Wildlife Gardening Resources
All
these books are in the Ramsey County Library system or you can purchase them
from online sources such as amazon.com.
The Wildlife-Friendly
Vegetable Garden – Hartung, Tammi
Opening paragraph says it all:
“I feel deep
gratitude for all the wild creatures that live with me in a positive and a good
way here on our farm. I appreciate that they live on this land or visit it
often as part of their daily lives. They offer me great assistance by
pollinating the plants, managing pests, and leaving behind their manures to
nourish the soil. My garden would not be so abundant without them.”
From Amazon.com:
Promoting a holistic ecological view, Tammi Hartung
encourages you to invite wildlife into your garden. You’ll be amazed at how a
variety of natural pollinators, pest predators, and soil enrichers can promote
vibrant and healthy vegetables. Discover how a slug problem disappears once
you’ve introduced a pond housing bullfrogs, how wasps can take care of tomato
hornworms, and why skunks aren’t so bad after all. Learn how to garden with
animals, rather than against them, and reap your most bountiful harvest yet.
Attracting Birds,
Butterflies and other Backyard Wildlife –
Mizejewski, David
From
Amazon.com:
A
backyard can come alive by creating an environment with plants and spaces that
attract nature's most interesting and friendly creatures. Colorful butterflies,
uplifting songbirds, and lively toads can enhance the personal garden space,
giving pleasure to nature lovers of all ages. National Wildlife Federation's®
Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife provides over a
dozen step-by-step projects for families to do together, making getting back to
nature easy, educational, and fun.
Bringing Nature Home:
How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants – Tallamy, Douglas
From
Amazon.com:
“If
you cut down the goldenrod, the wild black cherry, the milkweed and other
natives, you eliminate the larvae, and starve the birds. This simple revelation
about the food web—and it is an intricate web, not a chain—is the driving force
in Bringing Nature Home.” —The New York Times
Bringing
Nature Home has sparked a national conversation about the link between healthy
local ecosystems and human well-being, and the new paperback edition—with an
expanded resource section and updated photos—will help broaden the movement. By
acting on Douglas Tallamy's practical recommendations, everyone can make a
difference.
Dr.
Doug Tallamy is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Entomology and
Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. A renowned expert in the
science of plant-insect interactions, he is passionate about helping people
create wildlife habitat in their own backyards and gardens.
Landscaping
for Wildlife – Henderson, Carrol
A
Minnesota DNR publication with example plans and detailed lists of suitable
plants for all types of ecosystems in Minnesota.
Carrol
Henderson was the supervisor of Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Program in the MN
DNR as well as other positions helping wildlife.
Landscaping
with Native Plants of Minnesota – Steiner,
Lynn M.
From
Amazon.com:
This
new and updated edition of Landscaping with Native Plants of Minnesota combines
the practicality of a field guide with all the basic information homeowners
need to create an effective landscape design. The plant profiles section
includes comprehensive descriptions of approximately 150 flowers, trees,
shrubs, vines, evergreens, grasses, and ferns that grew in Minnesota before
European settlement, as well as complete information on planting, maintenance,
and landscape uses for each plant. The book also includes complete information
on how to garden successfully in Minnesota’s harsh climate and how to install
and maintain an attractive, low-maintenance home landscape suitable for any
lifestyle.
Lynn
Steiner is a local author.
Pollinators
of Native Plants: Attract, Observe and Identify Pollinators and Beneficial
Insects with Native Plants – Holm, Heather
From
Amazon.com:
This
is the first comprehensive book to illustrate the specific relationships
between native pollinators and native plants. Organized by plant communities,
the book profiles over 65 perennial native plants of the Midwest, Great Lakes
region, Northeast and southern Canada and the pollinators, beneficial insects
and flower visitors the plants attract. With its easy-to-use format, the book
provides the reader with information on how to attract, plant for and identify
pollinators with native plants. Beautifully designed and illustrated with over
1600 photos of plants and insects, the book includes information on
pollination, types of pollinators and beneficial insects, pollinator habitat
and conservation as well as pollinator landscape plans.
Heather
Holm is a local author.
Native
Plant Finder, NWF. Enter your zip code and find the top plants that support
wildlife in your area.
Joe
Gardener – Hundreds of videos, podcasts, blog on gardening.
Field
guide to the flora of Minnesota.
“Here
you'll find photos and information about wild plants that grow in Minnesota,
both native and non-native. More than just wildflowers, we also include trees,
shrubs, vines, ferns and fern allies, and grasses, sedges and rushes.
Our
mission is to educate Minnesotans on our native plants, raise awareness on
threats like invasive species, and inspire people to explore our great state,
appreciate its natural heritage, and become involved in preserving it.
Over
1,500 plant species and more than 15,000 high quality photos are cataloged
here, with more added each week, working towards recording all 2100+ plant
species in Minnesota.”
