for Birds

Birds are generally more finicky than bees and butterflies, and are most often attracted to native plants.

• Take walks in your neighborhood and note which plants attract them.
• Some of the same plants will attract all three flying creatures at different stages of development. Purple coneflower, for example, produces nectar for bees and butterflies (and hummingbirds) when it flowers in summer and early fall, and then seeds for birds from late summer to mid-fall.
• Many birds stick around for winter, when food is especially scarce. Members of the rose family, such as mountain ash, are relished by songbirds, as are crab apple, hawthorn, and serviceberry. Winterberry, a native holly, is another bird favorite.
• Plant evergreen trees or shrubs around the edge of your yard to provide perches. You can also create layers of small trees and shrubs that mimic the forest and bring in the birds.
• Hummingbirds are drawn to tubular or throated nectar-bearing flowers, such as aloes or salvias.

Native Plants

Besides attracting pollinators, incorporating native plants into your landscape will ensure your garden thrives year in and year out—and with significantly less upkeep than non-native species. Start by checking with your local cooperative extension to discover the best native plants for your own backyard; nearby botanical gardens, nurseries, and garden centers are other excellent resources.

reduce TIME AND EFFORT: What’s “native” to different regions will vary (by definition), as this category will include plants that have evolved over the years to survive in their local climates, an especially valuable quality in areas with recurring droughts, harsh winters, or other extreme conditions. As a result, these sturdy, low-maintenance plants will save you time, effort, and money by requiring less water, fertilizer, and pest control (and you won’t end up having to replace the plant when it withers, as can often happen with non-natives).

GET HEALTHIER SOIL: What’s more, these plants contribute to the overall health of your soil, thereby supporting the other plants in your very own ecosystem; they can also help prevent the spread of invasive plants.

SAVE POLLINATOR POPULATIONS: By creating a natural, sustainable habitat for butterflies and bees, you will help stem the alarming decline in these and other pollinator populations.

Martha Must

To attract a wide variety of birds, feeders filled with different seeds hang from the rafters of my garage in Bedford. I look for well-built feeders that are easy to fill and clean. When purchasing, keep in mind that certain seeds call for specific feeders so that birds can extract them.