to your garden. Oftentimes, it makes for a nicer view as well.
Build a butterfly garden. Pick a warm sunny spot sheltered from the elements with nectar rich flowers. Add large flat dark garden stones that will absorb the sunlight providing a perfect place for soaking in the sun. Lay a shallow tray with wet sand and stones into the soil so that the top is level with the earths surface. Keep it fresh by periodically refreshing the water. Butterflies are most attracted to fragrant, brightly colored blooms, especially purple, pink, orange, or yellow. Additionally, consider adding host plants for the caterpillars of the adult butterfly.
"More than half of all life on earth is insect."
Feeders are a great way to help during the winter, and provide life giving essentials like food, water, and places to raise their young. Birds are an encouraging reminder of life with their cheerful songs.
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