rec.gardens.ecosystems homepage -> archive: MOD$020113.13614@rec.gardens.ecosystems



Subject: New to group
From: "junglemom" <edward.scofield@verizon.net>
Organization:
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 02 08:55:22
Message-ID: <MOD$020113.13614@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



This subject looks promising to me. I am interested in developing my yard as
much as possible to be a varied place for many creatures and plants. I live
in Fl. zone 9. When I started out here ,there was only open lawn,over the
past 15y my husband and I have planted fruit trees ,a clumping bamboo that
is now over 40' tall, passionvines, honeysuckle, and jasmines. There are
blackberries and grapes. Many types of butterflyplants.We have palms, and
various types of shrubs, a small fish pond and a rainbarrel.The first few
years ,we saw little in wildlife here,,then there was an explosion!We
started seeing many varieties of birds ,even large groups of cattle egrets
on our fence. Quail, raccoon,and armadillo,along with the squirrels were
coming to our yard daily, even an old gopher tortoise makes the rounds @ the
outer edge of our fence. We have seen the return of hawks from time to time
and I was told the were a rare siting previously. Rats have come too, along
with their predators ,snakes including a rattler or two. And of course their
are insects,lots of them, no pesticide use unless its in a shed or childrens
play area and then only if necessary(rotenone or low residue due to my
asthma), always puttering around , always looking to make improvements. We
worked hard to help this to become an area that is attractive to all of
nature's critters again, Linda