Gardening is for the birds

The cats who run the house demanded more entertainment and I obliged them with a bird feeder a couple of years ago. The feeder provided the desired kitty entertainment but not without a few problems. It was very popular among the pigeon population, who brought their domination and left their mess. With a bit of browsing on that interweb thingy, I found that pigeons and doves are less likely to eat black oil sunflower seeds and using this feed might give the smaller, more desirable birds a chance to entertain the kitties and their bipedal companions.

I made the switch, and it might have worked. There has been no pigeon activity at the feeder, and very little dove activity compared with last year, but that might be because a pair of doves is nesting in the nearby tree and is keeping these larger birds away. Meanwhile, finches and sparrows are enjoying the sunflower seeds. These little guys must have been absent the day “eat like a bird” was taught in avian kindergarten.

Because all five of the mammalian occupants of the house enjoy birdwatching, I decided to expand on the feeder idea by planting a wildlife garden in the southeast corner of the house. To the right is the before photo; a somewhat weedy area with heavy clay soil that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. I have chosen mostly native plants for this garden because they are the most appealing to the area wildlife.

Texas Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) isn’t really red and isn’t really a yucca. It is a south Texas native, however, so we can credit whoever gave this plant its common name with one out of three. Hummingbirds enjoy its coral pink flowers, and its grass-like evergreen foliage adds interest to the garden even when it is not blooming.

Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) isn’t really a sage, but it is a Texas native, so this namer gets credit for one out of two*. The lavender flowers of this plant are also a magnet for hummingbirds and other pollinators and its gray-green foliage should contrast nicely with the darker leaves of the Texas not-Red not-Yucca.

The final plant (for now), catmint (Nepeta x faassenii), is a favorite among insect pollinators like butterflies and bees. Like the not-Yucca and not-Sage it is tolerant of clay soil and some afternoon shade**. Unlike these other two, it is not native and is potentially invasive. I will probably regret this choice, but who can say no to hallucinogenic compounds.***

My plan also calls for a yellow flowering plant, probably a coreopsis. A few of these plants were available at the nursery, but all were in poor condition, and not worth their full price. I may also add an ornamental grass, but am not sure at this point.



The plan is rounded off with a low-budget birdbath, made of a plant stand, a camping plate, and a flat rock. With food sources from the new plants and the existing feeder, cover from the new plants and the existing pine tree, and water from the birdbath, this area already meets all the basic requirements for a habitat garden.

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* Baseball players would love to hit as well as these namers name.
** Technically, the Texas Sage should be planted in full sun, but I have seen it growing well in part shade in my area.
*** It's only hallucinogenic in cats.