{"id":68,"date":"2022-03-07T18:11:25","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T18:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/coloradowildlife.org\/?page_id=68"},"modified":"2024-06-10T16:26:50","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T22:26:50","slug":"garden-habitat-certification","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coloradowildlife.org\/programs\/garden-habitat-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"Garden for Wildlife"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Garden for Wildlife<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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\ud83c\udf31\ud83c\udf3cDid you know that by purchasing and planting native plants, you can make a significant impact on our community's biodiversity? \ud83d\udc1d\ud83d\udc26<\/p>\n

Native plants support local wildlife, creating a vibrant ecosystem. Bees, butterflies, and birds will thank you for the green haven, enhancing biodiversity in your area. Planting natives will also save you $ and time! Here's how:<\/p>\n

1. Native plants are adapted to your region, requiring less care. Spend less time weeding and pruning, more time enjoying your green space!<\/p>\n

2. Natives are accustomed to local rainfall patterns, reducing the need for extra watering. Save on your water bill while promoting sustainability!<\/p>\n

3. These plants are built to thrive in your climate, meaning less need for pesticides and fertilizers. Enjoy a gorgeous, eco-friendly garden without breaking the bank!<\/p>\n

Go native for a hassle-free garden that's supports our local wildlife AND Colorado Wildlife Federation!<\/p>\n

Click here to shop native plants:\u00a0https:\/\/fundraising.gardenforwildlife.com\/vp1vTQ<\/a><\/p>\n

Order Beautiful Native Plant Collections Shipped to Your Door<\/h3>\n

Add one of our Garden for Wildlife native plant collections to your garden to help save birds, bees, butterflies, and more. Get chemical-free plants that bloom for three seasons and return every year. Collections are backed by science to help the highest number of declining wildlife species.<\/p>\n

Now available for 41 states with free shipping.\u00a0Get yours today!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Plant the Natives!<\/em><\/h2>\n
Why Plant Natives?<\/h5>\n

This May, consider replacing a section of your lawn with native plants. Doing so will create a quality garden habitat that attracts birds, butterflies and other wildlife in your yard and community. While lawns might be the American standard, they aren't the best choice for wildlife \u2013 lawns limit biodiversity and wildlife need a diverse and resilient habitat to survive. A diverse and resilient habitat means it is made up of not just one species, but thousands of native plants, all interacting in a complex food web.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, most yards don't feature a diversity of plant species at all and instead only consist of turf grass, a non-native plant that provides next to nothing in terms of food or shelter for local wildlife. Planting native is key in order to support your local wildlife as many of these animals rely heavily on native plant species as their food source. For example, \u015396% of terrestrial bird species rely on insects like caterpillars to feed their chicks during nesting season, meaning that fewer caterpillars will result in fewer birds\u009d (Renusch, 2024)<\/a>. The types of plants you choose for your yard matter to wildlife!<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n

Pollinators need native plants! Check out Backyard National Park, a concept explained by Douglas Tallamy in his book, Nature's Best Hope (2019). https:\/\/homegrownnationalpark.org\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\u0153What if each American landowner made it a goal to convert half of his or her lawn to productive native plant communities? Even moderate success could collectively restore some semblance of ecosystem function to more than twenty million acres of what is now ecological wasteland\u00a6If we restore the ecosystem function of these twenty million acres, we can create this country's largest park system\u00a6Because so much of this park will be created at our homes, I suggest we call it Homegrown National Park.\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

(page 62 of this inspiring book)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Check out 5 simple ways to create a wildlife focused habitat next fall!<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n

\"View<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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NWF's tips<\/h5>\n

The numbers of the majestic monarch butterfly continue to decline. But there are steps we can take to help when they arrive this year from the arduous migration. 5 steps to help the monarch butterfly this year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Dr. Doug Tallamy's newest book, February 2020, is \u0153Nature's Best Hope \u2013 A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard\u009d<\/li>\n
  2. CWF partners in Colorado with National Wildlife Federation to participate in NWF's acclaimed certified wildlife habitat\/garden program. You can help protect pollinator populations and other species by creating a wildlife habitat garden \u2013 for pollinators, birds, etc.<\/li>\n
  3. Certify your garden!<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  4. The 2021 virtual Landscaping with Native Plants Conference is February 27.<\/li>\n
  5. And the 2020 Landscaping with Native Plants Conference was great as always. We were a sponsor and exhibitor.
    Link to presentations and information.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"In my garden I plant natives such as nodding onion, wallflower, firecracker pentagon, pasque flower, blanketflower, harebells, beebalm, and butterfly milkweed. The showy milkweed has spread onto my property from other properties and I am delighted each year to see an increased number of these plants for monarch butterflies. I intend to supplement my existing natives this spring. I must continue to be vigilant this year \u2013 almost all year \u2013 to remove promptly any unwelcome thistle such as Canada and musk thistle, and Russian olive sprouts from stumps that I painted in past years.\"<\/em>
    \u201d Suzanne O'Neill<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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    \"Colorado<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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    To certify your garden, go to nwf.org\/certify<\/a><\/p>\n

    This wonderful program provides official recognition for gardens that provide these 5 key elements:<\/strong><\/p>\n