Podcasts about Backyard Habitat

Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by David Mizejewski, a Naturalist & self-confessed Nature Geek working with the National Wildlife Federation. David is a regular in the media including having presented a series on Animal Planet called Backyard Habitat that showed people how to transform their yards & gardens into spaces where nature can thrive. Together we dive into how to manage our gardens in the fall & autumn, David explains why leaving the leaves is so important, from the myriad of surprising wildlife that are dependent on the leaf litter to the benefits of reducing your environmental impact & saving yourself time & money whilst ensuring a healthier garden. To avoid overwhelm David shares Pro Tips on how to keep as many leaves as possible at home, utilising them for mulch on flower beds to composting, but also importantly reminds us to be gentle with ourselves & simply do the best we can. Gardening for wildlife is an empowering solution to the multiple crisis our environment faces & the NWF have a lot of resources to help you get involved to create a paradise for nature at home.I hope will have you looking at Autumn leaves with a whole new level of wonder. Share your pictures with David & I to celebrate stewarding your patch of the earth to ensure nature, wildlife and people can thrive #leavetheleaves. Learn more about DavidDavid Mizejewski is a naturalist, author and television presenter with the National Wildlife Federation. He holds a degree in Human and Natural Ecology from Emory University and is an expert on wildlife and our environment. He is dedicated to using his knowledge and unbridled enthusiasm to help others understand and protect the natural world. David regularly appears in the media to promote wildlife conservation. Website: https://naturalist.nwf.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dmizejewski Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmizejewskiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmizejewski/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidMizejewskiOctober is Leave the Leaves Month: https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Join-the-Movement/Seasonal-Initiatives/Leave-the-Leaves-MonthPro Tips: https://blog.nwf.org/2023/10/pro-tips-for-leaving-the-leavesOther Useful Resources: https://bit.ly/NBNPEpisode52Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

Dean says Autumn is the best season to trim trees and the change in weather, creating a habitat for living animals. Robin Bertolucci talks about her pledge to stop the usage of rodenticide in her area to ban it to prevent animals from being poisoned. Dean and Robin talk realistic lines on rodents. (R.E.D.) which is repellent, exclude and deter. Dean and Robin tell us the importance of avoiding poisons for rodent control as it affects other animals and our pets. Dean recaps on creating a habitat in backyards and alternatives from using poison to keep animals safe. 

Dean's guest, Sammie Cowell talks about transferring a regular backyard to a native habitat living backyard for individuals who want to re-do the backyard within a program from the National Autobounds Society of America. Dean informs us when is the correct time to trim a tree for a fulfilling environment for birds. Dean gives advice to a listener on the safety of bird feed for different types of birds. Dean touches on the value increase on a property with just simple add-ons such as landscaping changes. Robin Bertolucci, Founder of Poison Free Conejo, Program Director KFI, joins Dean.as she discusses her appreciation of nature.

Dean gives us the last backyard habitat building tips of the season and its importance.Dean says planting trees is great for property value and for the mind, body & soul. He also,talks about native plants in Southern California and what makes them exotic & the root of causing animals and nature not to blossom. Dean is joined by Sammie Cowell from National Autobounds Society of America & Richard Armerding from Wild Birds Unlimited of Northridge and Thousand Oaks to discuss the decline of birds, and how the primary factor is the loss of habitat. 

Even with minimal effort, my backyard habitat is pretty nice!

In this episode we hear from Susie Peterson who is the co-manager of the very popular Backyard Habitat Certification Program in Oregon. The program is managed in partnership with Portland Audubon and can help you better design your backyard for biodiversity. 

We currently stand at a pivotal juncture where the loss of numerous species from our local ecosystems poses a serious threat. This jeopardizes the ecosystem services that are essential for our well-being, including oxygen production, water purification, flood control, pollination, pest regulation, and carbon storage. However, this isn't a moment of condemning human actions, but an opportunity to embrace an enjoyable path to positive change through stewardship. Doug Tallamy's message emphasizes a solution-focused approach: small individual efforts can collectively make a significant impact. By working together, we can create new ecological networks that support the growth and resilience of plant and animal populations, allowing them to thrive despite normal population fluctuations. At the heart of this initiative is the concept of the Homegrown National Park®, a term coined by Doug. It serves as a rallying point, recognizing that even our grand national parks, remarkable as they are, are too isolated and limited in scale to preserve species effectively. The idea behind the Homegrown National Park is a grassroots call to action, encouraging us to restore habitats in our residential and working areas, and to a lesser extent in agricultural and grazing lands, effectively extending the concept of national parks to our own yards and communities. To visually represent this collective effort, they have created "THE MAP," an interactive community-based tool that tracks each person's contribution to native plantings by State, County, and Zip Code. This map not only gauges progress toward the ambitious goal of planting 20 million acres of native species in the U.S. but also provides individuals with a tangible way to see their role in a larger ecological restoration effort, thereby creating new ecological networks and revitalizing biodiversity. #HomegrownNationalPark #getonthemap #RewildYourYard #NativePlanting #BackyardHabitats #EcoStewardship #BiodiversityBoost #HabitatRestoration #CommunityConservation #EcoNetworks #DougTallamy #ConservationEfforts #BiodiversityMatters #StewardshipForChange #EcosystemResilience #HomegrownNationalPark #SustainableLiving #DougTallamysVision #CommunityConservation #TheMapForChange #RestoringBiodiversity #CollectiveAction #SpeciesPreservation #SmallStepsBigImpact    

