My Garden (Side Yard)

[Ross]

Thank you Barbara, for starting something. I would be interested in seeing overall views of the situations people must deal with while, at the same time, growing orchids. To add a third thread to what you started ---

I set out to create a natural environment for wildlife spp while staying within the constraints of an urban environment (landscape codes, etc.) I served for a while on the Planning Board and had the opportunity to get the City of Cadillac to allow natural landscaping as an alternative to cultured lawns, high water usage, high pesticide and fertilizer run-off, etc. The images below are my contribution to this effort. City codes have been changed to encourage this form of landscaping and it has become very popular here.

My side yard was planted using mostly plant materials native to Michigan. The only exceptions were a few overstory shrubs (such as Persian Lilacs) and some of the decorative grasses (mostly from Japan.)

First an overview --

This is how my yard looks from the street

The signage I am allowed to post stating this is a certified backyard wildlife environment.

There is a water feature (of course) with a small pre-formed pond. This was the hardest element to deal with. Large ponds like Barbara's require much less attention per gallon than small ponds like this, but I had no choice (no room). Next to the pond (to the left in the images) is a specially constructed wetland. For this I dug out 3+ feet of soil and lined the hole with pond liner material to create a wetland. I imported native soil from a local wetland and planted Cardinal Flower, Great Blue Lobelia and 2 forms of native blue Iris. The pond vegetation is native Michigan (yellow flag iris, cattails, fragrant white waterlilies, etc.) There are usually 2-3 goldfish in the pond for Kid's interests. As a side note, I introduce "feeder" goldfish then winter them over in my aquarium (the pond frezes solid in winter) then place them back in the spring. After 2 seasons they have outgrown my facilities so I take them to a local pond place and release them to live the rest of their lives.

This is a better overview of the yard in early fall when it is at it's best! Vegetation is pretty solid, yet controlled and not just a "jungle".

In order to grow "normal" garden crops, I must resort to techniques that others may seem strange. For instance to grow tomatoes I use very large pots on the deck and get red tomatoes as early as June! This may seem like no biggy for those in the south, but for us northerners (or snowbirds) it is a big deal. The planter to the right in the image holds Swiss Chard, Summer Savory, Leaf Lettuce and Raddishes.

Sweet Bell Peppers are grown in a half-barrel with a liner designed for "ponds" (another adventure I tried on my deck).

The rewards of this type of landscaping? Firstly, I use very little fertilizers (I use more on my orchids than on the entire outside landscape!) and I use no pesticides. Second I get to photograph wildlife that others seldom see:

All of these images taken from my computer-room window.

I encourage anyone that has the desire to research the plants of the area and consider landscaping using native materials.

[Barbara]

That is absolutly wonderful, and more people need to do this. It is amazing how much wild life will come into a small town yard if you just invite them. Over the years we have seen so many different species of song birds some through. We do have cardinals who come to the feeders everyday and scavange for insects in the gardens. We also put out niger seed for the goldfinches, and the chickadees will almost perch on you shoulder, they are so tame. We have also seem some have a type of weasle moving throughout the garden in the evenings, I suspect that it lives under the garage since we often smell dead things in that area. All the stray cats live in fear, not to mention the voles.

[Ross]

Nice thing here is the Bergamot is attractive in summer and VERY attracting to goldfinches (and other small seed birds that would otherwise go to niger seed).

[Tindomul]

WOW! Amazing! I love it. If I ever own a home, I will remember your house!!!! Thanks for sharing. I think you've done your good deed to Mother Earth for the day!!

[terrestrial_man]

Thanks for sharing what you have done for the wild things in your part of the world!

I knew there were others out there in the world who appreciated the diversity of life!
Here I am in a field of monotony of little boxes all lined up with manicured lawns and little creative landscaping. Of course my rather untended look of Evening Primroses, wild Geraniums, Sonchus, and assorted "weeds" only seemed to have raised the eyebrows of those who pass. So I deal with the disapproval and the occasional comments with "Hey I like it like this!!!!" but little do the human crowd know nor little do they seem to appreciate that little blue winged butterfly or hear the sound of a hummingbird as it floats just inches away from me nor do the humans recognize the chirp of a Common Yellowthroat nor that of the Bush Tits as they sweep from bush to tree to bush. While the croaking of the California Tree Frogs have vanished from my yard, the occasional cricket can be heard in the warmth of autumn. I too have and do share in those precious moments of seeing some new visitor that makes me wonder just where did I put my bird book at anyway! But I know that because I was willing to dare to let it go and to try something not in the vein of plasticity that I have had the memories of seeing a young Night Heron having found my backyard to hide behind the growth of cattails and to munch on my few goldfish after having lost its way during the violent storms of winter only to discover it (?) years later sitting on my roof with a mate and two youngsters who simply blew my mind in that after all these years that it had remembered those few days of safety. But gone are the American Goldfinches and the Lesser Goldfinches who were common visitors some 25 years ago, feeding upon my growth of Oenothera hookeri (Evening Primrose) as human development has destroyed many of the adjacent wildlands where they found a pathway into the heart of this concrete maze. Definitely relish those moments!!

[Ross]

Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate people who appreciate nature. I just don't understand why people would opt for the manicured lawns and the high maintenance shrubbery and the poisons, when natural landscaping can bring so many benefits. Since I started this project I haven't had one single dandelion, not one single "weed". The only issue I deal with (happily) is the migration of one species of sunflower over to another's space! I have learned much from nature and all this carries over to orchid growing since they, too, are species that have certain requirements. All they ask is for those requirements to be met. Thanks again for the comments.

[Tindomul]

Tman thanks for the statement! I agree with you 100%! I wish I could buy a whole city block and turn it into my own private wild forest.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Tindomul1of9

Tman thanks for the statement! I agree with you 100%! I wish I could buy a whole city block and turn it into my own private wild forest.

I appreciate your comments, Tindo, however, even a little bit, like a balcony, can do its part. People need to realize (sorry for the soapbox) that even the smallest part they play, helps in the end. There are instances in NYC, where certain rare hawks have taken up residence.

[terrestrial_man]

Originally Posted by rsfrid

I appreciate your comments, Tindo, however, even a little bit, like a balcony, can do its part. People need to realize (sorry for the soapbox) that even the smallest part they play, helps in the end. There are instances in NYC, where certain rare hawks have taken up residence.

Yes thanks for the memory. The implantation of hawks in NYC to control pigeons is one example of local government actually acknowledging the reality of a natural order, though its intent is to exploit that order to accomplish a goal to suit human priorities!

But you are definitely right! If more people would share a part of their world with the wild things then perhaps a new perspective of man's relatedness to the natural world would emerge and we could be headed towards a more naturalistic lifestyle on the earth. Just think of the massive civilizations that have come and gone. Big but they left a small imprint on the earth.
Tindo-try growing sprouts or leafy veggies in a flower box. Fresh bits to add to a salad or just as a delectable side to your entree! Every little bit helps!

[Barbara]

Ross, I forgot to mention that I love your design, it's easy to see why the birds love your place. Do you find that the wildlife will get to know you and seem to accept you as part of the woodworks?

And oh ya, lets declare war of grass, at least that's what I'm working on.