Wild by Design

Gardening guru Conrad McCormick explains how to make your garden a haven for wildlife, without compromising on aesthetics.

Wildlife gardening sometimes suffers from an image problem. Mention it, and many people picture something slightly chaotic. A lawn left to grow knee high, a few well-meaning bug hotels nailed to a fence, and borders that look as though the gardener has lost enthusiasm partway through the year. But it does not have to be that way. A garden can be rich in wildlife and still feel deliberate, elegant, and beautifully composed. The key is not to treat wildlife gardening as a separate style. It is simply a matter of appropriate planting and thoughtful design. A garden that allows insects, amphibians, birds, and mammals space to live and interact.

Read more in the May issue…