Avondale Habitat Garden
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A BIRMINGHAM AUDUBON guide Avondale HOME TO ALMOST A HUNDRED SPECIES of native wildflowers, vines, shrubs, and prairie grasses, the Rose & Habitat Garden at Birming- ham’s Avondale Park provides habitat for innumerable butterflies, Habitat bees, beetles, and birds—all right here in the heart of the city. Now that you’ve visited the garden, please consider applying its princi- ples to your own patch of land: Natives are easier to grow, more Garden resistant to pests, and better adapted to the local climate. In other words, they’re often the best choice... both for birds and for you. SOME NATIVE PLANTS AT AVONDALE Consider the following standouts when devel- oping your own habitat garden—most, if not all, can be found at local nurseries throughout the summer. Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Planting Black-eyed Susans in your garden will add more than just a splash of yellow—the ma- ture plant’s seeds are also an excellent source of food for wild birds. Best of all, well-established Rudbeckia stands can often perpetuate them- selves with little to no maintenance. Standing cypress Ipomopsis rubra A member of the phlox family, this tall wild- flower produces showy red blooms starting in PHOTO: BOB FARLEY early summer—look for both hummingbirds AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES LOVE PURPLE CONEFLOWER and butterflies to make an appearance. Purple coneflower Rattlesnake master Wild blue indigo Echinacea purpurea Eryngium yuccafolium Baptisia australis Nothing quite says “wildflower garden” like the The evocatively named rattlesnake master is an- A good ground cover for the sunny part of purple coneflower, an easy-to-grow, easy-to- other strange-looking resident of the Avondale your yard, Baptisia’s showy, pea-like flowers add maintain member of the aster family. American habitat garden. The sweet-smelling white flow- a splash of cool blue for the summer heat. As a Goldfinches, like the one pictured above, prefer ers bring in bees and butterflies, but are most nitrogen-fixing legume, it can also support the this plant’s seeds, and actively seek them out in valuable for attracting beneficial, pest-hunting growth of other plants, strengthening the over- home gardens. wasp species. all effect of your habitat garden. Passionvine Eastern sweetshrub Scarlet beebalm Passiflora incarnata Calycanthus floridus Monarda didyma Arguably the most striking flower at Avondale, One of our classic southeastern natives, this This beautiful, red-flowered mint is also known passionvine looks like something from another woody shrub is well known for its subtly col- as Oswego tea, a nod to its many uses in tradi- planet. But don’t be fooled: this is a true-blue ored, aromatic blooms. Use it to add a vertical tional medicine. Plant it in moist, loamy soils, Alabama native whose genus also includes the element to your landscaping, while also creating then keep your eyes open for the butterflies only known hosts of the Gulf fritillary butter- a nesting and perching site for birds. that flock to the plant in late spring and early fly Agraulis( vanillae) and the rare passionvine summer. bee (Anthemurgus passiflorae). Mountain mint Interested in adding native plants to your own property? If so, be sure to check out the sea- Pycnanthemum muticum sonal plant sales at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, and A subtle, silvery native mint, Pycnanthemum can Birmingham Botanical Gardens, as well as the year-round offerings at Mulberry Woods add depth to the visual appearance of your habitat garden, while also providing nectar for Native Plant Nursery (330 Warrior Trail, Hayden, AL; 205-586-9138). For a more local op- butterflies and small native bees. tion, we also recommend Andy’s Creekside Nursery (205-402-2639), which has locations in both Hoover and Vestavia. Whatever you grow, be sure to contact Birmingham Audubon Coral honeysuckle ([email protected]) and let us know about it! Lonicera sempervirens This lively vine grows readily in yards and gar- dens throughout Alabama, where it serves as a classic hummingbird flower. Just make sure to plant it near a trellis, fence, or mailbox that can provide structure for future vining. ABOUT THE URBAN BIRD HABITAT INITIATIVE BIRMINGHAM AUDUBON’S WORK at the Avondale Rose & Habitat garden began in 2015 as part of the Urban Bird Habitat Initiative (UBHI), a program connecting conservation and recreation throughout the city. Funded in part by the Community Foundation of Greater Bir- mingham, UBHI focuses on improving habitats that benefit both birds and people; in the process, it promotes conservation of important ecosystems, community engagement with publicly accessible natural areas, and economic development through nature-based activ- ities such as recreational birding. To find out more about the program, visit www.birminghamaudubon.org or contact Program Director Dr. Andy Coleman, [email protected]. Birmingham Audubon’s Urban Other Birmingham Audubon UBHI Sites Thank you! Bird Habitat Initiative wouldn’t be Grab your binoculars and field guides, then pay a visit to these other urban habitat sites! possible without the efforts of volunteers and donors just like you. In the project’s first year alone, community members contributed over East Lake Park Heron Habitat five hundred hours of volunteer work at UBHI sites, while generous Birmingham: 33.5716, -86.7249 At least four species of heron, including both financial support from our donors funded improvements at Avondale the Black-and Yellow-crowned Night-herons (Nycticorax nycticorax and Nyctanassa violacea, re- Park Rose & Habitat Garden, a design competition for the McWane spectively), call this much-beloved park home. Point your binoculars to the trees on the island Science Center Chimney Swift Tower, and new habitat plantings at for a good view of their nests. sites throughout the area. We hope you’ll continue your support of Birmingham Audubon’s The Prairie Garden at BMA Birmingham: 33.5227, -86.8096 Urban Bird Habitat Initiative by volunteering, donating, or becom- The Birmingham Museum of Art leads by ex- ample with this thriving, six-hundred-square- ing a member. To find out how you can help, contact us by phone foot rooftop habitat garden, where native plant- (205-719-3678) or email ([email protected]). ings provide an oasis for pollinators and the birds that depend on them. Open to the public during museum hours. Urban Chimney Swift Towers Birmingham: various sites When provided with artificial nesting towers, Chimney Swifts (Chaetura pelagica) can thrive in even the densest urban areas. Look for BAS-sponsored towers at various sites along the Birmingham skyline—coming soon! Railroad Park Interpretive Site Birmingham: 33.5093, -86.8097 Birmingham’s Railroad Park is more than just an award-winning urban greenspace—it’s also an increasingly popular spot for birders. Bir- mingham Audubon’s interpretive signage makes it easy for amateurs to get in on the action with a quick guide to common species. Limestone Park Prairie Alabaster: 33.1851, -86.7634 A popular site on Alabama’s Appalachian High- lands Birding Trail, this Alabaster city park fea- tures a variety of habitats, including marshland, PHOTO: BOB FARLEY tupelo swamp, and restored Southern prairie. To date, area naturalists have recorded more than 180 bird species, as well as numerous plants, insects, mammals, and reptiles. Founded in 1946, Birmingham Audubon Society is Alabama’s leading non-profit organization engaging people in the enjoyment and conservation of birds, their habitats, and the natural world. Your support helps us to deliver the best in recreational birding opportunities, educational outreach, and effective conservation actions, including programs in habitat stewardship, citizen science, and public policy. 3720 Fourth Avenue South, Second Floor, Birmingham, AL 35222 | 205-719-3678 | www.birminghamaudubon.org.