Late to the party (as usual) - I support NWF, but couldn't see paying to be "certified." (some would say I'm "certifiable", but that's a whole different story...
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Kim, why not think shrubs for your yard? Sun, rather than shade, is definitely not a bad thing... hazelnuts, viburnum, sand cherry, staghorn sumac, red osier dogwood... and then so many things to encourage butterflies -- milkweed, dill and borage come to my mind, but pretty much anything that flowers is a nectar plant. And a water source of some sort is certainly beneficial for birds, butterflies, and all wildlife... I live in the middle of a cedar swamp, near a river and L. Michigan, so that's not a huge concern here, but in many areas it definitely is. Provide nesting materials for birds... cotton balls, dryer lint, dog fur... all the birds in my yard have nests that include collie fur, I'm pretty sure!
Grow it, and they will come! Happy gardening
