Hi again Gary,
My back yard is 20 ft deep and about 60 feet wide. I planted my personal favorites (cactus) in one corner and made the rest of my yard into an Alpine garden. I have 3 tiny ponds with gold fish and miniature water lilies (water for the birds), a bog full of American Pitcher plants (the seep for the butterflys and bees). Plants include miniature Butterfly Bush, 2 types of Milkweed, Beebalm, Giant Blazing Star (a native - the birds and bees love it), coneflower, Shasta Daisy, Stonecrop, Lupine, Daylilies, Allium, Liatris, Delphinium, Dainthus, Yarrow, Bleeding Hearts, Columbine, Corral Bells, Fox Glove, Tiger Lilies, Penstemmon, Yucca, Creeping Thyme and Flax.
I play hostess to Robins, Lesser Gold Finch, House Finch, Sparrows, Doves, California Quail, a Raven, a Red Tailed Hawk, an owl, a few cotton tails and squirrels, lizards, mice...
I tried putting up nesting boxes for the finch but they would rather nest in tightly packed shrubs (tall junipers are popular with them).
Did I tell you I live right in the middle of the city? I didn't worry about planting specific plants but concentrated on plants that I know birds and bugs like. The animals don't seem disappointed with my choices.
Daisy