Cats and glass windows each kill about a BILLION birds every year in the United States. Before inviting birds to your yard, consider making your windows bird safe.

As important as quality backyard habitat is, we must first make sure we're not luring birds to their deaths. Cats and windows each kill about a BILLION birds in the United States every year. Laura talks about outdoor cats today.

What is all around you, helps our environment, and provides a home to animals? Give up? It's TREES, of course. While the Solve It for Kids  Podcast is on holiday break, enjoy clips from our favorite shows in the BEST of Learning About Trees!! Hear from Alexandra Siy, as she discusses: How Do You Tell the Age of a Tree?, Brian Campbell where he explains: Why Measure the Height of Trees? and, Sneed Collard III, who answers the question:  How Do You Build a Backyard Habitat? Happy Holidays! 

Want to create the perfect habitat for eco-friendly plants and animals in your own backyard? Don't miss this fantastic chat with Award-winning science author and birder, Sneed Collard III. Grab a pencil and a pad of paper. You'll want to write down all of his tips for designing your own backyard. You may even find yourself heading to the nearest garden center to pick out a few plants to get started! 

This week on the Down the Garden Path podcast, landscape designers Matthew Dressing and Joanne Shaw are joined by Mary Phillips, Head of Garden for Wildlife™ at the National Wildlife Federation. Mary discusses the Federation's wonderful initiatives and shares how we can play a part in growing a bright future for the monarch butterfly and many other iconic native wildlife species. About Mary Phillips For eight years, Mary has led Garden for Wildlife™ and Certified Wildlife Habitat® as an ambassador for native plants. Her work ensures all habitat programs and resources are rooted in sustainable practices and the latest science. Since 1977, Garden for Wildlife has been the nation's oldest and largest Backyard Habitat program generating and supporting millions of wildlife gardeners in North America. Most recently, Mary helped launch the Garden for Wildlife Native Plants Collection™. The goal of this social enterprise is to increase the native plant supply, reduce carbon impacts, and secure the survival of iconic species, such as the monarch butterfly, native bees, and songbirds. The pilot launch in 2021, resulted in over 4,000 native plant collections sold in five months, 237,000 sq ft. of new garden habitat. Join Joanne and Matt as they welcome Mary Phillips, Head of Garden for Wildlife™ at the National Wildlife Federation. Here are some of the questions and topics covered in this episode: Tell us more about the Garden for Wildlife organization. Can you describe the different habitat programs you have? What are your native plant collections? There are so many native plants which are not available to gardeners and the public. How is the Garden for Wildlife Native Plants Collection™ increasing the native plant supply? How do you know which collection is right for you? Can you describe how someone's garden becomes a Certified Wildlife Habitat?  Can Canadians get certified? Do you ship to Canada? Do you sell seeds? Monarch butterflies What makes a species iconic? Can you share with us what is happening with the monarch? Why are they getting so much attention this summer? What should we all know about the life cycle of the monarch? There is so much we can be doing to restore the native habitats for monarchs and other native wildlife populations. If we could do one thing after the show to help monarchs, what would you recommend? How do we get involved with native plants? Do you work with any Canadian wildlife organizations? What are some of the resources listeners can find on your website?  Is there anything you'd like to bring to the attention of our listeners? Find Garden for Wildlife™ online: Website: www.gardenforwildlife.com Facebook: @gardenforwildlife Twitter: @garden4wildlife Instagram: @gardenforwildlife Pinterest: @gardenforwildlife TikTok: @gardenforwildlife Find National Wildlife Federation™ online: Website: www.nwf.org Facebook: @nationalwildlife Twitter: @nwf Instagram: @nationalwildlife Pinterest: @nwfpins YouTube: @nationalwildlife Other resources discussed: Canadian Wildlife Foundation – Similar Canadian Resources. www.invasivespeciescentre.ca – Dog Strangling Vine information. www.monarchjointventure.org Down the Garden Path Podcast Each week on Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. A horticulturist and landscape designer, Matthew Dressing owns Natural Affinity Garden Design, a landscape design and garden maintenance firm servicing Toronto and the Eastern GTA. Together, they do their best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low maintenance as possible. In their new book, Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and Matthew distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. It's now available on Amazon.

