What we can do for the world and a better yard
The two greatest threats to native species around the world are 1) habitat loss, and 2) invasive non-native species.  Even though we often feel helpless to make a difference in the world, we can all make a huge difference simply by what we do in our yards.

Simplify, beautify your yard and life: To increase wildlife habitat in your yard, you can reduce your lawn area each year and replace it with native plants.  The initial investment of time and money to reduce lawn area will be more than offset by no longer having to mow or water your yard.  Native plants can attract between 10 and 50 times as many wildlife species as most non-native plants.  Visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, or join the Native Plant Society to learn more about our huge variety of native plants in Central Texas.  The Wildflower Center has plant sales in the Spring and Fall.  Dates of the sales can be found on their web site, www.wildflower.org, in addition to complete information and a photo of each native plant.  The information for each plant includes wildlife benefits (berries for birds, nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds, larval food plants for butterflies) and also lists the light requirements and deer resistance of each plant.  Natives do not require supplemental water after helping them get started during the first year. Blackfoot Daisy is one example of the many perennial native plants you can enjoy in your central Texas garden, with flowers nearly all year that will attract tiny butterflies such as hairstreaks, blues, and sulphurs.  You can help to "grow" butterflies by planting their larval food plants in your garden.

Help to reduce habitat loss in your community: Vegetation adjacent to waterways provides valuable wildlife habitat.  What may look like a brushy, weedy area may actually be prime habitat for wildlife, especially if it is near water. Dragonflies (click here for my dragonfly photographs) love to perch on dead vegetation, and birds are better able to hide from predators and find insects in tall vegetation.  Vegetation along channels and lakes also improves water quality and acts as a buffer zone for the water body.  Unfortunately, cities often receive calls from residents asking them to mow down this critical waterside habitat.  Cities will tell you that requests for more mowing often come from residents who fear snakes near waterways.  Snakes are not going to be eliminated by mowing the waterside vegetation, but mowing may eliminate habitat of prey species such as birds, frogs, lizards, and other creatures along our waterways, which in turn may reduce the snake population that feeds on those creatures.  Eliminating wildlife habitat is probably not the intention of people who call cities with concerns about snakes, so you can help by educating your neighbors about habitat value of vegetation near waterways.  Creatures that live around this vegetation are well-hidden and often very small, so people may not realize how many hundreds of creatures live there.  If you want to help preserve wildlife, please contact your City and other responsible entities and let them know of your concerns.

Bugs keep our yards healthy:  At first it may be hard for some people to change their paradigm regarding bugs in the garden.  Not all insects are blessed with physical beauty, and some are surrounded by myths and bad press, especially from the pesticide industry.  There are nearly 800 species of butterflies, 5000 species of native bees, and 11,000 species of moths in the United States, and you can attract hundreds of these and other insects to your yard.  Insects are the primary food source for all wildlife, including frogs, toads, lizards, birds, and even other insects, such as dragonflies.  Many species of birds do not eat seeds from feeders, but can be attracted to your yard by providing a small water source like a birdbath or pond.  They’ll also enjoy feasting on insects in your yard, especially if they are nesting in your yard and feeding their young.

Keep alive the wildlife you have:  Few people are aware that chemicals from home lawns are one of the primary reasons for water quality impairment of downstream rivers and lakes, and of course your backyard pond.  Even synthetic fertilizers cause harm, since they result in excessive vegetation in streams and lakes, where dissolved oxygen then drops in the night-time hours, causing the death of aquatic organisms and fish. It is important to minimize use of pesticides and herbicides, as these chemicals will harm the wildlife you are trying to attract.  Pesticides are estimated to kill far more than 50 million birds per year.  Wildlife passing through a chemically treated yard not only absorb chemicals directly, but they ingest the chemicals by eating poisoned plants and insects, and then may retreat to a secluded area to die.  Granular pesticides are particularly dangerous to birds, who mistakenly ingest the granules thinking they are food or small rocks that aid in digestion.  Even 3-5 granules of diazinon will kill a bird.  Pesticides and herbicides also mix with rainwater or are carried with particles down to streams and lakes, where countless aquatic organisms are killed.  One U.S. study found that even if only 4% of homes used diazinon at the recommended rate of application, the level of the chemical found in the stream collecting the rainwater from the neighborhood exceeded the concentration known to be lethal to aquatic organisms.  Sale of diazinon for home lawn use will be prohibited by the EPA after Dec 31, 2003.  You can help to save wildlife now by not using outdoor pesticides, and buying organic food will make you feel good by knowing pesticides weren't used to make your food, saving the lives of many creatures.

