Julie Bernhardt
An Indiana garden

Indianapolis

This is my garden in Indianapolis, Indiana. Five years ago I bought this property which had a big green lawn, 4 trees and one lonely rosebush. I wanted to attract wildlife and add some color, so I installed a pond, numerous nectar and nut trees, and some berry bushes. Thankfully, my work in the garden has now attracted lots of small wildlife. The pond is home to green frogs, dragonflies, damselflies and many other insects. I never added fish because they would eat the frog spawn.

I see robins, cardinals, blue jays, gold finches, mourning doves, house sparrows, hummingbirds and many kinds of caterpillars, butterflies and moths. Wild rabbits and chipmunks live close by - but no squirrels yet. I also have some toads and provided them with shelters and saucers of water in various areas of the garden.

I caught a glimpse of a snake last summer - its head from a distance and its tail sticking out of a rock pile. Unfortunately, with my restricted view, I'm still not able to identify him. However, there are enough field mice around here to keep him well fed. In my garden, when it gets quiet I look up and usually see a Coopers' hawk or a falcon circling above. It's now my wildlife paradise!