We gardeners, whether we grow ornamentals or vegetables, often run into conflict with wildlife that wants to eat what we grow. To share methods that we can employ to overcome critter issues in a humane way, my guest this week is Nancy Lawson, the founder of The Humane Gardener as we discuss how to nurture a backyard habitat for wildlife.

Thinking about livening up your backyard? Want to attract wildlife and birds? Now that fall is approaching, start planning your backyard habitat and enjoy the birds, butterflies, and lizards that pop by for a visit.  Plus, how to control the unwelcomed 'wildlife' like mosquitos, flies, ants and other pests so you can enjoy your backyard habitat.

It's all about Backyarding and Outdoor Living on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Garden Gossip & Tree Talk" Show, with Kris Kiser, President of the Turf Mutt Foundation. From deciding what kind of outdoor space suits your lifestyle to what plants and trees to grow in your garden to make that space happen, this segment covers the joys and health benefits of gardening and backyarding, and how it creates a safe habitat for birds and wildlife, while providing a fun place for kids and pets to play in. Learn more about the Turf Mutt Foundation and check out their tips on how to Create the Perfect Outdoor Living Space here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/how-to-create-the-perfect-outdoor-living-and-work-room/ Special thank you to fine art nature photographer Margot Carrera. View her online gallery here: https://www.carrerafineartgallery.com/ 

When I polled our listener community about your top requests for outdoor garden-related episodes, the number one request surprised me: it wasn’t managing fertilizer, succession planting, or garden design. It was how to manage pesky animals getting into your gardens! Today, I have the answer to your prayers: Brie from briegrows.com walks us through such a comprehensive list of practices and solutions for managing pests and other critters in the garden. This conversation really helps us rethink the way we approach animals in the garden and I’m excited for you to learn from Brie as I did! -------------------------------------------------------------- Get on the waitlist for the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Launch -------------------------------------------------------------- Be the first to gain access and founding member discounts through joining our waitlist Snag your spot on the waitlist here ( https://bloomandgrowradio.com/community ) ----------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, ----------------------------------------- so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up! ( https://plnk.to/BAGR?to=page ) ------------------------- In this episode we learn: ------------------------- * [00:06:05] How Brie became Brie The Plant Lady * [00:08:59] Brie shares her greatest achievement in plant propagation * [00:11:29] Maria’s experience with squirrels and deer in the garden * [00:14:15] Do we call them ‘pests’ or ‘animals’? Brie shares an important reminder about animals in nature * [00:18:29] Maria shares a totally honest story about critters #nofilter * [00:19:02] How to identify chipmunks from squirrels, and what their usual behaviors are in the garden * [00:21:03] How to use hot peppers as animal repellent * [00:24:18] Different and easy ways to use peppermint oil as animal repellent (hint: seashells!) * [00:26:49] How to prevent squirrels and chipmunks from digging holes in your garden beds * [00:29:07] Using vole king bags to protect your bulbs from animals * [00:30:20] Vole king bags vs chicken wire planters * [00:31:11] Shrews vs voles vs moles * [00:32:47] How to deal with moles in the garden * [00:33:21] Why you should use less mulch in the garden * [00:35:12] Where and how to plant garlic as vole repellent (and hit two birds with one stone!) * [00:39:16] Do you need to worry about burrowing animals if you have raised beds? * [00:40:40] What are groundhogs and how to keep them away from the garden * [00:43:14] Squirrel damage vs groundhog damage * [00:45:29] Setting up a wildlife camera for better animal surveillance in the garden * [00:47:02] Where to get the best eco planters (with gorgeous color selections!) * [00:49:24] The best and easiest deer fence kits for your garden * [00:51:16] The idea behind trap crops and how to apply them in the garden * [00:54:25] The different plants that help repel rabbits * [00:57:26] How often should you apply repellents to your plants? * [00:58:54] Using animal scats to identify pests in the garden * [01:00:00] Why deer is a serious gardening problem and how understanding their behavior can help you keep them away * [01:01:50] How to install hedges and streamers that keep deer away * [01:06:29] Deer-proof plants, are there such things? * [01:09:05] When to use deer sprays and how to best use mammal-specific repellents * [01:11:35] Brie shares her own recipe of animal repellent using common household items! * [01:13:33] The rookie mistakes gardeners make when trying to keep animals from the garden * [01:15:56] Brie reminds us how to be mindful gardeners and have respect for the animals that we don’t want in our gardens * [01:17:11] What Brie’s garden looks like! It is envy-worthy! * ------------------------------ Mentioned in our conversation: ------------------------------ * The Foodscape Revolution ( https://amzn.to/3oftElP ) by Brie Arthur * Gardening with Grains ( https://amzn.to/2SGnDTp ) by Brie Arthur * The Humane Gardener ( https://amzn.to/2RBK8s2 ) : Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife by Nancy Lawson * Deer‑Resistant Design: ( https://amzn.to/3hdYiKL ) Fence‑free Gardens that Thrive Despite the Deer by Karen Chapman ---------------------------------- Thank you to our episode sponsors: ---------------------------------- WallyGro -------- Wallygro has just launched new Spring Colors in both their Eco and Loop planters! The Eco planter model makes installing your own greenwall a breeze and their Loop planter model is the answer to drip-free tabletop or hanging plants, and they are made from recycled plastic! WallyGro is offering a limited-time 15% discount to our community from May 11 to May 18th. Snag them while they are available at wallygro.com ( https://wallygro.com/ ) and use code BAGR15 for 15% off at checkout. DeerBusters ----------- If you’ve got wildlife looking at your veggie garden, DeerBusters is here to help! DeerBusters strives to protect the gardens of companies and individuals through high-quality, easy-to-install, wildlife fencing kits that come in several different materials and sizes. No fancy hardware needed. Visit deerbusters.com ( https://www.deerbusters.com/ ) today to protect your plants tomorrow and use code BLOOM at checkout for 10% off. ------------ Follow Brie: ------------ Brie Grows ( https://www.briegrows.com/ ) Books ( https://www.briegrows.com/shop ) Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/brietheplantlady ) Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/BrieGrows/ ) ---------------------------------------- *Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:* ---------------------------------------- Take the Bloom and Grow Plant Parent Personality Quiz ( https://bloomandgrowradio.com/personality ) (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon ( https://www.patreon.com/bloomandgrowradio ) ! 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Join us for our first episode of Biome, Sweet Biome to learn more about what makes up a biome and why habitats are important, how you can help wildlife in your own backyard, get a basic pollinator plant list, and answers to your backyard bat questions!

