Gardening for Wildlife

Monarch being released after emerging. Photo by Avelino Maestas.

High Stakes in Declining Monarch Butterfly Populations

As a child, I loved to spend my time chasing the majestic monarch butterflies as they danced around the woods and garden on my parents’ small farm in rural Georgia. Now … Read more

Northern Cardinals by Laura Hedgecockk

Tips for Winter Bird Feeding

As temperatures drop across much of the country, it’s time to put more thought into what your backyard birds are eating. Providing high-quality food during winter not only entices more … Read more

Don’t Forget Water for Birds in the Winter!

Throughout the hot summer months, backyard birders like me faithfully supply all the fresh water our feathered friends need for drinking, bathing or simply cooling off. By this time of … Read more

Squirrel in a pumpkin by Katherine Flickinger.

How to Recycle Halloween Pumpkins for Wildlife

Updated October 2021 One of the best parts of Halloween is decorating with pumpkins. After the trick-or-treaters clear away and Halloween is officially over, don’t toss your pumpkins in the … Read more

Threatened Gopher Tortoises Benefit from Florida Community Wildlife Habitat

Our amazing Garden for Wildlife volunteers in Oakland Park, FL are making a difference for the threatened gopher tortoise. The city, which is located in Broward County and is smack dab … Read more

Not a Bird! Unexpected Bird Bath Visitors

Providing water for wildlife on your property is one of the required steps to having a Certified Wildlife Habitat and many fulfill the requirement by having a bird bath. While providing … Read more

Monarch butterfly by Lois Settlemeyer

From Presidents to Wildlife Gardeners, Monarch Butterflies Need All the Help They Can Get

It’s not often, if ever, that the White House convenes a meeting on the topic of insects. But that’s just what happened three weeks ago when John Holdren, director of … Read more

garlic mustard in an NWF bag

5 Ways to Make the Most Out of Garden for Wildlife Month

Every May we celebrate Garden for Wildlife Month as a way to remind us to prepare our gardens for wildlife, highlight amazing stories, and share tips with one another. Since the … Read more

How to Offer Bird-Nesting Materials in Your Garden

Spring is here, and birds around the world—and in your backyard—are turning into construction crews. It’s nesting time! Many songbirds are master builders, putting together intricately made weavings of twig … Read more

Your Backyard: A Stormwater Sponge

As urban areas have grown, we have altered nature, replacing it with sidewalks, parking lots, roads, and other man-made structures. Our development patterns have not only led to harmful levels … Read more