Landscapes, Gardens, Birds, and Butterflies

Enhancing the Backyard Landscape to Attract Birds and Butterflies

Lilacs and raspberries can attract bees, butterflies, and birds

Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly. Photo by the author.

“Give food to the birds, you will then be surrounded by the wings of love, you will be encompassed by the joys of little silent hearts! “— Mehmet Murat Ildan

To help us enjoy the long Minnesota winters as well as the warmer seasons, my wife and I fill our bird feeder daily. We also hang suet cakes in one or two trees.

Black-capped chickadees, like this one, enjoy our little backyard year-round. Maybe the new lilac and raspberry bushes will attract more new birds to your yard. Photo by the author.

Even on our city lot, we welcome various birds year-round. Visitors include black-capped chickadees, northern cardinals, house finches, mourning doves, blue jays, grackles, red-winged blackbirds, and house sparrows. From spring through fall, we treasure the sight of ruby-throated hummingbirds, too.