At Dearness Gardens, we welcome all critters great and small into our gardens (except japanese beetles and maybe aphids!), and we encourage you to do the same. We carry an extensive selection of products such as decorative and functional birdhouses, bird feeders, and birdbaths. We carry top USA brand AUDUBON–they have a new line of “Going Green” bird feeders and bird houses made of 90% recycled plastic! To that they have added a line of bamboo houses and feeders–bamboo being a sustainable crop and 5 times stronger than cedar! Check out some of our more unusual items such as adorable toad houses, butterfly houses, bat houses, and recycled glass hummingbird feeders by Parasol. And don’t hesitate to ask a member of our sales staff about plants and flowers (especially natives!) that attract hummingbirds and butterflies–we carry the best selection in the Lake Norman area!
Wildlife Gardening Resources:
Butterflies in Your Backyard: http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/butterflies-in-your-backyard.pdf
Monarch Watch: http://www.monarchwatch.org/garden/
National Audubon Society: http://www.audubon.org/news/bird-friendly-yard
National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/How-to-Attract-Butterflies-to-Your-Garden.aspx
North Carolina Wildlife Federation: http://www.ncwf.org/images/docs/Backyard-Habitat-handout-plant.pdf
North Carolina Native Plant Society: http://www.ncwildflower.org/index.php/native_plants/why_natives
The Butterfly Site: http://www.thebutterflysite.com/gardening.shtml
North American Butterfly Association: http://nababutterfly.com/start-butterfly-garden/
Operation Ruby Throat: http://www.rubythroat.org/plantsnativetopten.html
Birds and Blooms: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/plants-and-flowers-to-attract-hummingbirds/
Certify your garden as a Monarch Waystation: http://monarchwatch.org/waystations/certify.html
Certify your back yard as a Certifed Wildlife Habitat: http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify-Your-Wildlife-Garden.aspx