Native Landscaping for Wildlife and People
by Lorna Domke
A reporter recently told me that the word “landscaping” appeals more to people today than “gardening” because it sounds like less work. I doubt that was on author Dave Tylka’s mind when he wrote the book “Native Landscaping for Wildlife and People” in 2002. But judging by the great new information on taking care of native plants, and the addition of more easily found natives on the list of gardeners’ choices, it looks like this newly revised book from the Missouri Department of Conservation definitely has “easier” in mind.
Of course, nature doesn’t always respond in picture-perfect ways. The purple coneflowers I planted at the front of my garden are tall and flopping over, not standing perfectly like the ones on the book cover. I love those charts, though, that include tips on how each plant helps wildlife, what’s special about it, what sun/soil conditions it needs. It’s not as easy as putting plastic flowers around the yard (something a friend’s neighbor did), but planting perennials once that last for years of blooms isn’t as tough as adding new annuals each year. (If you want to see more information on particular native plants, you can also go to our Grow Native! website.)
The subtitle of the book is “How to use native Midwestern plants to beautify your property and benefit wildlife.” The 182 colorful pages help you do just that for $18 (plus sales tax and shipping where applicable). The books are available online, at our nature centers or by phone toll free at 877-521-8632.
One last note. After hearing about the distinction between “landscaping” and “gardening,” I’m curious what you think. Does one word appeal more than the other? Is it because it suggests more work or something else?
July 1st, 2009 at 5:49 am
I love to know about wild life and if I have free time then I watch discovery channel to improve wild life knowledge.
Thanks for sharing nice article.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:33 pm
“Gardening”, to me, is for my vegetables. When I plant trees, shrubs & flowers, it “landscaping”.
Thanks, I don’t comment much, but always enjoy your writings.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Personally, from a landscapers point of view. Landscaping means work, edging, moving boulders, mulching, etc. Gardening to me is, picking weeds, watering, feeding, etc.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:44 am
hey, this is a great read indeed. but what exactly is landscaping for wildlife worth? people will eventually destroy it any day, so…
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Thanks so much for leading me into temptation – I just received my order of 5 books today, including Native Landscaping that I started out looking at.
July 5th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Just bought this book a few weeks ago and have found it to be very helpful in my planning. I am anxious to bring some native plants into my yard, but I think “landscaping for wildlife” is a sort of oxymoron. My constant war with deer in my vegetable garden leads me to think the moment I landscape for wildlife, the wildlife will eat my landscape!
July 8th, 2009 at 2:17 am
THANKS FOR SHARING!
AND A GREEN WORLD IS SO MUCH IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE FUTURE LIFE!!!!!
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:49 am
Pictures or photographs is not natural. But pictures speak a thousand words. It can touch our feelings and stir our minds. I appreciate gardening and landscaping by the pictures I see around. Thanks for the inspiration.
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Great article, its good to someone is thinking of the environment.
July 25th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I purchased this book to help witht he creation of my crafts which are created from nature and wild life. Terrific book if anyone is still on the fence for buying.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:14 am
People are lazy, but I think lanscaping sounds more serious and thats why people like to say it.
August 18th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
good job…nice blog…keep update…im still waiting
August 28th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I encourage as much wildlife into my garden as I can. For me the garden is just not alive if there are no birds, insects, hedgehogs, frogs etc.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:21 am
That is such a beautiful bird!
September 10th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Nice Article. Thanks for the information about the book. It sounds like a good one. FYI My cone flowers are tall and leaning over too.
As far as planting goes, I plant nothing but perennials. Its so much easier. If I find annuals that I just can’t live without, I’ll plant them in a container or hanging basket and just reuse the container next year for the same purpose.
Landscaping to me means more structural or bigger changes where as gardening means planting fruits, vegetables and flowers. I guess landscaping does sound like more work.
September 24th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Thanks a bunch My wife was looking for something just like this. She says thanks too
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Yes landscaping appeals much more to me than gardening. Gardening seems to me to be about only a small part of the land, but landscaping brings to mind a much broader picture in my mind like the open view of a mountain range or a beautiful lake.
October 26th, 2009 at 12:42 am
To me ‘gardening’ refers more to the actual labor of pulling weeds, digging holes and the likes. ‘Landscaping’ refers to the big picture, sort of like the sum of all ‘gardening’. Just my 2 cents…
November 13th, 2009 at 1:12 am
Landscaping easier than gardening? What does their landscaping consist of?
when I thing landscaping I thing mowing, weed whacking around the fence, tress, pool and deck. bagging the clippings and edging.
No way, landscaping is way more work.
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I fully agree: landscaping is far more work than gardening when done right.
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:10 am
To me gardening is a hobby that you enjoy doing, while landscaping is more like the ‘commercial’ business of gardening.