Wildscape or landscape
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Alice Cason
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Rewilding is everywhere right now, from beavers and weeds at the Chelsea Flower Show to a national campaign in Great Britain to let nature in and re-wild the country. Ecologists originally used the word rewilding to describe the concept of returning large tracts of farmland to nature, but the essence of the idea is now also being applied in smaller ways to domestic home gardens to attract wildlife. There is an ongoing trend to get rid of our lawns to save water and replace them with native plants that help biodiversity and promote Earth Earth-friendly gardening. Gardens can be a valuable resource for insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals as a place to live, visit, feed, or use as a rest stop.
A pesticide-free garden encourages lots of wildlife.Conventional Gardens
Think of the old definition of a conventional garden: a manicured lawn kept pristine with herbicides and pesticides. Flower beds are rigorously weeded, leaving areas of bare earth to dry out in the sun. Leaf blowers remove natural compost and mulch, and artificial lights come on at night, driving away bats and moths.Earth Friendly Gardens
The Spotted Towhee builds nests in low bushes like this Ceanothus, and eat insects, beetles, and spiders in the leaf litter under the bushes.
Then consider an Earth Friendly Garden. Going pesticide-free brings insects back to the garden. You can have an organic lawn area with lawn alternative plants, which are mown less often and are rich in wildflowers. Instead of digging, lay organic matter on the soil surface as mulch. This garden uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to control pests by selecting the most effective practice that is least harmful to people and the environment. Hedgerows create shrubbery that serves as habitats for birds. Water features attract hummingbirds and dragonflies. Pathways can create walks in the garden for interest and pleasure.Fully Rewilded Gardens
A fully rewilded garden goes a few steps further. It is also a safe and earth-friendly environment for wildlife. The former lawn area is now a meadow of native plants that attract bees and butterflies. Natural mulch forms from fallen leaves. Cherish the use of native plants. Some we have called “weeds” may benefit wildlife visiting. They can be used for egg-laying, nesting, and nourishing many species. A piece of bare earth provides a home for native bees and beetles. There is no light disturbance, and the garden is filled with bats and moths at night. Add a small body of water as an aquatic habitat with shallow edges for easy access. Use a small container or bird bath if you don’t have room for a pond.In a rewilded garden, you can wait until spring to cut down your flowerheads, leaving seedheads of flowers to stand over winter to feed birds and small mammals. Remove the dead stalks just as the new growth shows at the base in early spring.
A ground-level pond is most useful to wildlife. This pond at the Marin Art and Garden Center has rocks, and is ideal for lizards to bathe in the sun.Small gardens combined build wildlife corridors that are important for many species. Even a balcony can be brightened with a few pots of wildflowers, providing nectar in the process. With the right research, you can choose the plants that specifically attract and support pollinators and other insects throughout your garden.
Rethinking how we apply chemicals, how many, what kinds, and when to do it and when not to do it, with the aim of avoiding their use altogether, will make a difference. Rewilding supports biodiversity, conserves water, and creates a sanctuary for wildlife. By making informed choices and taking small steps, you can significantly impact the environment and enjoy a beautiful, thriving garden.
The UC Marin Master Gardeners have plant lists to help homeowners select Earth-Friendly, easy-to-care-for, water-wise, and pollinator-friendly plants. There are lists of species of butterflies and native insects, which form the base of the food chain upon which all wildlife depend.
Photos: Alice Cason
