The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden: Attract and Support Birds, Bees, and Butterflies

by Stacy Tornio

Everyone wants a yard filled with birds, bees, and butterflies!

In The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden , Stacy Tornio makes it easy to attract birds, bees, and butterflies to your home garden by sharing details about which plants attract specific creatures. Entice birds with black-eyed susans, attract bumblebees by planting bee balm, and more. Choose from ten garden plans, including a hummingbird garden, a birdseed garden, and options that are low-maintenance and drought-resistant. You’ll also get advice on finding the right feeder, avoiding pesticides, and choosing native plants. This beautiful, photo-filled guide will enable you to create the earth-friendly garden of your dreams.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature, Birds

228 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[Becka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever have an occasion where you stumble upon exactly the right book at exactly the right time? That was the case when I discovered The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden: Attract and Support Birds, Bees, and Butterflies by Stacy Tornio. I’d been wanting to repurpose part of our large yard into a garden that would benefit my local wildlife and plants and also bring me joy, but I was overwhelmed by how to go about it. Torino’s book provided clarity and is making the time spent planning my wildlife habitat garden a pure joy!

The book is organized into sections according to whether you want to attract birds in general, hummingbirds specifically, bees, butterflies, or other wildlife. Each section shares a variety of species followed by plants that will meet the needs of the wildlife in that section. Once you have decided which creatures you want to welcome, Tornio uses illustrations to show how to plan your garden, providing reference to plants that have been described earlier in the book that would be a perfect inclusion in your garden (ex. low maintenance garden, native garden, birdseed garden, bird habitat garden, etc). The book finishes with a helpful FAQ section.

The simplicity of the organization of this book, coupled with the gorgeous photographs of the wildlife species and plants make it exactly what I needed to take an idea of wanting to make better use of our property and turning that idea into reality. I will definitely be purchasing a hard copy of this book. What a treasure!

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an amateur gardener just getting into attracting birds and bees into my yard, and hoping to move toward native plants, I LOVE how this book is organized based on what you want to attract to your garden. Each section has general tips as well as details about birds, bees, and plants with lots of helpful tips - but not so much it gets overwhelming. I really appreciate the clear, colorful pictures throughout the book. This will truly be an excellent reference for any garden, no matter what size or growing zone.

I received an ARC for this on NetGalley.

[Ashley {_xamountofbooks} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Well organized and full of information. I liked that it was broken up into sections for what you're trying to attract along with the best plants to succeed with.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing resource for those looking to attract more wildlife to their gardens. Not only is it informative and practical, the book is laid out beautifully and is a quick and pleasant read.

[Kerrific Kerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking to bring more native critters to your garden this book contains a great amount of advice on the subject. Good reference.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden is a tutorial, information, and gardening guide rolled into one by Stacy Tornio. Due out 6th Feb 2024 from Hachette on their Timber Press imprint, it's 228 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a really well written beginner friendly guide which contains concrete practical steps to help protect and enhance habitat for wildlife. The introductory chapters contain a good layman-accessible explanation of the goals and features of an attractive habitat for different species as well as a good guide to designing, improving, and expanding a wildlife-friendly habitat.

The book is set up in sections with special emphasis on what creatures readers especially want to encourage: birds, butterflies, other wildlife, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. Each chapter contains specific concrete advice for making an inviting and safe area for wildlife. The author writes well and clearly about the different subjects: shelter, food, nectar, nesting areas, and more.

There are also some good ancillary appendices including how to plan a garden, FAQs about soil, troubleshooting, species selection, encouraging native plants to support native wildlife, and more.

Five stars. This would be a superlative selection for public or school library acquisition, home use, activity groups, gardening and allotment groups, scouting activities, and more.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One way to address the environmental threats facing pollinators and other creatures is to provide a habitat garden for them, and this book offers an excellent look at how to do that. The book contains specific sections for attracting birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife (such as bats, insects, spiders, amphibians and reptiles) and lists tips for providing food, water, and shelter for them. Each section also includes full-color photos of different species -- both of the animals and of the plants that attract them -- along with the information needed to identify the creatures and to grow and maintain the plants.

