Wildflowers are beautiful, hardy and well adapted which makes them a great addition to your garden, and require minimal effort to grow.  In most cases, they will come back year after year. They also look great as fresh cut flowers for your kitchen table.

Wildflower seeds can be purchased in mixes and for different climates. The advantage to buying a mix is that you stand a better chance of figuring out which types will thrive in your region. If you live in northern colder regions, you should sow your seeds in the spring, as cold weather could harm the young seedlings. If you live in southern warmer regions, you can sow seeds in the fall. Wildflowers look great just about anywhere in your yard, just keep in mind they need plenty of sunlight and well drained soil.

Attracting Wildlife To Your Outdoor Oasis

Not only can nature's creatures accent and beautify your landscape, many of them can actually be beneficial as well. Predatory insects such as dragonflies, spiders and ladybugs eat many harmful, plant eating pests such as aphids and mites. Frogs, toads and lizards help control harmful pests as well. Bees are very important in pollinating fruits and flowers. As do  butterflies, which are just as beautiful as the flowers that attract them. Earthworms are great for flowerbeds and gardens because they aerate the soil.

Here are some tips for making your yard creature friendly:

1. Provide Cover-most animals and insects need a place to hide and feel protected. Shade trees, vines, and brush piles provide them with shelter. Fruit bearing trees also provide food.

2. Diversify-the more different types of plants you have in your landscape, the more different types of wildlife you are likely to attract, especially if you include a lot of native plants to your area.

3. Go Organic- many chemicals can harm the wildlife you want to attract. Adding compost will attract earthworms. They in turn will attract more birds.

4. Attracting Birds- hang some decorative birdhouses for birds to nest and raise their young in. Use birdfeeders to provide them birdseed and a birdbath for water. These things with a few good shade trees will make many birds feel right at home in your garden. Birds also like berry-producing plants and flowers that have gone to seed.

5. Attracting Butterflies- butterflies need sun and warmth to fly (they are unable to fly in temperatures below 50 degrees.) They like to sun themselves on large flat stones. Some of the flowers they like best are butterfly bush, verbena, sedum, zinnias, latana and Mexican Sunflower. Tall plants help shelter them from the wind.