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Go Native!

 Would you like your garden to be beautiful, use less water, save money, have fewer pests, and attract wildlife? Native plants can accomplish all of this and more.
Picture
Photo courtesy of Frank R. Perez
Chemical pesticides are dangerous for you and the environment. Including native plants in your landscape can attract birds that will help eliminate many of the pests that plague your garden. Homeowners in the US spend millions dollars a year on chemicals to control pests. Native plants are a less expensive and naturally beautiful way to attract wildlife and eliminate pests.

Too many spiders? Plant low-lying plants such as American beautyberry or don’t clean up your garden quite so much. Start leaving nesting material, small bushes that provide cover and safety, and brush piles that encourage worms, and you will attract flycatchers and phoebes that love spiders and other insects.

Flower gardens attract hummingbirds who not only love flower nectar, they also eat small flying insects and tiny spiders. Sambucus (or elderberry) and ceanothus are favorites for nesting hummingbirds. Feed yourself and the hummers with currants and gooseberries. Or plant snapdragons, manzanitas, monkey flower and penstemon to keep them close to your garden. Wildflowers like lupine will also attract hummingbirds.

Yellow jackets and wasps send shivers down the spine of many. Attract tanagers and scrub jays to your garden and they will help to control these pests. Summer tanagers love wasps and yellow jackets; attract them with dogwood trees. Scrub jays love serviceberries as do other insect eaters like robins and mockingbirds.

How about a different kind of bird feeder? No, not the cute little houses and socks, but native plants. Bird seed can be expensive and messy. Let’s try something different and pretty. Asters are a perennial that will bring color and birds to your garden. Goldfinches, chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows and towhees will make your garden their home. Sparrows and towhees eat insects as well as seeds.

Yarrow is a favorite of goldfinches; California quail love California lilac; Summer-Holly will attract American Robins, Phainopepla, and Black-headed grosbeaks. Pick your favorite bird and plant a garden to attract them.

Sunflowers, those sometimes tall and lanky or short but bright yellow flowers, will attract many birds to your garden. Goldfinches, titmice and California scrub-jays love sunflower seeds.

There are many on-line sources for information about native plants. Here are a few.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center promotes conversation of native plants. This website has a search tool using location, general appearance, lifespan to narrow down your search.
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/combo.php?fromsearch=true&distribution=&habit=&duration=&light_partshade=1&moist_dry=1&height_01=1

Audubon native plants database will provide search results by zip code. The “best results” list includes plants that are important for birds in the area, are easy to grow and find at nurseries.
https://www.audubon.org/native-plants

This site provides a long list of California native plants, how and when they attract birds to your garden.  https://www.laspilitas.com/bird.htm

Native plants can make for a beautiful garden, save money and water, and attract birds to your garden.

