Certified Wildlife Habitat

Beat the Heat: Providing Water for Wildlife in Your Garden

As the summer sun blazes and temperatures soar to unprecedented heights, it’s not just people that are feeling the heat. Wildlife in our gardens, parks, and natural spaces are also … Read more

Wild Birds Unlimited: A Longtime Habitat Champion

For anyone who has ever filled a bird feeder, there’s a unique kind of joy that comes from seeing the first songbird visit. Even those who may not consider themselves … Read more

Replacing lawn with native plants is a boon to local wildlife. Photo Credit: Elyse Jurgen

Grow Beyond No Mow May: Options for Reducing Your Lawn

Lawns are often thought of as a staple of an American home, but what role do they play in the future of gardening? Read our related blogs in this series, … Read more

American toad photographed in Ohio. Credit: Kathy Bodall

Vernal Pools Make Your Garden Sing

If you’re trying to find a vernal pool in spring, you’re best off closing your eyes and listening. As sunset approaches, the pond begins to sing. Tree frogs make a … Read more

The base of a large tree is surrounded in a leaf layer.

Pro-Tips for Leaving the Leaves

The National Wildlife Federation has designated October as Leave the Leaves Month! As we head into autumn, many trees and shrubs shed their leaves or needles in preparation for their … Read more

Seven Species that Need You to Leave the Leaves

As the hues of autumn give way to winter detritus, many homeowners are quick to discard the fallen leaves suddenly blanketing their yards. But what if we told you that … Read more

A bright yellow bird perches on a yellow flower.

Five Simple Ways to Create Habitat this Fall

The idea of “gardening for wildlife” evokes images of beautiful, blossom-filled gardens teaming with colorful birds and butterflies. But did you know that fall is the best time to plant … Read more

A long-horned bee (Melissodes spp.) feeds at a cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia lanciniata) cultivar in a garden in Nebraska.

Creating a Bee Garden

Bees are incredibly important wildlife. Yes, insects are wildlife–and they’re a group of wildlife that we all have an opportunity to help right in our own yards and gardens. Especially … Read more

Top Five Cities That Garden for Wildlife

National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife™ 50th year celebration recognizes cities with the highest wildlife gardening activity. These concentrations of Certified Wildlife Habitats® help connect fragmented habitat in highly developed areas in … Read more

Washington State Celebrates Garden for Wildlife’s 50th Year!

2023 Ushers in Half a Century of Garden for Wildlife’s “Certified Wildlife Habitat” Program In 1973, two U.S. Forest Service researchers in Massachusetts conducted a small study. Their plan: discover … Read more