By Edie Parnum
In early June I visited Barb’s backyard. As we toured her half-acre suburban property, we observed bees, butterflies, caterpillars, dragonflies, frogs, and birds–all leading busy lives.
- Barb is co-author of this blog site & co-director of Backyards for Nature
Her yard wasn’t always full of life. Originally, her Southeastern Pennsylvania property had just grass and a few mostly non-native ornamental plants–nothing to attract wildlife. On a plane trip about 18 years ago, Barb read an article in the airline’s magazine about gardening for wildlife. Native plants, even when planted on a small property, could, the author asserted, provide a healthy habitat for birds, butterflies, and other creatures. For Barb, reading this article was a transformative experience. Over the years she has gradually added over a hundred native plant species, creating this haven for wildlife. She’s posted a sign: National Wildlife Federation-certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat.
We started our tour near Barb’s kitchen window—an area where she can view wildlife activities from inside. Originally, there were peonies and lambs’ ears, non-native plants with no appeal to animals. Barb substituted native perennials and shrubs that produce fruits, seeds, and nectar for birds and butterflies. Native insects eat the foliage of these plants; they, in turn, are food for birds and other animals. Barb added a birdbath, woodpile, nest boxes, and hummingbird feeders. We watched a hummer visiting her feeders and a House Wren using the nest box. Barb told me the Carolina Wrens love the woodpile. One day she spotted a Brown Thrasher scratching and feasting on bugs in the leaf litter. Last winter she discovered and closely monitored a cocoon in the Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Her diligence was rewarded in May when a gorgeous six-inch Polyphemus moth emerged.
- Northern Green Frog in Barb’s pond
Frogs were the primary entertainment. We could hear the Northern Green Frogs calling from Barb’s 13-foot circular pond. We counted seventeen and probably missed others hiding in the water and under the plants. Intent on attracting mates, they inflated their balloon-like throats and called out like banjos. They lunged from their perches to catch insects and other prey. With its native aquatic plants, recirculating pump, waterfall, shallow “stream,” and deeper pools of varying depths, Barb’s pond has places for birds to bathe and for dragonflies and frogs to lay their eggs. Tadpoles and dragonfly larvae find their niches. With the frogs and dragonfly larvae feeding here, fortunately, mosquito larvae can’t survive here to become biting adults. Much to Barb’s delight, her backyard pond is a healthy, balanced aquatic ecosystem.
- Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly at Barb’s pond
We visited some of Barb’s favorite trees. In her blight-resistant American Elm (Ulmus Americana, she’s spotted Baltimore Orioles and other birds feeding on the caterpillars in the foliage of this high wildlife-value tree. Because we found holes in the leaves but no live caterpillars, we concluded the munching caterpillars had been picked off by birds. We also stopped to see Barb’s beloved Eastern Red Cedars (Juniperus virginiana). Scores of bird species eat their berries. Song Sparrows and Mourning Doves have nested in the dense foliage. During a winter ice storm, she spotted an Eastern Screech Owl taking shelter in one of these cedars.
- Screech Owl in Barb’s Eastern Red Cedar
Barb has been encouraging me to appreciate native pollinators, so we visited her Monarch-friendly milkweed plants. We observed bees and butterflies enjoying the nectar of the blooming Swamp Milkweed (Asclepius incarnata), Common Milkweed (A. syriaca), and Butterfly Weed (A. tuberosa). We also saw her Purple (A. purpurescens) and Whorled (A. verticillata) Milkweeds. A keen observer, Barb finds the Monarchs’ tiny eggs on her plants and the browsing caterpillars, too. Monarchs require milkweeds as host plants. In acknowledgement of Barb’s role in helping this declining species, Monarch Watch has certified her property as a Monarch Waystation.
We saw many other native plants that day–and plenty of birds, butterflies, bees, dragonflies, and damselflies, too. In her yard, she has hosted over 85 species of birds and 25 kinds of butterflies. Her yard is no longer a dead zone. Barb says, “I can go out my back door and see wildlife happenings at any time. “
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You can tour Barb Elliot’s yard on Saturday, July 7 between 10 am and 4 pm as one of eight locations on the Tredyffrin Eco Tour. Come see all the yard’s features, including her bat house and bee homes. Purchase your admission badge ($10 per adults, kids free) at the Tredyffrin Township Library parking lot located at 582 Upper Gulph Road, Strafford, PA 19087 from 9:45 am to 3:00 pm. For more information, go to http://www.ttdems.com/2012/06/join-our-backyard-eco-tour-july-7th/
What a beautiful Garden of Eden. I loved the article and photos.
Barb’s is one of the most beautiful gardens in this area. The way she has made it possible and the results she has obtained can be replicated even by amateur gardeners. It’s very inspiring.
Thanks, Ana. I hope others will consider adding native plants to their yards, as I know you have already done.
Well written article. Barb’s yard is an amazing spot to relax and watch nature do its thing. Hopefully I will be able to determine what some of these butterflies are this summer. My garden at my last apartment is flourishing with jopai that stands taller than the actual roof of the house, bee balm that is roughly 4ft tall and has tons of red, and some neat tall grass. My favorite part about these plants was my father gave them to me from Barb’sgarden a few years back. This year my apartment has various gardens with different purposes which Barb has given me great ideas over a long period of time. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, Dustin. Glad to hear that the Bee Balm and Joe Pye Weed are doing so well at your last place. I’m sure your new garden will do just as well!
Great article on a real backyard paradise!
Thanks, Joe!
What an amazing wildlife habitat! And so nice to know there are other wildlife gardeners near my Philadelphia home 🙂
Thanks, Carole. I just love it. Every time I go out in the yard it’s an adventure! There is so much wildlife to see – birds, butterflies and moths, frogs, dragonflies, damselflies, native bees, and more. It is endlessly fascinating. I’m hopeful that more people in our area will start gardening with native plants and know the joys and wonder of having a yard full of life.
Barb