Humans often feel the desire to help plants that are being attacked by insects, but relationships between plants, insects, and other wildlife have been established over millions of years.  Humans often do more harm than good, although our intentions may be good.  Simply waiting a few weeks and giving time for beneficial insects and birds to find their food source is often all that is needed.  Caterpillars and other insects that feed on leaves will make plants look less than perfect in our eyes, but allowing nature to exist with minimal human intervention can lead to wonderful things, such as the butterflies and moths that caterpillars will become.  Birds will also come to your yard to gather caterpillars, grasshoppers, and other insects to feed their young babies.  If you have a plant that cannot survive without pesticides, it is probably in the wrong location and you can just let it die and replace it with an appropriate native plant better suited to the conditions of that location.

Invasive plants damage wildlife and native plants:  Even though many non-native plants can also provide food and shelter for wildlife, some of these plants may be spread into natural areas, outcompeting native species.  For example, the chinaberry tree can now be found throughout central Texas.  Some of the other “worst-offenders” in our area include nandina, red-tipped photinia, chinese tallow, and wax leaf ligustrum.  Water hyacinth, giant duckweed, and salvinia are some of the water plants that you are prohibited to possess in the state of Texas for just these reasons.

Most importantly, enjoy your habitat:  You might start out by simply walking more slowly from the car into the house when you arrive home each day.  Spend a few minutes each day to let your eyes follow an insect flying quickly past.  When it lands you may find it is a tiny butterfly or interesting native bee.  Following a butterfly until dusk can reveal the location it chooses to stop at for the night.  Children will find endless hours of entertainment once introduced to the exciting and diverse species that will come to your habitat.  Make it your goal each year to expand an existing bed or add one new bed of native plants.  Within a few short years, your yard will be transformed into a habitat for wildlife, and your mowing and watering chores will cease to exist.  You can also have your habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation or the Texas Wildscapes program.

Another recent article I wrote: Local Organic Farming and Living “Reconnecting with the Earth”
Or you can also read my garden habitat journal

