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A review by felinity
Gardening for the Birds: How to Create a Bird-Friendly Backyard by George Adams
5.0
If you live in the U.S. and have any interest in gardening or birds/butterflies, this will be an excellent resource for you. The aim of this book is, as the author says, "to give you the tools to set up a sustainable ecosystem in your own yard" by using native plants and an organic approach, whenever possible.
It's filled with great ideas and useful tips, interspersed with reference information, which range from laying out your garden to picking plants that give year-round interest, food and shelter to a variety of birds and butterflies. There are plenty of well-labeled pictures which make it clear what's being described and entice you into luring those same birds and butterflies to your yard, as well as instructions for building and locating nest boxes or creating your own garden pond. Sun/shade calendar charts make it easy to plan suitable gardens for your region.
For those who are new to their region or just don't yet know that much about birds, it also includes plenty of basic information about feeding and nesting and some clues to help you identify your feathered visitors, while talking about native plants, soil, climate, developing a landscape plan, planting and then caring for your garden.
Part III contains a bird-friendly plant directory, indicating - as well as height, cultivation and zone - which plants are good for nesting, shelter, roosting, butterflies, hummingbirds, fall color and showy flowers, while being full of pictures of the plants as well as the birds they attract and shelter. (It is organized by botanical name, but there is an index at the back of the book for those, like me, who are less familiar with them.)
Part IV is the bird directory, again illustrated with photographs and with the addition of detailed pencil drawings, representing a cross-section of those most likely to be seen in gardens, with information beyond that of basic identification: habitat, migration, breeding behavior, nesting and feeding and the best plants for their food and shelter are all discussed for each one.
Ideal for any bird-lover and gardener, whether amateur or experienced, or even just as a coffee table book for the incredible photographs! Even a relative newcomer to the worlds of gardening or birds will find this encouraging book very accessible, even if all they have to garden is a rooftop area or balcony, as its strength is in keeping that perfect balance between sufficient, comprehensive information and too much detail.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's filled with great ideas and useful tips, interspersed with reference information, which range from laying out your garden to picking plants that give year-round interest, food and shelter to a variety of birds and butterflies. There are plenty of well-labeled pictures which make it clear what's being described and entice you into luring those same birds and butterflies to your yard, as well as instructions for building and locating nest boxes or creating your own garden pond. Sun/shade calendar charts make it easy to plan suitable gardens for your region.
For those who are new to their region or just don't yet know that much about birds, it also includes plenty of basic information about feeding and nesting and some clues to help you identify your feathered visitors, while talking about native plants, soil, climate, developing a landscape plan, planting and then caring for your garden.
Part III contains a bird-friendly plant directory, indicating - as well as height, cultivation and zone - which plants are good for nesting, shelter, roosting, butterflies, hummingbirds, fall color and showy flowers, while being full of pictures of the plants as well as the birds they attract and shelter. (It is organized by botanical name, but there is an index at the back of the book for those, like me, who are less familiar with them.)
Part IV is the bird directory, again illustrated with photographs and with the addition of detailed pencil drawings, representing a cross-section of those most likely to be seen in gardens, with information beyond that of basic identification: habitat, migration, breeding behavior, nesting and feeding and the best plants for their food and shelter are all discussed for each one.
Ideal for any bird-lover and gardener, whether amateur or experienced, or even just as a coffee table book for the incredible photographs! Even a relative newcomer to the worlds of gardening or birds will find this encouraging book very accessible, even if all they have to garden is a rooftop area or balcony, as its strength is in keeping that perfect balance between sufficient, comprehensive information and too much detail.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.