Splendor of Biodiversity

I fell in love with gardening years ago.
It all began when I planted my first cherry tree. From thereon, my passion grew as did my garden. From the beginning my focus was on local biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
I completed some horticulture courses with a professor from the Botanical Gardens and began getting informed about the wonders of biodiversity and its importance within our ecosystem. My professor has also taught me to use quality products as biological, healthy earth and compost for my garden and mini vegetable garden.
I eventually came across the Space for Life certificate, and was eager to participate.
Certification would be an honor as well as a great way to generate awareness about local biodiversity. Maybe even igniting others to participate.
I have had the privilege of observing local wildlife take hold within my garden, from the magical fireflies, to bees and butterfies, to birds and humming birds, to red tail foxes. I have also seeded many milkweed plants last Fall within my echinaceas and a lot of them are now growing - they should bloom and get much bigger by next year. I have also included various native plants from Virgina Creepers to the Lobelia Cardinalis, Gaultheria procumbens, to strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, oregano and parsley to Mondarda Fistulosa, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, Hedysarum alpinum, and more to seeding solely white clover every year in my lawn. We have 7 beautiful Maple trees altogether located in the front and side part of the yard together with Clethra Aln. Ruby Spice. The approach has been 'build/create it and they will come', and they have! We also have a bird bath and our back neighbors have at least 5-6 bird feeders and wishing to add more. The birds continously fly from our yard to theirs as if it were a "bird spa". I add suet cages in the winter time. Our most recent addition of a bat-house awaits its new residence.
Besides an authentic connection to the earth, gardening has been a source of artistic inspiration as well as relaxation. A sense of renewal with every spring, and never a dull moment.