Gardening for Wildlife - from Vinland Valley Nursery

The following article is reprinted from a handout series available at Vinland Valley Nursery, a new greenhouse and nursery located south of Lawrence. As a special thank you for all the hard work and successful rebuilding of the main facility, Vinland Valley Nursery is offering all OWL members and volunteers a 10% discount on purchases. Members should bring this newsletter as proof of membership to receive their discount on merchandise.

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Wild animals continue to be pushed to their limits for survival as habitat disappears, making way for new housing and business developments.

As gardeners, we have a unique opportunity to help wildlife in our own back yards . . .

Although we don't think of common wild animals like opossums, cottontails, bluejays and robins as "threatened," these animals are finding life increasingly more difficult as the areas they've called home gradually make way for subdivisions and malls rising from seas of pavement. Even though these common species are not in immediate danger of becoming extinct, the individuals are coming into conflict with humans with much higher frequency as the years go by.

Operation WildLife (OWL), the largest wildlife rehabilitation program in the state of Kansas, took in almost 3,000 wild animals in 1997! Each of these creatures had a run in with something human put in its way -- a car, a pet dog or cat, a toxin of some sort, or even a simple picture window. Only a handful of the animals OWL takes in are injured or orphaned due to natural circumstances.

Because wildlife rehabilitation is so time consuming and expensive (not to mention unpleasant for the animals), the people at Operation WildLife are trying to educate the public on ways to coexistence peacefully with wild neighbors. In doing so, they hope to decrease the numbers of wildlings the general public brings them each day.

Vinland Valley Nursery supports the efforts of Operation WildLife through donations and volunteer time. The following plant suggestions should help you provide some relief to common urban wildlife who happen into your private little piece of the planet.

There are many books which give more detailed descriptions on helpful things to do in your backyard -- providing water, scrubby areas for cover, different types of shelter needs, allowing certain insects to live in your garden and so on. This handout is only a sketchy overview of some basic beneficial plant materials.

And should you come upon an animal in need, call Operation WildLife for assistance at (785) 542-3625. They also accept donations with glee, and welcome those interested in becoming volunteer wildlife rehabilitators.

TREES

Trees provide many helpful things to wild animals -- everything from summer and winter foods to shelter and nesting materials. Consider some of the following species:

ANNUALS

Nectar feeders (both birds and insects) as well as seed eating and omnivorous birds and mammals find sustenance from some annual plants. The following list features species which serve this purpose while adding beauty to your landscape:

PERENNIAL GRASSES

PERENNIALS

PLANTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO HUMMINGBIRDS

WATER

Water is important to plants and animals! The central element to any ecosystem is water -- it keeps everything healthy. In winter, the value of water rises even higher. Wild animals will appreciate a water source -- near the ground for mammals and up higher for thirsty birds needing the protection height offers against predation. During cold weather, water can often be more difficult for wild animals to find than food.

Come visit Vinland Valley Nursery and find the plants you need to create a wildlife garden!