W hen Jennifer Patton and Ben Wilder bought their quarter-acre property in 1998, it was a typical midtown urban lot.

The only wildlife visitors were house spar-rows, pigeons and European starlings.

Along with their late 1930s home, they inherited an arid-style landscape consist-ing of rocks and a few non-native plants. Fast-forward 15 years and their garden is now a haven for native plants and critters of all kinds.

What changed over the years? The land-scape was transformed by adding many native plant species. In turn, these plants then provided a suitable urban habitat beneficial to denizens of the desert.

The current native plant palette, once established, not only thrives on rainwater, but also provides the environment for the right kind of insects that welcome birds, reptiles and small mammals.

Some landscape plants available from nursery displays are exotic species. Many are prized for a specific quality, but they may be poor food sources for native wild-life, and often require more fertilizer and water to maintain them.

Where the Wild Things GrowA midtown garden was re-envisioned utilizing native plants that benefit the local wildlife.

ABOVE The former driveway became a path flanked by native shrubs.

RIGHT Homeowners Jennifer Patton and Ben Wilder relax in their wildlife-friendly garden.

BY DEBBY LARSEN | PHOTOS BY AMY HASKELL

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The Tucson Audubon Society officially has designated Patton and Wilder’s yard as a “Habitat at Home”

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Desert Honeysuckle, Golden Dyssodia, cholla cactus and Desert Zinnia are found in the entry garden.

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According to Jennifer, who has a mas-ter’s degree in landscape architecture, it is essential that a portion of a garden featur-ing natives is left un-pruned. Mid-story shrubs such as whitethorn, graythorn and catclaw acacia, hackberry and wolfberry provide the perfect environment for avian inhabitants to thrive. The plants’ natural defenses provide safety from marauding felines and protect nesting sites for raising young.

The couple’s landscape evolved as they added new plant species.

The former driveway is a winding path bordered by multiple levels of natives. “Including plants of different heights is important for a complete environment. It’s important to plant taller shrubs and trees

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT Barrel cactus, yucca and prickly pear cacti add three very different shapes to the garden.

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Colorful Choices for a Wilder Garden Palette

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Penstemon, Creosote, Fairy Duster, Wolfberry, Dalea and Golden Dyssodia add color to the landscape.

TOP RIGHT Signage from the Tucson Audubon Society denotes the garden as a wildlife habitat.

for a canopy, mid-story vegetation, and finally low-growing groundcovers,” she says.

By adding just a few species of indig-enous plants, even a small garden can aid migrating birds and butterflies, as well as long-time residents. Providing plant hosts for caterpillars in turn provides food for many bird species’ young.

The couple has sighted more than 30 bird species, including the seasonal visi-tors — Brown-Crested Flycatcher, Green-Tailed Towhee and Lucy’s Warbler. Their year-round residents include the Ladder Back Woodpecker, Lesser Goldfinch, Phainopepla, Albert’s Towhee, Northern Cardinal and Verdin.

Their landscape also is home to several reptiles (especially lizards) and small mammals.

Their garden balances the wild plant aesthetic by introducing structures that create creature habitats. The previous concrete driveway was broken into pieces that were moved to the backyard to build a “lizard condo.” The loose soil of the dirt piles provides foraging areas for lizards and terrestrial birds, and places for rabbits to burrow to cool off.

Jennifer and Ben have combined their talents to form Wilder Landscapes, a land-scape architecture company. They proud-ly display a sign awarded by the Tucson Audubon Society denoting that their gar-den has been designated as a “Habitat At Home.”

They enjoy their private oasis as they listen to diverse bird songs, watch the hummingbirds as they dodge and weave, and get an occasional glimpse of lizards scurrying among the rocks. HG

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native plants to your garden, native wildlife species will begin to thrive.

native plants that not only look great but will survive on rainwater once established.

-low water container will encourage pollinators and other animals to drink.

insects thrive as a food source for native inhabitants.

some species un-pruned to serve as shelter and nesting sites.

loving birds, such as Gambel’s Quail and Albert Towhee, as well as lizards and rabbits will enjoy the space.

placing them among boulders or garden furniture, you’ll create a focal point.

avian species are closely tied to par-ticular plant species. Chain fruit cholla cactus is preferred for nesting sites by both the Cactus Wren and Curved-Billed Thrasher.

debris serve as a natural mulch, keep-ing roots cool and providing areas for birds to forage for ground-dwelling insects.

— leave seeds for a food source later in the season.

will provide assistance for your gar-den to become self-sustainable.

Source:Landscape design: www.wilderland-scapes.com

Create Your Own Wildlife HavenPhotos by Ben Wilder

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Homeowner Ben Wilder photographed the following desert denizens as they visited the garden (clockwise from top left): Verdin, Cactus Wren, Desert Spiny Lizard, Hubbard’s Silkmoth Caterpilllar and Lucy’s Warbler.

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