Plant it, and they will come! 

The plants in our yards and gardens support a wonderful array of life. A healthy, functioning landscape is made of tall mature trees, evergreen trees, small flowering and fruiting trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, lawn, and meadow. Home landscapes harbor a diverse population of life, from the worms and grubs in the soil to the birds in the trees. And it is all connected! Robins feed on the worms and flickers feed on the grubs. In autumn, as the days grow shorter, some plants produce seeds wrapped in pulp; these fruits will sustain the bird populations throughout the winter. You can know where we are on the calendar by observing what time of year these fruits are ripe enough for the birds to feed on. In February, for example, the cedar waxwings and robins are feeding on hawthorn berries, but the holly berries are still on the trees.

Here are a few of our favorite trees and shrubs that sustain our fine feathered friends in winter:

SHRUBS

Aroniaarbutifolia – Chokeberry

Cornussericea–Red osierdogwood

Ilex verticillata  – Winterberry holly

Ilex glabra – Inkberry holly

Juniperus species – Junipers

Lindera benzoin –  Female spicebush

Myricapensylvanica – Bayberry

Symphoricarpos species – Coral and snowberry

Taxus species – Yews

Viburnum species – Viburnums

TREES

Cornusflorida – American dogwood

Cornusalternifolia – Pagoda dogwood

Cratagusspecies – Hawthorns

Ilex opaca – Female American holly

Malusspecies – Crabapples

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2016 newsletter – John B. Ward & Co. Timely Tree Tips