We'll also learn about the botanical illustrator and collector who established a worldwide reputation for his incredible herbarium. We celebrate the great Himalayan and Alpine mountain climbing and writer - he was also a botanist. We also honor bees with today's poetry. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book gardening in a humane way - helping you create a garden that is healthy and harmonious for all living things. And then we'll wrap things up with an Ode to Basil - my favorite summer crop. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news.   Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart   Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to Jennifer@theDailyGardener.org And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy.   Curated News The hidden gardens of lockdown | The Guardian "As some of the UK's best-loved gardens prepare to reopen to the public, we ask the head gardeners what has been happening behind their closed gates." Gardener Jess Evans: "I can't lie, it's been amazing, and so peaceful," she says. "It's very easy to stick your head down and just crack on and get things done, but this has given us an opportunity to take stock and look at the garden properly." She has also enjoyed the chance to get her hands dirty. "I'm doing more outdoor work than I have done in ages. Usually, I'd be in the office at least two or three days a week, and yet now I've had the perfect excuse not to be."   Hollyhocks | Gardenista "Hollyhocks are designed to give easy access to quantities of pollen, through the open funnels of the single varieties. Just watching a less svelte bee (like a bumblebee) climbing around a hollyhock illustrates how double flowers can be problematic. Aesthetically, the simple singles are very desirable but have been out-marketed by the doubles. The best way to procure singles, in the best colors, is through a generous friend."   What's Green and Sings?   (Click to read this original post)   Alright, that's it for today's gardening news.   Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.   Important Events 1706  Today is the anniversary of the death of Leonard Plukenet, who had served as the botanist to Queen Mary II. When he died (like almost every plant-lover of his era), he left his collections and herbarium to Sir Hans Sloane, which is how his collections have become one of the oldest still existing at the Natural History Museum in England. As the royal botanist, Plukenet was an important part of botanical society during the 1600s. Along with George London and William Sherard, Plukenet assisted the zealous botanical aspirations of Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort. Her next-door neighbor was Sir Hans Sloane. When she died, she, too, left her herbarium and other valuable botanical items to Sir Hans Sloane. This is how Hans Sloane became a one-man botanical repository, and that repository ultimately became the Natural History Museum. Plukenet played an unforgettable role in the history of the sacred lotus. And in 2011, Corinne Hannah wrote an exceptional piece about Plukenet's name for the sacred lotus. Here's an excerpt from Corinne's marvelous article, which appeared in the Calgary Herald. "[The] English botanist Leonard Plukenet christened the sacred lotus in 1696 as: Nymphaea glandulifera indiae paludibus gardens foliis umbilicatis amplis pediculis spinosis flore rosea-pupureo, ("nim-fay-EE-ah-gland-you-LIFF-er-AH-in-die-EE-pall-ooh-duh-bus-gardens-fol-ee-ice-umb-Bill-ah-CAY-tis-AMP-YOU-lis-ped-DIC-YOU-lis-spin-OH-sis-flora-row-SAH-poo-PURR-EE-oh") or "the marsh-loving, nut-bearing Indian water lily with large, navel-centered leaves, prickly stalks, and rose-purple flowers. Thank heavens for Carl Linnaeus and his invention of binomial nomenclature, which decreed each plant could only be identified with two names! But Linnaeus was not infallible. He, too, initially identified the sacred lotus as being closely related to the water lily family (Nymphaea). Recent genetic testing has confirmed that sacred lotus belongs to a genus unto itself, Nelumbo nucifera. This aquatic plant is not even remotely related to water lilies. In fact, it is far more closely allied to woody plants such as plane trees or banksias. "   1785  Today is the birthday of the great Sir William Jackson Hooker. Hooker was both a botanist and a botanical illustrator, and he was a great friend of Joseph Banks. Thanks to his inheritance, Hooker was wealthy; he didn't need a patron to fund his work or expeditions. Hooker's first expedition was to Iceland in the summer of 1809. The trip was actually Bank's idea. Hooker came along in order to collect specimens, as well as to trial everything he discovered. Unfortunately, during their voyage home from Iceland, there was a terrible fire. Most people don't realize it, but Hooker nearly died. Sadly, all of Hooker's work was destroyed. But it turns out, Hooker's mind was a steel trap. In a remarkable accomplishment, Hooker was able to reconstruct his discoveries and publish an account of his adventure in a book called Tour in Iceland. Over his lifetime, Hooker established a global reputation for his world-class herbarium. By 1841, he was appointed the director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Hooker elevated Kew to greatness. His leadership resulted in an expanding of the gardens from 10 to 75 acres as well as adding a 270-acre Arboretum and a museum for botany. In 1865, there was a virus going around at Kew. Everyone had sore throats. Soon, Hooker, too, became ill. He was 80 years old. The virus overpowered him, and he died. His son Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, and outstanding botanist in his own right succeeded him at Kew.   1900 Today is the birthday of the great Himalayan and Alpine mountain climber and mountaineering writer Frank Smythe. Frank had a diverse range of interests, which he mastered - including photography, collecting plants, botany, and gardening. He is most remembered for his mountaineering and for discovering and naming the Valley of Flowers in the Western Himalayas in India. During his lifetime, Frank would go on seven expeditions to the Himalayas, where he especially enjoyed botanizing and taking pictures. In 1931, Frank stumbled on the Valley of Flowers along with two other English mountaineers after they got lost. The climbers had just finished ascending Mount Kamet, and they were looking for a place to escape bad oncoming weather. The Valley enchanted them, and the flowers made it seem like they were in a fairyland. When Smyth returned to England, he wrote a book called Kamet Conquered, and in it, he named the area the Valley of Flowers. Well, the name Frank gave the Valley caused a sensation. In one of his later books, Frank wrote about the moment he discovered the Valley: "Within a few minutes, we were out of the wind, and in the rain, which became gradually warmer as we lost height. Dense mist shrouded the mountainside, and we paused, uncertain as to the route when I heard Holdsworth, who was a botanist as well as a climbing member of the Expedition, exclaim, "Look!"  