In the heart of North Carolina’s Piedmont region, gardens are verdant intersections where nature and humanity meet. More and more gardeners want to attract the whimsical dance of birds, bees, and butterflies, harmonizing their gardens with the natural world. Some gardeners even want to attract larger fauna like deer, but I am personally trying to draw deer into the woods and out of my coral bells in my garden. To each their own. The Uwharries, with their unique topography and climate, offer the perfect stage for this dance, but gardening requires a thoughtful approach to truly balance a comfortable home with the local wildlife.
Selecting native plants is the cornerstone of this approach. Adapted to the Piedmont’s specific conditions, these plants are naturally resilient and resourceful. When in bloom, trees like the flowering dogwood, American beautyberry, and serviceberry can become a gathering spot for a myriad of birds. Meanwhile, the fragrant blossoms of Eastern Redbud, basswood, and native clematis act as irresistible nectar hubs for pollinators. Layering the garden with a mix of tall trees, shrubs, and groundcovers ensures a year-round buffet and shelter for various creatures. You can still get English Garden cottage-core vibes while planting natives here, in fact, many of our natives are heavily desired ornamentals elsewhere in the world.
However, while plants act as the primary draw, water is the thread that weaves this wildlife tapestry together. Whether it’s a birdbath that quenches the thirst of finches or a pond that serves as a sanctuary for frogs, water is essential. For butterflies, creating puddling stations with damp sand or soil allows them to extract vital minerals, further enhancing the garden’s allure. You can put colorful marbles in a shallow bowl of water for bees to drink from as well.
Amidst all these efforts, it’s essential to remember that using poisons, insecticides, and herbicides can be profoundly counterproductive to gardening for wildlife. If native caterpillars are eating your native plants, that’s a win condition, not a loss. We can be too quick to reach for poison. Spraying for mosquitoes also kills lightning bugs, for instance, ruining a summer evening that would otherwise look and feel magical for an entire neighborhood. Such chemicals, while often broadly targeting pests, can inadvertently harm beneficial insects, birds, and other fauna up the food chain. Instead of reaching for chemicals, embracing organic and natural pest control methods where possible not only keeps the garden safer but also ensures that it remains a thriving oasis for all creatures. Poison is a tool in the toolbox, but it can be a blunt instrument. By letting nature take its course, like allowing a fallen log to decay naturally or wildflowers to seed, we’re making a pact with Mother Nature. It’s a pact that says, in the midst of the Piedmont’s evolving landscapes, we’re crafting pockets where nature’s rhythm is respected and preserved.
If you want to talk specifics for planting natural landscapes, feel free to swing by The Gathering Garden in Mount Gilead at the corner of W Allenton St and School St, if you want to discuss gardening with us, you can find out more about or workdays on our facebook page.
In these weekly columns, I will share the science of gardening and so many more interesting tidbits. Check back here every week for tailored Montgomery County garden advice, sharing our garden updates, and more.
Let’s grow together!
This article was originally published in the Montgomery Herald and is reused here with permission by Mary Poplin.