Birds and butterflies lend beauty, entertainment, health and vitality to the garden and with just a little bit of planning, you can have them flocking to your garden. The key is to know what to look for.

To attract birds and butterflies, and to have them help pollinate flowers, scatter seeds and help control pests, you must have adequate sources of food, shelter and water.  Flowers provide color, as well as nectar and seeds.

Trees and shrubs bear nuts, fruit and berries and offer shelter, breeding places and nesting sites for birds and butterflies. Ponds, fountains or other water elements accent the garden and provide necessary moisture and drinking sources for birds and butterflies. By combining these elements, you can attract these winged creatures to your garden.

When selecting wildlife friendly plants for your garden, look for varieties that are both prolific bloomers and have a long bloom time. Prune your plants to prevent excessive woody growth and encourage the growth of new flowers. Provide birds with food and shelter during all four seasons by planting trees and shrubs that offer seeds and fruit. Invite these lovely helpers by following these tips:

1. Hummingbirds are attracted to bright orange, red and hot pink blossoms. Their long, narrow beaks can reach the nectar of long, tubular flowers such as Balboa Sunset Trumpet Vine with its scarlet blossoms, and Gold flame Honeysuckle which has vibrant yellow and red flowers. Other good choices are Red Flowering Maple, Navajo series of Salvia, available in many colors, including bright red, rose, and salmon red.
2. Not all hummingbirds feed at the same height, so plant an array of shrub sizes and climbing vines for food sources.
3. Butterflies are attracted to yellow, orange and red. They too are seeking nectar, but their mouths, or proboscises, are much smaller, so they prefer flatter flowers they can perch on while they feed (coneflowers are the butterflies all time favorite!). Other good choices are the no-fail varieties of Buddleja or Butterfly Bush. However, since they can get too large for some gardens, consider the petite versions of each variety. Petite Indigo has a profusion of lilac-blue flowers; Petite Plum sports reddish-purple blooms and Petite Snow has pure white blossoms.
4. Lilacs are favorites of butterflies, but do not typically flower well in climates with warmer winters. The Blue Skies lilac produces huge clusters of lavender-blue flowers that do not require winter chilling. Both birds and butterflies love Coneflowers and the new Pixie Meadowbrite is a particular favorite.  Asters are great because they bloom well into fall. The new Farmington Aster has a profusion of lilac bloom clusters that will keep the birds and butterflies fed and your garden looking bright.
5. Birds will be grateful for the shelter and food found in many popular trees and shrubs. The Golden Raindrops Crabapple, Wentworth Cranberry Bush Viburnum, and Super Red Flowering Quince provide important sources of food for many birds.
6. Supply a source of water. Hummingbirds enjoy flying through a fine mist, which cools them off. Butterflies like drinking from shallow puddles. Position some large flat rocks in a sunny spot, on which butterflies can sun themselves to warm their wings. All birds need water for drinking and for bathing. Birdbaths are a simple way to provide water and add a great design element to your garden. The surface of a birdbath should be course for better footing. The sides should incline slightly to a depth of no more than three inches and the water should be changed every other day.
7. A wildlife garden has a looser more natural appearance all around. Dried flowers, spilled seeds, and fallen leaves are all a part of this natural look and home for birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Avoid pesticides and herbicides so you will attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings.Important: Plant the tallest plant in the background and the shortest in the foreground. Tall trees in the background, medium-sized shrubs, perennials and vines in the mid-section, small shrubs and groundcovers in the foreground, or as borders.
8. Trees lend structure to the garden and provide perching, nesting and roosting sites for birds and butterflies. Trees are the dominant element in your landscape and add stately elegance and privacy. When choosing a tree consider the spread, height, and growth habits. Plant for brilliant color and fall foliage, spring blooms of fruit trees, and evergreens for winter color and protection.
9. Shrubs provide hiding places, shady nesting spots, quick cover from predators and provide a great nesting habitat for wildlife. Shrubs are useful for screens, barriers, hedges and backgrounds, and are often used as foundation plantings. Smaller shrubs complement flower borders and visually lead your eyes to larger and taller background plantings. Planting in groups makes your display more impressive. Plant in varying heights and textures to create a more visually appealing and interesting garden.
10. Perennials are non-woody plants that live at least 3 years, and are critical to supplying birds with seed and nectar. Many have foliage that dies off in winter but send up new growth the following spring.
11. Vines offer shelter and quick cover for birds, and entice them with flowers, berries, insects, shelter and nesting sites. Many vines provide a nectar drink for visiting hummingbirds. They help unify plants of varying heights and soften, or even hide, the hard lines of structures and houses. Vines add vertical interest and provide quick greenery for fences, walls and trellises.
12. Ground covers provide shelter, blossoms and berries for food, and are a key feature in any landscape by making the transition from lawns to shrubs and trees seem natural. Groundcovers are good for erosion control, are ideal for areas that are difficult to mow, and can be used to conceal fallen leaves below trees.
13. Water is a very important element in all seasons. It can be a dramatic focal point anywhere within the garden. Small ponds, fountains or birdbaths provide water and wading areas for birds. Nothing is better than a gentle flowing fall of water that is not only visually appealing but provides the homeowner with a diffusion of city noise and a place for natural wildlife.

Color is key. Cool colors – pinks, rose, purple, and lavender, blue – all convey calmness and tranquility, while warm colors, like bright yellows and reds, create drama and vibrancy. Planting warm colors in the foreground and cooler colors in the background gives the illusion of depth. Bright tubular flowers in reds, pinks, and oranges are especially attractive to hummingbirds.