How to Attract Birds to Your Yard

How to Attract Birds to Your Yard

In this episode of Backyard Columbus, we’re talking about how to attract more birds to your yard by creating the kind of habitat they actually need. Following the National Wildlife Federation’s basic habitat guidelines, we’ll look at the importance of providing food, water, cover, and places for birds to raise their young. We’ll also talk about why native plants matter, how trees, shrubs, flowers, seed heads, insects, birdbaths, and nesting spaces all work together, and why a bird-friendly yard does not have to be perfect or complicated. Whether you have a small patio, a suburban yard, or a growing backyard habitat, this episode will help you take simple steps to make your space more welcoming for birds and other wildlife. For more backyard bird tips, check out the National Wildlife Federation info sheet: https://www.nwf.org/-/media/PDFs/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/Bird-Friendly_web.pdf For more information on pollinators, pollinator gardens, gardening, landscape ideas and all kinds of other fun stuff you can do in your own backyard (like chickens!), please follow me: Blog & backyard Photography store: www.BackyardColumbus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@backyardcolumbus Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @BackyardColumbus You can reach me at: cathy@BackyardColumbus.com

How to Make the Most of Your Suburban Yard: Food, Flowers, Wildlife and Joy

A suburban yard doesn't have to be just grass, mulch, and a few shrubs. Even a regular neighborhood yard can become a place that feeds your family, supports pollinators, welcomes wildlife, creates beauty, and gives you peaceful places to enjoy being outside. In this episode, I can use our own 9,237 sq. ft. yard as an example, not as a “do all of this” checklist, but as proof that small changes over time can turn an ordinary suburban yard into something alive, useful, and deeply personal. For more information on pollinators, pollinator gardens, gardening, landscape ideas and all kinds of other fun stuff you can do in your own backyard, please follow me: Blog & backyard Photography store: www.BackyardColumbus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@backyardcolumbus Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @BackyardColumbus You can reach me at: cathy@BackyardColumbus.com For more info on the topics in this episode, visit my BYC Garden Shop: https://www.backyardcolumbus.com/gardenshop in the "Garden Favorites" tab

Garden Guilt: Native Plants, No Mow May and Finding a Happier Middle Ground

In this episode of Backyard Columbus, we’re talking about garden guilt, social media clickbait, No Mow May, native plants, and the pressure to do everything “perfectly” when trying to create a better backyard habitat. Good ideas can sometimes turn into all-or-nothing arguments online, and that can make regular people feel overwhelmed, judged, or unsure where to begin. Instead of chasing perfection, this episode is about finding a happier middle ground: planting more native plants when we can, reducing chemicals, supporting pollinators, creating habitat, and remembering that small steps still matter. Your backyard does not have to be perfect to be helpful. The goal is balance, joy, and making a little more room for nature right where you are. Thank you for listening! For more information on pollinators, pollinator gardens, gardening, landscape ideas and all kinds of other fun stuff you can do in your own backyard, please follow me: For more info and my favorite backyard items: www.BackyardColumbus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@backyardcolumbus Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @BackyardColumbus You can reach me at: cathy@BackyardColumbus.com

Raising Butterflies in Ohio - from Egg to Release

In this episode of Backyard Columbus, we explore the basics of raising butterflies in Ohio, from finding eggs or caterpillars to releasing adult butterflies after they eclose. We’ll talk about why host plants matter, how native nectar sources support adult butterflies, and how a butterfly-friendly backyard can help pollinators thrive. This episode is part practical guidance, part love letter to the wonder of metamorphosis. For more information on pollinators, pollinator gardens, gardening, landscape ideas and all kinds of other fun stuff you can do in your own backyard, please follow me: Blog & backyard Photography store: www.BackyardColumbus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@backyardcolumbus Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @BackyardColumbus You can reach me at: cathy@BackyardColumbus.com

Garden Planning Made Simple: Start Small, Have Fun, and Grow Over Time

Feeling excited about your garden but overwhelmed by all the possibilities? In this episode, we're talking about simple garden planning, how to start small, choose your first spaces, and enjoy the process without trying to do everything at once. For more information on pollinators, pollinator gardens, gardening, landscape ideas and all kinds of other fun stuff you can do in your own backyard, please follow me: Blog & backyard Photography store: www.BackyardColumbus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@backyardcolumbus Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @BackyardColumbus You can reach me at: cathy@BackyardColumbus.com