I followed the directions of his outstretched hand. At first, I could see nothing but rocks. Then suddenly, my wandering gaze was arrested by a little splash of blue, and beyond it were other splashes of blue, a blue so intense it seemed to light the hillside. Holdsworth wrote: 'All of a sudden, I realized that I was simply surrounded by primulas. At once, the day seemed to brighten perceptibly. Forgotten were all the pains and cold and lost porters. And what a primula it was! Its leek-like habit proclaimed it a member of the nizalis section. All over the little shelves and terraces, it grew, often with its roots in running water. At the most, it stood six inches high, but it's flowers were enormous for its stature, and ample in number— sometimes as many as thirty to the beautifully proportioned umble and in the color of the most heavenly French blue [and] sweetly scented.' In all my mountain wanderings, I had not seen a more beautiful flower than this primula. The fine raindrops clung to its soft petals like galaxies of seed-pearls and frosted its leaves with silver. "   Now you can see how Frank's writing inspired so many people to make a pilgrimage to the Valley. For the people who make the trek, the Valley of Flowers is a seven-day trip from Delhi. It is now a protected national park. As the name implies, it is a lush area famous for the millions of alpine flowers that cover the hills and slopes and nestle along icy flowing streams. Through most of the year, the Valley of Flowers remains hidden, buried under several feet of snow throughout a seven-to-eight-month-long winter. In March, the melting snow and monsoon activate a new growing season. There is a brief 3-4 month window when the Valley of Flowers is accessible – generally during the months of July, August, and September. In 1937, Frank returned to the Valley, where he especially enjoyed botanizing. He gathered specimens and seeds and documented his discoveries. The Valley of Flowers is home to over 500 varieties of wildflowers, and many are still considered rare. Along with daisies, poppies, and marigolds, there are primulas and orchids growing wild. The rare Blue Poppy, commonly known as the Himalayan Queen, is the most coveted plant in the Valley.   Unearthed Words Today's poetry is all about the buzz of July: Bees.   The hum of bees is the voice of the garden. — Elizabeth Lawrence, garden writer   The dandelions and buttercups gild all the lawn: the drowsy Bee stumbles among the clover tops, and summer sweetens all to me. — James Russell Lowell, American Romantic poet   "And pray, who are you?" Said the Violet blue To the Bee, with surprise, At his wonderful size, In her eyeglass of dew. "I, madam," quoth he, "Am a publican, Bee, Collecting the tax Of honey and wax. Have you nothing for me?" — John Bannister Tabb, American poet and priest, The Violet and the Bee   Answer July— Where is the Bee— Where is the Blush— Where is the Hay? Ah, said July— Where is the Seed— Where is the Bud— Where is the May— Answer Thee—Me— ― Emily Dickinson, American poet   All day the bees have come to the garden. They hover, swivel in arcs and, whirling, light On stamens heavy with pollen, probe and revel Inside the yellow and red starbursts of dahlias Or cling to lobelia's blue-white mouths Or climb the speckled trumpets of foxgloves. My restless eyes follow their restlessness As they plunge bodily headfirst into treasure, Gold-fevered among these horns of plenty. They circle me, a flowerless patch With nothing to offer in the way of sweetness Or light against the first omens of evening. Some, even now, are dying at the end Of their few weeks, some being born in the dark, Some simply waiting for life, but some are dancing Deep in their hives, telling the hungry The sun will be that way, the garden this far: This is the way to the garden. They hum at my ear. And I wake up, startled, seeing the early Stars beginning to bud in constellations. The bees have gathered somewhere like petals closing For the coming of the cold. The silhouette Of a sphinx moth swerves to drink at a flowerhead. The night-blooming moon opens its pale corolla. — David Wagoner, American poet, Falling Asleep In The Garden   Grow That Garden Library The Humane Gardener by Nancy Lawson This book came out in 2017, and the subtitle is: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife (How to Create a Sustainable and Ethical Garden that Promotes Native Wildlife, Plants, and Biodiversity) In Nancy's words: "A humane gardener challenges herself to see the world through the eyes (and ears and noses and antennae) of other species, from the easy-to-love butterflies and birds to the more misunderstood moles and beetles and wasps and groundhogs. She appreciates all the creatures just trying to make a life outside her door, rather than applying compassion selectively to some species and not others." The book is 224 pages of valuable, inspirational, and critical information designed to help you create a garden that is healthy and harmonious for all living things. You can get a copy of The Humane Gardener by Nancy Lawson and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $16.   Today's Botanic Spark 2015 On this day, Leah Raup, over at the unboredhousewife.com, wrote an ode to Basil. It's a delight. Basil, sweet basil, you are a true summer treat. Straight from the plant is the only way to eat your tender green leaves on Caprese salad or penne, the uses for you are vast – they are many. In ice cream or cookies you're an unexpected flavor, you make me creative and cause me to savor the warm summer air and my bare feet in the grass. I'm pondering ways to store you when autumn comes to pass.

