By: Phyllis Giffard
Katie Barnes celebrates her gold-level certification in Lafayette.
Katie's residential property is located in a traditional subdivision that borders the Vermilion River. The large, old live oak and pine trees surrounding the house were ultimately the main attraction, as many of the newer residential areas lack trees. When she purchased the property in 2019, the backyard was almost entirely barren of plants. This allowed for experimentation with natives to attract pollinators and birds. Katie is an ornithologist and her goal was to create sustainable, bird-friendly habitat along a river corridor for resident and migratory birds, with an emphasis on hosting wintering hummingbirds.
To do this, she first opened up space by removing a large metal storage shed and replacing it with primarily Turk’s cap, American beautyberry, and Bird pepper, and bordered the side yard fence with waxmyrtle and non-native Camellia sasanqua. This provides more cover and resources for birds, while also sheltering the southeast portion of the property. Additionally, she has planted pink azalea (Rhododendron canescens), Louisiana iris, Blackhaw (Vibernum), Lizard’s tail, and Southern shield fern to fill the side yard shaded by a large live oak tree. All have done well in her soil. Inspired by wintering hummingbird species and pollinators, she has incorporated some non-native salvias, bottlebrush shrubs, and porterweed mixed with native Salvia coccinea, coral honeysuckle, Indian pink, and Turk’s cap in various raised beds along the property. For pollinators, she has focused on native prairie plants in the full-sun center garden in the western facing backyard, including mountain mint, ashy sunflower, Indian blanket, Echinacea sp., Coreopsis sp., goldenrod, rattlesnake master, Rudbeckia sp., Monarda sp., Aster spp., and wild bergamot.
Some exciting observations have been the increase in hummingbird diversity during the winter months. She has hosted and documented Calliope, Rufous, and Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, and Buff-bellied hummingbirds since 2020. Since planting natives, she has documented 104 bird species and have recorded nesting activity of resident species including Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, and Mourning Dove. She has also noticed an increase in insect and spider diversity and abundance.
From the July 2022 ANPP Newsletter
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