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  • Home
    • SiteMap
  • APAL
    • A-PAL History >
      • A-PAL Humane Society Leadership Team
      • APAL Leadership Opportunities
    • APAL Programs >
      • Save the Kittens
      • Spay or Neuter
      • Second Chance K9 >
        • TCK9-2014 Graduates
      • Community Cats >
        • Understanding Feral Cats
        • How to Trap a Feral Cat
      • Special Needs >
        • Special Needs Stories
      • Adopt a Friend
      • Trap-Neuter-Return
      • APAL Tracking Our Progress
    • Support A-PAL >
      • Volunteer for APAL
      • Foster for A-Pal
      • Donate to A-PAL >
        • Donate your Car
        • Giving Tuesday 2020
      • A-PAL Wish List
      • A-PAL Facility Sponsor
    • APAL Events >
      • APAL Calendar
      • APAL Past Events >
        • SantaPaws2019
        • Bark in the Park 2019
        • Whiskers and Wine 2017
        • Whiskers and Wine 2014
        • Bark in the Park 2014
        • Whiskers and Wine 2015
        • Bark In The Park 2015
        • Maui Raffle
        • Santa Paws 2015
    • Partners >
      • Shelter Partners >
        • Shelter Partners on TSPN
        • Dec14News-PitBulls
        • Jan15News-Excel
        • Feb15News-BenefitsOfPets
        • Feb15News-HarmfulAlgaeBlooms
        • Mar15News-Hoarding
        • Apr15News-TNR
        • Sep15News-QAMargeB
        • Oct15News-ButteFire
        • Oct15News-Bats
        • Nov15News-SeparationAnxiety
        • Dec15News-Tips4Treats
        • Jan16-Volunteer
        • Apr16-TNR
        • July16News-Center
        • Sep16News-ACART
        • Nov17News-ServiceDogs
      • ACART >
        • Prepare
        • Volunteer
        • ACART Annual Banquet
        • ACART Wish List
  • TCWC
    • Find an animal in need? >
      • Audio Wildlife Tips
      • WhereAreWe
    • TCWC History >
      • TCWC Leadership Team
      • TCWC Leadership Opportunities
    • Wildlife Programs >
      • Education >
        • TCWC Education Events >
          • TCWC Education Animals
        • WildlifeSavesUs
        • Living Wildlife Friendly >
          • Songbird Concert Tips
          • Holiday Trash
          • Alert Your Birds
          • Water to Help the Critters!
          • Bread is for Sandwiches
          • No Dogs Allowed
          • Repurpose to Feed the Birds
          • GoNative
          • Netting It Out
          • Balloons
          • E-Waste
          • Organic Food
          • AllThatGlitters
          • Fly Strips and Glue Traps
          • Toxic Household Products
          • Recycling Pumpkins
          • Tree Trimming Tips
          • Saving Venomous Species
        • Nuisance Wildlife >
          • Nuisance-SayNoToTrapping
          • Foxlights
          • Wildproof Your Home
        • Gold Country Critters
        • Keep Them Wild and Free
        • TCWC Videos
        • Points to Ponder
      • TCWC-Tracking Our Progress >
        • TCWC 2014 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2015 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2016 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2017 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2018 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2019 Impact Report
      • TCWC Patients >
        • Success Stories >
          • 1 - Opossum Call
          • 2 - Raccoon Behind the Grill!
          • 3 - Saving a Raven
          • LongTripHome
          • Anita's Bird Comes Home
          • College the Wild Way
          • Releases
        • TCWC Critter Show
    • TCWC Events >
      • TCWC Calendar >
        • GivingTuesday2020
        • TCWC-WildlifeClasses2020
        • TCWC-WildlifeWorkshop2020
        • Paws&Claws2020
      • Past TCWC Events >
        • Paws & Claws 2019
        • No Dinner-Dinner
        • Paws&Claws 2018
        • AnimalScapes
        • Paws & Claws 2016
        • TCWC Grand Opening
        • Wildlife Workshop 2014
        • Paws & Claws 2014
        • Hot Rod Heaven 2014
        • Paws & Claws 2015
        • Paws&Claws2017
        • Paws&Claws2018
        • TCWC-No Shower Baby Shower
    • Support TCWC >
      • Giving >
        • Shop-Create
        • TCWC Wish List
        • Donate to TCWC >
          • DonateCarToTCWC
      • Volunteer at TCWC
      • TCWC Supporters
      • Sponsor a TCWC Critter
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • Paws News
    • PawsPartners Social Feed
    • Newsletters >
      • TCWC Newsletter
      • A-PAL Newsletter
      • ShelterPartnersNews
    • Blog
  • Gratitude
    • TCWC-Gratitude >
      • BusinessSupporters
      • Our Volunteers
      • InMemoriam >
        • Cockrill
        • Glenyce
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliations
    • Links >
      • ContentSubmissionForm
    • Critter Chronicles >
      • Watson
      • Don't Fawn!
      • Art - the Cooper's Hawk
      • Mugsy-CommunityCat
      • Trash Kitty!
      • Gretchen&Ginger
      • MajesticBird
      • DuckTherapy
      • MrJunco
      • TheOddCouple
      • The Twins
      • WillToSurvive
      • MeetMandy
      • Furrever - Chloe
      • Charlie the Corgi
    • Kids
    • Shop >
      • Learn More >
        • Promote Our Store
        • Submit Art
      • Volunteer Gear
      • Shop These Stores
      • Shop PawsPartners
      • Shop TCWC
      • Shop A-PAL Humane Society
    • Site Credits