Thanks to Gnat from the Friends of Drakes Lagoon for having a chat about the upcoming Backyard Habitat Workshop at RRRTAG.

(4/28)- Today the House Whisperer talked about building a beautiful backyard habitat. We also spoke with the President and Founder Andy Lipkis, Wildlands Restoration Manager Cody Chappel and Director of Program Development Chris Imhoff of Tree People to discuss the iHeart Replant SoCal, how to recover from a wildfire and so much more, Of course as always, Dean leaves you with his thoughts.

You too can BEE one! Or Taconite Fly or Opossum or Golden Ragwort one, gardening on an eco-logical team with critters and plants you've overlooked, or maybe even maligned.      Nancy Lawson invites us to understand more of the habits and roles of species around us, to bust the dualistic myth of Pest vs Beneficial. Her book The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife is a long love note to relationships we can all enjoy. Such as with Tachinid Flies. Coming to St. Louis Friday March 8: Nurturing Backyard Habitat, a talk-and-mingle with Nancy Lawson and local native plant professionals, 5-8 p.m. at Powder Valley Nature Center. Click here to learn more and register. Thanks to STL Audubon, Greenscape Gardens, Missouri Department of Conservation and Grow Native! for bringing Nancy Lawson to us. THANKS to Andy Heaslet, Earthworms engineer and listening buddy. Music: Divertimento k131, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by Kevin MacLeod Related Earthworms Conversations: Relatives, Responsibility, Mindfulness with Dr. Daniel Wildcat (Oct 2018) Bears! (July 2018) The Owl Man of Forest Park (July 2015)

