Bird’s Eye View

From a bird’s point of view, Grey Turner’s lush home garden has it all. Food and shelter are readily available from a variety of native plants, while a sturdy bird bath fountain offers a year-round drinking source. But this sanctuary didn’t always exist. In 2019, Grey set out to transform his ordinary suburban property in Maple Ridge, BC — once just a grass lawn with a few trees — into a garden brimming with biodiversity. Although he did not have any expertise in native plant gardening, he always considered himself a lover of the natural world. Retirement became the perfect opportunity to get his hands in the dirt and create a refuge for the critters he’s always adored.

Learning About Native Plants

Grey started his journey by doing some initial research. He read Coastal Plants of British Columbia (Pojar, 2004), a handy field guide to species of plants commonly found in the Pacific Northwest, to familiarize himself with the BC landscape and get a sense of which plants he wanted to include in his garden. Later, through online research, he found us and Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT). Both of our organizations have created Gardening with Native Plants guides. Ours focuses on plants for the Lower Mainland, while HAT’s is tailored to Vancouver Island. Grey found the plant tables in both guides particularly useful. He printed them double-sided, laminated them, and keeps copies around his home. Now, they’re his go-to reference as he plans his garden.

“If anybody wants to get started, these are awesome guides. You don’t need all the books.” – Grey

Searching for Native Plants

With a plan in mind, Grey set out to gather supplies. He browsed through some local nurseries but was disappointed to find that they carried everything except the native plants he needed to attract birds. Expanding his search, he eventually discovered Satin Flower Nursery in Victoria, Coast Salish Plant Nursery in North Vancouver, and also took advantage of our biannual Native Plant Sale to source the right plants.

Armed with research and native plants, Grey felt ready to bring his vision to life. He used a thoughtful four-step approach to build his bird garden, starting with the tallest trees and working his way down to the smallest flowers, ensuring a well-structured and welcoming habitat.

Grey’s Four-Step Approach to Gardening

1. Plant trees

Luckily, his property already had two big, well-established trees when he moved in – a Western Redcedar and Douglas-fir, both standing at about 100 feet tall. To introduce variety, he planted deciduous trees and tall shrubs, including vine maple, Douglas maple, Pacific dogwood, and birch.

2. Plant shrubs

To provide additional food and shelter for birds, Grey incorporated a diverse mix of shrubs up to 15 feet tall. His selections included salmonberry, red elderberry, osoberry, red-osier dogwood, mock-orange, and Nootka rose, creating layers of habitat within his garden.

3. Plant ground covers

Native ground covers are helpful with soil moisture retention, erosion prevention, and weed suppression. Kinnikinnick is one of Grey’s favourites because it produces berries for birds to eat and stays green year-round. Another one is wood sorrel, which blooms in spring with delicate flowers that hummingbirds love.

4. Plant flowers

To attract pollinators and add vibrant color, Grey selected native flowers such as Douglas’ aster, yarrow, and lupine.

Birds, Birds, and More Birds!

Grey’s hard work finally started to pay off when he began noticing beautiful birds visit his garden. Some, like Dark-eyed Juncos, Northern Flickers, House Finches, Chickadees, Varied Thrushes, and Anna’s Hummingbirds, became year-round residents. Others, including Rufous Hummingbirds, Kinglets, Warblers, and Western Tanagers, arrived with the changing seasons. Birds that migrate south for the winter often depend on specific native plants to be in bloom upon their return in the spring. For example, Rufous Hummingbirds rely on red-flowering currants and salmonberries as vital food sources when they make their way back to the Fraser Valley. With this in mind, Grey carefully designed his garden to support seasonal visitors.

“It galvanized my relationship with nature. […] I just find it so peaceful and rejuvenating for myself to be in my yard, to be in my garden.” – Grey

How You Can Get Started

Grey’s journey with native plant gardening shows that you don’t have to be an expert to get started with creating a welcoming habitat for wildlife. All you need is a love for nature and a willingness to try. When asked for his advice to beginner gardeners, he commented,

“If I can do it, anybody can do it, honestly. […] Take a leap of faith and just get started. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes — I’ve made plenty.”

If you’d like to take a leap of faith, our Spring Native Plant Sale is a great place to begin. This is our biggest sale of the year, with a selection that includes everything from flowers to shrubs to ground cover. Who knows? Maybe your garden is the next one we feature!

Spring Native Plant Sale