Garden for Wildlife

What to do With Fallen Leaves

Updated October 2022 You shouldn’t feel obligated to get rid of every last fallen leaf in your yard this fall. Leave the leaves — they offer a lot of benefits … Read more

Researchers Recognize Conservation Agriculture’s Benefits

For the first time, a land grant university has recognized the benefits of a conservation practice to productivity and is changing recommended fertilizer rates accordingly. Read more

Nuts for Wildlife

When we think of autumn, the first image that comes to mind is colorful leaves falling from the trees. Leaves, however, aren’t the only thing falling in the fall. This is … Read more

Monarchs on goldenrod

The Goldenrod Allergy Myth

Goldenrod blooms are an autumn delight — both for human admirers and wildlife visitors. Their sunny yellow flowers add beauty and interest to the late summer and early fall landscape … Read more

Why Leaves Fall from Trees in Autumn

French author Albert Camus tells us, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” And what opulent bouquets the leaves of autumn do create—whole mountainsides of dazzling … Read more

Monarch chrysalis by Avelino Maestas.

A Visual Journey Through the Monarch Life Cycle

Monarch butterflies have been in the news quite a bit recently, due to their rapid decline. In order to find ways to help, it’s essential to first understand the life cycle of … Read more

Surprising Similarities: What’s Going on in YOUR Backyard?

By Kim Kurki, author of World of Birds: A Beginner’s Guide Did you ever think of hummingbirds and woodpeckers as similar? Until recently, I didn’t. Where I live in Eastern … Read more

Monarch Butterfly by Bernadette Banville

Get Ready For Monarch Migration

If you spot monarch butterflies in your yard this month, there’s a good chance the eggs these insects are laying now will develop into the generation of adults that have … Read more

8 Tips to Protect Baby Turtles in Your Yard

Last June, Ellen Lambeth and Greg Hudson, fellow staffers here at National Wildlife Federation who work on Ranger Rick magazine, had a pretty awesome wildlife sighting. While Ellen was heading to the … Read more

Snake slithers in Maryland by Hannah Grove.

Eliminating Snakes in Your Yard

As National Wildlife Federation Naturalist, I frequently get questions from folks about “getting rid of” wildlife in their yard. Especially snakes. Unfortunately, most of the advice you can find online on … Read more