Central Texas Butterflies (under construction) All photos Copyright 2001/2002 Jenny Rasmussen	Larval Host plants  (Source:  USGS or Wildflower Center unless noted)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) female (dark form):	Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana) Mexican Plum has white flowers in early spring that attract many butterfly species, in addition to being a larval food plant for the Tiger Swallowtail. Note this is also an excellent small tree to attract birds for the fruit.  (It is an excellent alternative to the non-native Bradford pear which is commonly planted in our area) Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) - larger tree also great for birds!
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) male:	parsley dill Rutaceae family: Dutchman’s breeches (Thamnosma texana)
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)	Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Antelope-horns (Asclepias asperula) Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Most milkweeds contain cardiac glycosides which are stored in the bodies of both the caterpillar and adult. These poisons are distasteful and emetic to birds and other vertebrate predators. These milkweeds will almost always get aphids.  Please do NOT use any insecticides, which will kill the beneficial insects like ladybugs that come to eat the aphids, and the butterfly larva you are trying to attract.  If it really bothers you, spray a strong stream of water from your garden hose on the plant, which will knock many of the aphids off the plants.
Queen (Danaus gilippus)	Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Antelope-horns (Asclepias asperula) Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
American Snout	hackberries
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)	Gulf Frittilary butterflies will come lay their eggs on various passionvine species including: Corona de Cristo (Passiflora foetida) Bracted passionflower (Passiflora affinis) Don't worry when the caterpillars eat most of the leaves of these native passionvines.  A natural garden is one that is being used and is full of life.  If you use pesticides, these larva will never live to transform into beautiful butterflies.
Variegated Fritillary	Corona de Cristo (Passiflora foetida) Bracted passionflower (Passiflora affinis)
Julia (Dryas julia)	Various passionvine species including: Yellow Passionflower (passiflora lutea)
Zebra (Heliconius charithonius)	Various passionvine species including: Yellow Passionflower (passiflora lutea) Bracted passionflower (Passiflora affinis)
Mexican Fritillary (Euptoieta hegesia)	Passion-vines (Passiflora), native morning glories (Convolvulaceae)
Theona Checkerspot (Thessalia theona)	Purple sage, cenizo, barometer bush (Leucophyllum frutescens)
Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)	Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Straggler Daisy source book: Texas Wildscapes ZexmeniaWedelia texana (Zexmenia hispida) has yellow flowers May-Nov
White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)	Wild petunia (Ruellia nudiflora) Texas frogfruit Phyla nodiflora (P. incisa)
Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana)	Flame acanthus Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (A. wrightii)
Crimson Patch (Chlosyne janais)	Flame acanthus Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (A. wrightii)
Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon)	Texas frogfruit Phyla nodiflora (P. incisa)
Little Yellow feeding at Prairie Fleabane Click here for more pictures of the little yellow, including pictures of it hanging for the night.	Cassias, possilby including: Lindheimer's senna, Puppy-dog ears Two-leaved senna   Texas Bluebonnet
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) feeding at Blackfoot Daisy	Palafoxia (Palafoxia callosa)
Dusky-blue Groundstreak (Calycopis isobeon)	Dead leaves and fruits, and detritus, especially under trees in the Anacardiaceae family: native examples in this region include smoke tree and desert sumac.
Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)	Black cherry (Prunus serotina) identified as larval food by UT Austin TMMSH
Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici) at Texas Redbud	Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora)  Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana)  Redbud (Cercis)
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) at Blackfoot Daisy	Wide variety, including legumes, mallows, etc. Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana) Winecup(Callirhoe involucrata)  Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Reakirt's Blue perched on lace cactus	legumes: mesquite
Ceraunus Blue (female) on a larval host plant	Scarlet Pea Indigofera miniata (caterpillar 1 day old) Click here for more pictures
Rawson's Metalmark (Calephelis rawsoni)	White mistflower, Shrubby boneset Ageratina havanensis (Eupatorium havanense) Gregg's mistflower Conoclinium greggii (Eupatorium greggii)
Question Mark	hackberries cedar elm
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)	Nettle family
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)	Larval foods include: Wild petunia (Ruellia nudiflora) Drummond's wild petunia (Ruellia drummondiana) Texas frogfruit Phyla nodiflora (P. incisa) 3-5inches high, evergreen groundcover in warm years, tiny white flowers May-Oct Snapdragon vine Maurandella antirrhiniflora (Maurandya antirrhiniflora) Most vines are too large for a small trellis or a hanging basket, but this one will stay smaller.  (violet-purple flowers Mar-Sept)
Viceroy	willows
Tawny Emperor	hackberries
Swarthy Skipper (Nastra lherminier)	little bluestem
Funereal Duskywing	legumes
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiacus)	various grasses such as sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)
Green Skipper (Hesperia viridis)	various grasses such as buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides)
Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan)	various grasses including big bluestem
Sickle-winged Skipper (Achlyodes tamenund)	Trees in the citrus family (Rutaceae)
Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)	oaks
Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)	oaks
Laviana White-Skipper (Heliopetes laviana)	Various mallows including globemallows (Sphaeralcea), Sidas (Sida), and Abutilon.
Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus)	Several mallows including globemallows (Sphaeralcea)
Common Checkered-Skipper	Mallow family Velvet-leaf mallow Allowissadula holosericea (Wissadula holosericea)  Indian mallow, Pelotazo (Abutilon incanum)

Sphinx Moths	Larval Host plants  (Sources:  USGS Moths of Texas )
Snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)	Honeysuckle family: example Coral-berry
White-lined sphinx (Hyles lineata)	Great variety of host plants, including elm, grape, and many others.

Nectar Plants for Adult Butterflies (natives for Central Texas)
Blue mistflower  1'-3' perennial groundcover or border plant with lavender blue flowers
Gregg's mistflower 1'-2' blooms March-Nov
Prairie goldenrod yellow blooms in Sept-Oct, good near autumn sage and gayfeather
Bitterweed evergreen perennial that blooms in winter Sept-June (lots of butterflies need nectar then too!)
Texas greeneyes yellow flowers Apr-Nov, good near native grasses
Blackfoot Daisy (one of my all-time favorite plants)
Damianita short evergreen shrub with small yellow flowers Apr-Sept
Cherry Sage, Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)
Big red sage (Salvia penstemonoides)
Cedar sage (Salvia roemeriana) needs full to partial shade
Lyre-leaf sage (Salvia lyrata) evergreen ground cover for shade in sand or loam
Pitcher sage Salvia azurea var. grandiflora (Salvia pitcheri) blue flowers Sept-Nov
Blue sage (Salvia texana)
Snake herb (Dyschoriste linearis) blooms April-Oct, perennial groundcover w/ purple flowers
Skeleton-plant (Lygodesmia texana) 1'-2' high, purple flowers April-Aug
Prairie Fleabane (Erigeron modestus) 1' high, white flowers April-Oct
Prairie Phlox (Phlox pilosa) 6"-18" high, blooms Mar-May
Texas Lantana Lantana urticoides (L. horrida)
Mealy blue sage (Salvia farinacea)
Golden groundsel groundcover for shade, beautiful yellow flowers in early spring
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Slender rosinweed
Bush sunflower
Cowpen daisy
Woolly ironweed
Texas frogfruit Phyla nodiflora (P. incisa) 3-5inches high (groundcover evergreen in warm years), tiny white blooms May-Oct
Texas gold columbine (Aquilegia sp.) shade plant, evergreen 1'-3' high, flowers Feb-May
Small trees:
Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)
Texas Redbud
...Most flowering plants and trees are utilized by a variety of adult butterflies, so they are not all listed on this site.  Please consider using native plants, which will attract large numbers of native butterflies and other species to your garden, bringing it to life!  For native plant lists detailing which will provide food for adult butterflies in Central Texas, visit the complete Wildflower Center plant listing with pictures.

