LECTURE: Gardens for Pollinator and Bird Habitat

Bring more life to your yard by designing for the entire food cycle—from spring blooms to fall and winter berries and seeds. In this image-rich talk, you’ll learn how to create a home garden that supports pollinators and birds throughout the growing season by choosing plants with the right timing, structure, and ecological function.

We’ll discuss why continuous bloom matters, how nighttime pollinators (including moths) play a key role, and why native plant leaves are essential for feeding caterpillars—the “baby food” birds rely on to raise their young. You’ll also learn how to build low-maintenance plant communities, reduce weeds naturally with living mulch, and provide seeds and berries that sustain birds heading into winter.

You’ll leave with a simple, repeatable framework for plant selection and layout, plus starter plant combinations you can use to build a habitat garden that stays beautiful, looks intentional, and supports wildlife from early spring through winter.