The book emphasizes planting native species to attract other native species and using organic or at least pesticide-free growing techniques, with information on both in the FAQs at the end. And as the author notes, planting to attract one kind of wildlife often helps to attract others as well, creating a space for natural diversity in your own backyard. It's a beautiful reference book for the home gardener and for anyone who loves wildlife and wants to see more of it. 5 stars.

Thank you, Timber Press and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

[Jennifer P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really appreciated the beginner-friendly layout of this book. I do wish each plant description had about 25% more information, though - bloom periods weren’t listed, for one.

Sometimes I questioned the accuracy of some of the descriptions. For example, blue false indigo was listed as liking moist, well-draining soil, when actually it prefers dry to medium moisture. And astilbe was listed as liking merely well-draining soil, with no mention of its fairly strong need for regular moisture. This won’t help a beginner succeed.

I loved the concept of offering unique garden designs for various pollinators. Again, though, there were some missing elements or things I didn’t think were well advised - some of the gardens only had late summer blooming plants. Another put a row of Virginia bluebells all along the front edge of the border - beautiful in Spring but would look pretty tattered as the season went on and the foliage began to die back.

The author seems to have more of a background in children’s books and magazine editing; the framework of this book is its strength and would be very effective in the hands of a trained horticulturalist, naturalist, or landscape designer.

[Erinn H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher and author for the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I found this book to be both extremely useful in the information presented, and also visually satisfying to flip through. The organization makes it easy to find specific information you may be looking for. The photography and the layout really enhance the content. I love the emphasis on native plants and creating gardens that are mutually beneficial for humans and the wildlife around us. I especially loved the “Show Me How to Plan a Garden” section in the back with sample garden plans that lay it all out for you based on what kind of habitat you are trying to create. You won’t be left feeling lost with what to do with the information in the book, because it is all presented in a practical way that allows you to put knowledge into practice. I will add that I am not an expert on this topic, so I can’t verify any of the advice it gives, but I am looking forward to using what I’ve learned in my garden this upcoming year!

[Laurla2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

-4 stars. nice color pictures. each plant has a picture, a brief description, and a section listing perennial/annual, hardiness zones, size, flower color, soil, light needs, and which wildlife it attracts. the only other thing i could wish for is the bloom time. i'm wanting to add more plants that bloom in early spring and late fall.

for my notes, flowers that grow in my area:

flowers for bees: blanket flower(p), candytuft(p), celosia or cockscomb(a), chives(p), crepe myrtle(p), crocus(bulb), daffodil(bulb), allium(bulb), heliotrope(a), lavender(p), lobelia(a), marjoram(p), phlox(p), potentilla(p), sedum(p), thyme(p), veronica(p). choose blue, purple, or yellow flowers.

flowers for butterflies: agastache(p), alyssum(a), astilbe(p) 5'tall, wild indigo blue(p) 5'tall, bluebells(p), chrysanthemum(p), dianthus(p), lantana(a), pasque flower(a), pincushion(p), russian sage(p), turtlehead (chelone oblique)(p), verbena(a), violet(p).

shrubs for bees and butterflies: fothergilla(p) 10' tall, hibiscus(p) 7' tall, mock orange(p) 12' tall.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book broken up into categories of attracting different little critters into your garden, such as: birds, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife (like spiders-ew, bats, dragonflies and such). It tells you specific plants to plant for each category and how to care for them.

What I thought made the book unique was it also included lists and pictures of different species of each creature and tips for them. It helped you identify all of the different birds and butterflies that will eventually visit your garden. You know a gardener wrote this because they included the gardener’s favorite hooligan, the squirrel. Whether you love them or shoot them on sight, be prepared for these invaders to cause chaos and shenanigans everywhere they go. I personally love them, but I understand how they could be as destructive as a toddler.

I recommend this book for a new gardener that is looking to bring pollinators to their yard. It’s a very well put together book.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden was a very informative glimpse into how to naturally attract & support a variety of birds, bees and other wildlife.

Separated into sections to attract:
Birds
Butterflies
Other wildlife
Hummingbirds
Bees
How to plan a garden
FAQs

Each section lists:
types, how to identify, size, markings, sounds, habitat, nesting, diet, range (location & time of year) & tips on other things to look for.

