- The Good: Save wildlife diversity at home, including a few practical take-aways!
- The Bad: Unsure of audience; focused on the US
- The Literary: Lots of references to other resources
In a return to the grassroots, home-grown approach to saving wildlife habitats, Tallamy advocates for homeowners to begin thinking about their own yards as part of the larger ecosystem. Much of the book discusses why, with specific focus on native plants, insects, and birds, with some actionable suggestions.
As American suburbs took hold, good homeowners felt that they were also stewards of their neighborhoods, which typically meant a well-maintained house and yard, particularly a well-manicured square of green grass and well-pruned exotic plantings, all of which communicated order, stability, and wealth. But as population increases and wild areas decrease, so does plant and animal diversity, which are critical to human survival and vital to the food chain. Even so-called wild areas are often filled with invasive species which don’t sustain local wildlife. We have large national parks, but recent studies have indicated they still aren’t enough.
Tallamy asserts that the more you understand about supporting local wildlife, the more you are willing to help. Most homeowners are doing what they were taught by their parents or neighborhood associations, but Tallamy isn’t happy about it and will leave you feeling a little guilty if you haven’t been supportive of native plants your whole life. It’s unfortunate the book often reads as an angry rant, with the assumption that you’ve never cared about the environment, or plants, or birds, even though I assume most people picking up this book are interested in doing what they can.
As there are many ecological regions that fill America, Tallamy only gives a few specific suggestions for your yard in particular. Here’s the takeaway: Plant oak or cherry trees, and don’t be afraid to plant them close together. Replace grass with native plants. Install a bird bath that bubbles. Don’t use fertilizers or pesticides, as they’ll be detrimental to the bees and caterpillars you’re trying to save. Set up multiple small bee houses instead of one big one. A decaying log or two in a back corner of the yard is a great habitat. Don’t prune or clean back dead plants until spring. That’s about it! Enjoy your new butterfly and bee and bird habitat!
Read this if you’re interested in why you should join the “homegrown national park”!