Some plants and shrubs/trees for Birds in Central Texas
Fragrant Sumac (berries for birds)
Evergreen Sumac (berries for birds)
Agarita (evergreen shrub/cover plant, with berries for birds)
Chile pequin (mockingbirds love these little native peppers, use them in your cooking too instead of jalapeños)
Elderberry (fruits for birds, you can also use it to make jelly or wine)
Black-eyed Susan (seeds for birds)
Slender rosinweed (seeds for birds)
Bush sunflower (seeds for birds)
Dewberry (berries for birds and jelly for yourself)
Barbados Cherry (berries for birds, semi-evergreen shrub for shade)
Wax Myrtle (evergreen border or screening plant with berries for birds)
American Beautyberry (mockingbirds love these berries, beautiful understory shrub)

Vines for birds:
Mustang Grape
Virginia Creeper (berries for birds)

Small trees for birds:
Texas Persimmon (fruits for birds)
Mexican Plum (fruits for birds)
Yaupon Holly (berries and nesting sites for birds due to nice dense branching)
Possumhaw Holly (loses leaves in winter while berries cover tree)
Flame-leaf Sumac (berries for birds)
Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum

Large trees for birds:
Oaks
Cedar elm (nesting sites)
Black Cherry (fruits loved by birds)
Hackberry
Juniper
Note:  all of the plants listed for butterflies also help birds, because many birds rely on a strict diet of insects, or a mixed diet that includes insects.

Nectar Plants for Hummingbirds:
Cherry Sage, Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)
Mountain sage (Salvia regla) plant in part shade
Big red sage (Salvia penstemonoides)
Flame Acanthus
Scarlet Penstemon
Red Yucca
Turk's Cap
Red Buckeye
Rose Mallow
Texas Lantana
Mealy blue sage
Coral Honeysuckle (vine)
Trumpet Creeper (vine)
Cross Vine
... and many others

Top 10 list for Bird-Friendly Living
(American Bird Conservancy)
10) Plan your yard for diversity (make it your goal to reduce your lawn area by at least 50%)
(tall trees, understory trees, shrubs, nectar plants, native grasses).
9) Use Native Species (no pesticides or watering needed since they're adapted to the region).
8) Allow the "back 40" to become a little scruffy (e.g. piles of branches or overgrown native bushes and vines).
7) Hang milar strips or place feeders on large windows
(note: place feeders only if you don't spray pesticides)
6) Donate your old binoculars
5) Drink shade grown coffee
4) Reach out (tell neighbors about bird issues such as the toxicity of pesticides to birds)
3) Provide birds with food, water, and shelter
2) Please don't use pesticides (e.g. diazinon kills birds even when used as directed).
1) Please keep your cat indoors.
(read about how easily my outdoor cats became indoor cats)

This list should get you started with Frogwatch in Central Texas, and all you have to learn is the frog sounds, so don't worry about actually trying to find the frogs!
For a full list of Texas frogs and frog sounds, visit the UT Herps of Texas web site.

 

Links	Notes
Texas Gardening Sites	Especially useful to Texans.
Kid's Gardening Sites	Once again, mostly Texas sites.
My favorite Texas Gardening Books	...with links to Amazon.com to purchase on-line
Favorite Home Page sites	A few of my favorite web pages by individual gardeners.

Thanks for visiting, and Happy Gardening !!!!

This Texas Gardening Web Ring site owned by Jenny Rasmussen.

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