Wendy’s Wanderings

June 12, 2024

If you build it, they will come.

This is a misquote from the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams.” The actual quote is, “If you build it, he will come,” but either way, it is a solid metaphor for attracting what you want.

I like to paraphrase the quote to be “If you plant it, they will come.” Do I hear a voice whispering in my ear as I stroll the rows of the nurseries and plant shops? It isn’t a real voice, but I do remember that Principle 5 of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ is “Attract wildlife” when I am out there buying landscape plants.

Recently I was collaborating with a group of students to install a pollinator garden on the UF campus. We planted about 125 natives as part of a Florida-Friendly demonstration garden. Once the plants were in and the mulching was finished, we stepped back to admire our work.

Within seconds a sulfur butterfly and a native bee landed on the Salvia coccinea. The students were thrilled, saying, “They are already coming!” Well of course they are, I thought, because this was not my first native pollinator garden. I quickly changed my attitude to appreciate the true wonder of what had just taken place. It is exciting to see the species you were intending to attract arrive in your garden, and it is even more exciting to witness young people appreciating the interaction between pollinators and plants.

Wildlife require water, food, shelter, and space to thrive. Providing even one of these necessities will attract wildlife, while offering more can encourage them to stay longer. How you cater to these basic needs depends on the type of wildlife you aim to attract. Hummingbirds will visit many of the same plants that butterflies do. Songbirds feed on trees that have berries and seeds. Cavity-nesting birds prefer snags for habitat and other birds utilize brush piles.

Provide water for wildlife with birdbaths. Select a shallow basin that has a rough surface so birds will have sure footing. You can choose either a pedestal-style basin or one that sits at ground level. If you choose a ground-level basin, place it away from shrubs or other hiding spots to provide protection from predators. Once a week, scrub the basin with a 10% vinegar solution before rinsing and refilling.

Some gardeners want to be more elaborate with a water source, choosing a small pond or a stream. These options require more maintenance, but they do pay off by providing the attracting sound of moving water.

When you send out the invitation to your wildlife open house, be prepared for unexpected guests. You may have squirrels that raid the feeder, frogs enjoying the pond, or snakes preying on frogs enjoying the pond. You might even welcome the mother deer and her fawn—until you realize that she brought Bambi to feast on the agapanthus buds. This truly is the case of, “If you build it, THEY will come.”

For more information about gardening with wildlife visit UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions and check in with your local county Extension office.

— Wendy Wilber