Wildlife and native gardening go hand-in-hand, but sometimes we lose patience with wildlife that enjoys our plants as much as we do! Learn how to cultivate compassion in your garden and successfully coexist with wildlife as Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial interviews Nancy Lawson, author of The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word Humane as this: Being characterized by consideration of other, compassionate. This week on Cultivating Place we’re joined by Nancy Lawson author of – The Humane Gardener, Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife. Join us! For photos visit cultivatingplace.com. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher.

There are many things that can be done to make our yards a more inviting place for wildlife. Extension Educator Jason Haupt explains what makes for an ideal place for wildlife right outside your door.

There are many things that can be done to make our yards a more inviting place for wildlife. Extension Educator Jason Haupt explains what makes for an ideal place for wildlife right outside your door.

There are many things that can be done to make our yards a more inviting place for wildlife. Extension Educator Jason Haupt explains what makes for an ideal place for wildlife right outside your door.

Using native plants to creatively interact with wildlife and avoid landscaping conflicts. In This Podcast: If you are a person who really cares about all wildlife and creatures great and small then it probably bothers you a lot if an animal is killed through human carelessness.  This is the podcast for you.  Nancy Lawson writes about smart gardening choices that can reduce the problems of invasive animals and insects, thereby reducing the need to cull or harm bothersome animals.  Even if you are not particularly protective of animals, she has ideas that can help reduce problematic visits and save your garden plants and veggies. Don't miss an episode! Click here to sign up for weekly podcast updatesor visit www.urbanfarm.org/podcast Nancy is a columnist for All Animals magazine, as well as the founder of Humane Gardener - an outreach initiative dedicated to cultivating compassion for all creatures great and small through animal-friendly, environmentally-sensitive landscaping methods. She speaks frequently to local & national audiences, and volunteers as both a master naturalist and master gardener in central Maryland. Nancy is the author of The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife, published by Princeton Architectural Press in April 2017 and highlighted in Oprah magazine, the Washington Post, and Library Journal Go to www.urbanfarm.org/humanegardener for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Big Blend Radio interview with Nancy Lawson, author of “The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife”, and founder of Humane Gardener, an outreach initiative dedicated to cultivating compassion for all creatures great and small through animal-friendly, environmentally sensitive landscaping methods. www.HumaneGardener.com

Just because you don't consider yourself a "gardener" doesn't mean this episode isn't for you. Humane gardening is about looking through the lens of the millions of species on this planet and creating a space that enables them to thrive. It's about coexisting with rather than managing or controlling wildlife. With the help of Nancy Lawson, author of The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife, you can apply this concept in your own garden patch, on your apartment balcony, or as part of policy you create with city officials. In this episode, Nancy and I chat about: *how to help pollinators (and that doesn't just mean honeybees)   *what to do when you have uninvited critters in your attic *how to plant for maximum wildlife (hint: NATIVES!) *why preventing deer, plant-eating animals, from eating plants, makes no sense *why you may want to rethink birdfeeders (and plant natives instead) *how you can prevent your dog from getting skunked -how you can get on the public relations team for wildlife and so much more! Enjoy, please share, and be sure to follow Nancy at humanegardener.com. Thank you to supporters for making this podcast possible.   

Everybody knows spring and summer are wonderful times to enjoy your gardens and backyards, and the birds provide a spectacular show as they migrate in and make families! But the fall and winter are when they need us the most, and your backyard habitat can be both a delight and a lifesaver for local wildlife when it's snowing, blowing and freezing. My favorite Nature Dude, David Mizejewski, is joining us tonight to talk about how to attract and enjoy birds and other backyard wildlife this fall and winter and how to have your yard recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Remember, Ma Feathers cares for her wing folks and fur buddies no matter the season. Now you can too!

These days, gardening is not just to grow plants -- it's to support your local birds, bees and critters, and to keep the planet running a little better, one butterfly bush at a time! I'm delighted to welcome my dear friend and National Wildlife Federation spokesman David Mizejewski for a real spring program: Gardening for wildlife, and making a difference for the planet right in our own backyard and community!

Join our Special guest Dave Mizejewski from the National Wildlife Foundation as we discuss Wildlife and Environmental problems facing us today. Dave Mizejewski teaches the American public how to help wildlife and connect with nature in their own neighborhoods and beyond. He is host and co-producer of Backyard Habitat on Animal Planet, a television series that shows people how to transform their yards and gardens into thriving habitats for birds and other local wildlife. Mizejewski also appeared in a mini-series on Animal Planet airing in April of 2007 called Spring Watch U.S.A.

