As the habitat matured, we kept our eyes peeled for the species that the project was first intended for, but it didn’t take long to see that what we were doing was much more than creating a place for butterflies. As soon as the Monarda bloomed, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds seemed to come out of nowhere. They worked the flowers as we worked the soil, not minding our presence in the least. Many species of bumblebees and even honey bees made a triumphant return to the garden as well, craving the flowers of the swamp milkweed and the Obedient plant.

Just like in a good, healthy habitat, the predators returned too. The Assassin bug made lunch of more than a few of our butterflies, the Cicada killers made daily rounds of the habitat in search of a meal, and the spider species that appeared were just incredible.

The birds were not to be left out. The Goldfinch coveted for the Giant-Yellow Hyssops, hanging onto the now dried flowers to get at the tiny seeds. A family of Willow Flycatchers also joined us, flying through the habitat consuming as many insects as they could. It wasn’t long before the Common-Yellow Throats,   Catbirds, and Mockingbirds found a good place to go out for dinner.

Mammals stopped by for a nibble or two, or sometimes three. Deer and groundhogs found some plants delightful at the buffet, but most plants were left for others. The cottontail rabbits seemed to adopt the new habitat as their own. Moths were part of the wildlife habitat, too. Beautiful Species such as the Clearwing Hummingbird Moth and the Ailanthus Webworm Moth loved the Joe-Pye Weed and Iron weed.

And as far as the creatures that the restoration project was envisioned for, they did great! Plants such as the Buttonbush provided nectar to many species of butterflies. The Monarch Caterpillar numbers were so many that they were difficult to count. 25 species in all, at least as of today.

Wildlife cries out for the return of native plants to our environment. These plants allow wildlife to thrive and become healthy again. We can all do our part. Recommend to your town, schools and churches that the next time they need landscaping done, they use native plants, and plant them in your yard wherever you can.
John Muir said, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” Native plants are the things that are attached to all of nature in one way or another. It is up to us to try to keep it that way.