Iriscottage's yard this morning

[iriscottage]

Just a few things:


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[ponderer]

NICE!

[lorraine1960]

beautiful  !!!!   lorraine

[Mikey]

I love your big sunflower.  That should brighten up anyone's day!  I see your yard is a certified NWF wildlife habitat.  Good Job!  That huge sunflower will sure feed a lot of birds......and people too....

[iriscottage]

Thanks for the compliments. I love it, despite all the work.
The sunflowers are very cheery.

I just got the cherub planter. It was my Aunts that passed away two years ago. I bought it from my cuz for $50.

[miguynmkoi]

Your yard and garden is huge!!  Beautifully landscaped and planted!

I see your yard is a certified NWF wildlife habitat

I'm interested, what does this mean?

[iriscottage]

Certified NWF wildlife habitat: You need to have the basic elements to sustain wildlife in your yard. Food, water and shelter. This is more simple than you might think. If you already have the garden pond-you are providing water for birds and other critters as well as a place for frogs to breed and live, etc.
Bird feeders, hummingbird feeders, butterfly houses, birdbathes all count.
Flowers for bees, birds and butterflies.
Bushes, trees and other such cover for animals such as rabbits.
You can read more here:
http://insightws.infospace.com/insightweb/ws/results/Web/certfied%20backyard%20wildlife%20habitat/1/0/0/Relevance/iq=true/zoom=off/_iceUrlFlag=7?_IceUrl=true

[iriscottage]

BTW my yard front and back is less than an acre! So you don't have to have a big place to accomplish the certified wildlife habitat.
What you may think is my yard in one photo is the neighbors...I created a living fence between me and one neighbor...it is the photo with the row of sunflowers and other plants. The photo was taken from the side yard looking from his point of view.

[Sunbeam56]

I love the sunflowers, cuphea, and cardinal vine. Wonderful! 

[iriscottage]

Thanks Sunbeam, this is the first time I have grown Cardinal climber, it was started from seed.

[iriscottage]

I don't even know what cuphea is...not sure I have any...There are touch me nots (balsam), hollyhock starts, cannas, hibiscus, butterfly weed, rosemary, knockout roses, lambs ear, tall phlox, mint, spiderwort, sunflowers, glads, dwarf apple tree all in the photos....and other things you can't see too well.

[carver]

does anyone what the plant is just to the right of the trellis in the 3rd picture? I have it here and was going to pull them but like the way the look so I left them.

Thanks

[Mikey]

Looks like a hollyhock to me....

[iriscottage]

yes it is hollyhock

[Julles]

I just read that link.  I didn't realize it was so easy to qualify.  I thought you had to provide shelter for largish animals, like rabbits, etc.  But I realize that birds and fish count, too.  So I think I will go and give it a try.  I wonder if someone comes out to your house and checks to see if you really have what is required?  Or do you do it all by internet?

[iriscottage]

You can apply online and they trust you.
Bushes, shrubs and my flower beds DO provide shelter for bunnies too. We have a resident baby bunny Think overgrowth or cottage style gardening...it gives them places to hide and feel safe. A bluebird house is a splendid idea too. They sometimes will overwinter in it and 4 or 5 will huddle inside.

[bunny56lbc]

Everything is so nice & Green! Looks Great 
 Here everything is turning brown...no rain.

bonnie