Pat Howerton told Dirt Digger Garden Club members of 13 ways to invite desirable wildlife into their gardens at the Nov. 14 meeting at the home of Shirley Robertson.
Pats suggestions included:
1. A butterfly puddler, made of handcrafted stoneware and recycled glass, provides a spot for butterflies to load up on minerals. A shallow well holds sand and rock salt along with a teaspoon of water.
2. A bird feeder with a high-quality mix of seed and bulb nuts.
3. A toad house with a ceramic sanctuary that provides a dark, cool place for toads to hide and escape the hot sun. They will repay your kindness by consuming slugs and harmful bugs.
4. A butterfly feeder. Place a tall butterfly feeder filled with over-ripe fruit or a special nectar-soaked sponge near other blooms in garden.
5. A certified Monarch Waystation. They have seed kits you can get to start your habitat.
6. A hummingbird feeder.
7. A squirrel-deterrent bird feeder.
8. A natural birdhouse.
9. A deck-mounted water bath with an automatic heater.
10. Suspended waterers.
11. A bee house.
12. Spring bulbs.
13. A squirrel spinner.
Pat encouraged members to design their gardens like an artist, drawing strong lines, straight or curved, to define garden beds, paths and patio. Play with perspectives to fool the eye to make spaces look bigger and paths wider.
The next meeting is a Christmas lunch at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 12 at China Palace.