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/joelampl/034GGW.mp3] Click the Arrow to Listen Now If you love the topics surrounding this podcast series, you'll love this conversation with National Wildlife Federation's David Mizejewski. He's the host and co-producer of Animal Planet's Backyard Habitat and he is everywhere in the media. Today, he's ours for not one but two conversations that you don't want to miss. In this podcast, David talks about some of the true signs of global warming, the gulf oil spill and resources we can all use from the National Wildlife Federation. The post 034 GGW – NWF’s Naturalist, David Mizejewski, Part 2 of 2 appeared first on Growing A Greener World®.

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/joelampl/034GGW.mp3] Click the Arrow to Listen Now If you love the topics surrounding this podcast series, you’ll love this conversation with National Wildlife Federation’s David Mizejewski. He’s the host and co-producer of Animal Planet’s Backyard Habitat and he is everywhere in the media. Today, he’s ours for not one but two conversations that you don’t want to miss. In this podcast, David talks about some of the true signs of global warming, the gulf oil spill and resources we can all use from the National Wildlife Federation. The post 034 GGW – NWF’s Naturalist, David Mizejewski, Part 2 of 2 appeared first on Growing A Greener World®.

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/joelampl/033GGW.mp3] Click the Arrow to Listen Now If you love the topics surrounding this podcast series, you'll love this conversation with National Wildlife Federation's David Mizejewski. He's the host and co-producer of Animal Planet's Backyard Habitat and he is everywhere in the media. Today, he's ours for not one but two conversations that you don't want to miss. In this podcast, David talks about some of the true signs of global warming, the gulf oil spill and resources we can all use from the National Wildlife Federation. The post 033 GGW – NWF’s Naturalist, David Mizejewski, Part 1 of 2 appeared first on Growing A Greener World®.

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/joelampl/033GGW.mp3] Click the Arrow to Listen Now If you love the topics surrounding this podcast series, you’ll love this conversation with National Wildlife Federation’s David Mizejewski. He’s the host and co-producer of Animal Planet’s Backyard Habitat and he is everywhere in the media. Today, he’s ours for not one but two conversations that you don’t want to miss. In this podcast, David talks about some of the true signs of global warming, the gulf oil spill and resources we can all use from the National Wildlife Federation. The post 033 GGW – NWF’s Naturalist, David Mizejewski, Part 1 of 2 appeared first on Growing A Greener World®.

Join hosts Nancy & Lisa (BigBlendMagazine.com Editors) as they discuss Eminent Domain with Jeff Benedict – one of America's top investigative journalists, and author of ‘A Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage’.On a lighter note, we'll learn how to create a bird & butterfly garden with Steve Castorani – co-creator of the American Beauties Native Plant® brand, plus David Mizejewski - naturalist, author & representative for the National Wildlfe Federation; Garden Design Guru & Best-selling Garden Author - Tracy DiSabato-Aust; and 'Southwest Garden Goddess' - Doreen Pollack of Down 2 Earth Gardens.

Join hosts Nancy & Lisa (BigBlendMagazine.com Editors) as they discuss Eminent Domain with Jeff Benedict – one of America's top investigative journalists, and author of ‘A Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage’.On a lighter note, we'll learn how to create a bird & butterfly garden with Steve Castorani – co-creator of the American Beauties Native Plant® brand, plus David Mizejewski - naturalist, author & representative for the National Wildlfe Federation; Garden Design Guru & Best-selling Garden Author - Tracy DiSabato-Aust; and 'Southwest Garden Goddess' - Doreen Pollack of Down 2 Earth Gardens.

Join hosts Nancy & Lisa (BigBlendMagazine.com editors) as they get DIY tips from Hunky HGTV carpenters 'Team Two Times' - Marcus Hunt & Russ Hemmis, and 'The Junk Hunk' - Jared Walker Dostie. Learn how to create a Backyard Habitat to attract birds, bats & butterflies, with special guests: Richard Weddle - Liberty Science Center, NJ; Susanna Reppert-Brill - The Rosemary House, PA; and Betty Pillsbury - Green Spiral Herbs, NY.

Join hosts Nancy & Lisa (BigBlendMagazine.com editors) as they get DIY tips from Hunky HGTV carpenters 'Team Two Times' - Marcus Hunt & Russ Hemmis, and 'The Junk Hunk' - Jared Walker Dostie. Learn how to create a Backyard Habitat to attract birds, bats & butterflies, with special guests: Richard Weddle - Liberty Science Center, NJ; Susanna Reppert-Brill - The Rosemary House, PA; and Betty Pillsbury - Green Spiral Herbs, NY.