![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/A-view-of-Navins-small-backyard-Photo-by-N.-Sasikumar.jpg\")
<\/a>A view of Navin’s small backyard. Photo by N. Sasikumar. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n
Navin, an avid amateur naturalist, moved to this property last fall.\u00a0 He saw the potential to attract pollinators with native plants in raised beds and containers.\u00a0\u00a0 In early spring, he invited me for a Backyards for Nature<\/em> consultation.\u00a0 Together we made a list of short and mid-sized perennials that bloom from early spring to late fall and are known to attract a variety of pollinators.<\/p>\n He purchased good quality plants from Good Host Plants, a native plant nursery in Philadelphia. He planted perennials in two raised beds that sit atop the cement.\u00a0 Others he planted in large, deep containers. He installed two trellises for growing vines.<\/p>\n Pecks Skipper butterfly nectaring on Wild Bergamot. Photo by N. Sasikumar<\/p><\/div>\n It worked.\u00a0 In the spring bees and other insects found the Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadense<\/em>), Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis<\/em>). and Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata<\/em>). \u00a0The summer blossoms of Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata<\/em>), Butterfly Weed (A.<\/em>tuberosa<\/em>), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea<\/em>), Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum<\/em>), Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata<\/em>), Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis),\u00a0<\/em>Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa<\/em>), Short-toothed Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum<\/em>), and Orange Coneflower<\/p>\n Female Monarch nectaring on Swamp Milkweed Photo by N Sasikumar. Cllick to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n (Rudbeckia fulgida<\/em>) host many butterflies and other pollinators.\u00a0 The show continues this fall with Grey Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis<\/em>), New England Aster (Symphotrichum novae-angliae<\/em>), and other asters.\u00a0 Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens<\/em>) and Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquifolia<\/em>) will bloom on the trellises.<\/p>\n On weekends Navin observes and photographs the wildlife in his<\/p>\n Black Swallowtail caterpillar. Photo by N Sasikumar. click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n garden.\u00a0 He discovered Monarchs laying eggs on his Swamp Milkweed.\u00a0 An insatiable predator, a Carolina Mantis (our native mantid species) lurked nearby, so he decided to bring the Monarch eggs and caterpillars inside to raise them in safety.\u00a0 So far, he\u2019s raised and released 34 adult Monarchs.\u00a0 An additional 47 are either chrysalises or caterpillars and will be released soon for their journey to Mexico. \u00a0He’s also rearing BlackSwallowtail eggs and caterpillars that grow on parsley.\u00a0 According to Navin, nighttime is the best time for spotting the small eggs and caterpillars.<\/p>\n So far, he\u2019s recognized ten additional butterfly species including Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Red Admiral, and Eastern Tailed Blue.\u00a0 The biggest surprise was a Giant Swallowtail, a southern species rarely seen in<\/p>\n Giant Swallowtail. Photo by Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n the Philadelphia area. Other insects are finding his garden, too.\u00a0 Navin observed a Snowberry Clearwing, a large day-flying moth, nectaring on blossoms like a hummingbird. A variety of bees, wasps, flies\u00a0and moths feed on nectar and pollen.\u00a0 With so many insects, predators such as the Carolina mantis as well as spiders,lacewings, and parasitic wasps have located his yard, too.\u00a0 One day he spotted a lacewing eating aphids.<\/p>\n Tiger Bee Fly, a parasite of carpenter bees. Photo by N Sasikumar. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n Navin offers advice to other wildlife gardeners with limited space.\u00a0 \u00a0A great many plants can be crowded into small garden plots, raised beds, and large, deep containers.\u00a0 Prune the plants periodically to keep them short and use stakes before tall plants get floppy. Water frequently in hot weather.<\/p>\n Navin submits his wildlife sightings to iNaturalist, a nature record-keeping app.\u00a0 He photographs the butterflies and moths (both adults and caterpillars), bees, wasps, flies, beetles\u2014in fact, any creature using his plants.\u00a0 He uploads these photos and the species names to iNaturalist. The dates and location are automatically included.\u00a0 When the species is unknown, iNaturalist experts can usually provide the identification.\u00a0 Scientists and other amateur naturalists can view and study Navin\u2019s sightings and those of the other 137,000 iNaturalist users.<\/p>\n How do so many creatures find this yard?\u00a0 Certainly, adult butterflies and moths can fly.\u00a0 They\u2019re wired to find nectar and pollen for their survival.\u00a0 With their chemical sensors, they can also locate the specific plants they require to lay their eggs.\u00a0 Other insects have powerful search mechanisms, too.<\/p>\n Navin will keep searching.\u00a0 He\u2019ll find more creatures.\u00a0 After all, this garden is only 6 months old.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Edie Parnum A 130-square foot cement-covered backyard \u2014who would expect such a yard could be a haven for wildlife?\u00a0 The property is on a narrow street of rowhouses in Philadelphia.\u00a0 The nearest park is several miles away.\u00a0Nonetheless, this garden … Continue reading <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>