The Super Naturalist Path

When you imagine your property in perfect condition- what do you see?

Some homeowners see a pristine lawn, weeded flower beds in an environment with no insects. Others see their property as a thriving ecosystem where nature rewards the homeowner with bursts of seasonal color and wildlife activity that replaces the need for insecticides and chemical fertilizers.

The good news? There is a path to achieving both these visions!

The purpose of this blog is to create converts! When property owners redefine their backyard as a wildlife habitat or an eco-system, their choice of plants and how they are grown is the first step in attracting local wildlife to their yard.

This campaign is an uphill battle. Our culture supports separating homeowners from nature:

We call our native plants "weeds."

• Joe Pye Weed

• Butterfly Weed

• Milkweed

We call our native caterpillars "worms."

• Cabbage Worms

• Tomato Hornworms

• Parsley Worms

All “bugs” are bad

• Challenge: Do a web search on "insect." What is the first information offered?

Take heart, despite these headwinds; the backyard naturalist movement is gaining traction! People are fascinated with nature but are unaware of their backyard potential for supporting a fully functioning ecosystem. It is much easier than you think. Whether you have ten acres or a tenth of an acre- a little info and a nudge and you are on the path!

We will explore the Super-Naturalist path from the ground up in the next few posts.

A red-bellied woodpecker visits my yard.