Plant recommendations
Type, hardiness, size, flower color, soil, light needs, what it attracts as well as tips

Great resource for starting a garden for wildlife. I will be purchasing a copy.

Thank you Timber Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

[Tristann Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. The photos are stunning and helpful for identifying the various plants, flowers, and wildlife. The book is well organized and easy to navigate with multiple garden plans and wildlife focus. This makes it easy to build your garden to attract the wildlife of choice. The chapters cover general information, common backyard species, and plant recommendations. I also loved the Garden Plans and FAQ sections which were full of information and tips.

This is the perfect resource for someone who is trying to create an environment that attracts specific wildlife and/or learn more about the wildlife and plants that have already taken residence in their yard and garden.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author’s book includes great information for beginning gardeners.. She discusses several different gardens. I appreciated the drought resistant and low-maintenance plants when describing the gardens. I found it interesting to see the descriptions of the bees besides the birds. Butterflies are discussed in what plants are attracted to them. It’s a book that has gorgeous pictures. I found myself completely enchanted with what I could do for a garden.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Miska Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. I feel like it would be a great reference. I loved the tutorials on what the gardens could look like like starting on page 189. And I know that this is a book I can reference time and time again, and will reference.

My only caution is that some of the plants (rose of Sharon) are considered to be harmful as non-natives (and perhaps invasive, (it depends on the state etc.) in the US. I would love some guidance there, maybe an asterisk where there is a possible invasive telling folks to check their state invasive lists.

I plan to use this book heavily, and I plan to buy it (I received a net galley copy for review). I purchase maybe 1 of 10 books I read, so this is an exceptional compliment.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, but concise book that explains what to plant to attract the kind of wildlife you are hoping for. There are descriptions of birds and bees that include what they eat, where they nest , flowers etc that they attracted to.
Includes very good descriptions of the plant life and how to care for it, where and when to plant it.
There is also a question and answer section. Well illustrated and thoughtfully laid out.
I will use this book to plan for hummingbirds and song birds next spring.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC.

[Victoria Schell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden is a great beginning book for determining how to plan a garden in order to attract different types of wildlife. The book is broken down into the type of wildlife you might want to attract (birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other). The images used are high quality. I love how the author includes growing zone for plants and location for animals. I have quite a list of plants I want to plant next year! The only drawback is the limited information on attracting other animals.

[Kay Defreese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has beautiful photographs on every page. I am wanting to make my garden more appealing to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds and this books tells me what plants appeal to encourage those creatures to inhabit my garden and stay. Some of these I have in my yard already so it was affirming that I was doing the right thing.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

[Kathy (McDowell) Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It's short-ish ( 227 pgs), with good suggestions for flowers and shrubs (thanks for pointing out the natives!!). The last section is incredible: Show Me How to Plan a Garden. If you're lazy or you just want to start slow, this section is perfect! Pick the birds or insects you want to attract, and plant those plants. Copy the arrangements shown as an example. It works. It's a start. A great start if everyone decided to give it a try. Hope for the world.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always fascinated by books that explains how to create a garden full of wildlife. Beautiful pictures, instructions easy to follow.
A well done and very beautiful book.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super informative about how to attract different animals to your garden and what plants they like.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty gardening with some good information but not one I would recommend.

[Alix St Amant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty photos and nice perennial plant ideas to attract bird, bees, and butterflies to your garden. Gives info on many different species of birds, bees, and butterflies as well.

[Cozy Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. It was well-written, nicely organized, and full of quality information. There are nice images of every plant and lots of wildlife images.

The book is separated by types of wildlife. There is a section for birds, butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. I appreciate this organization; it makes things easy to find.

I also really liked the section with garden plans. The companion planting selections are well thought out. I would like to use one or more of these planned gardens in my backyard.

I have read several books on gardening for wildlife in the last year. This one is more thorough than most, which makes me feel like it is a more helpful reference than some of the others I have seen recently.

I almost knocked this down from 5 stars to 4 stars because I would have liked to see some additional info to identify specific wildlife partners for each plant. For example, it mentions that Northern Cardinals like berries and fruit, which is nice but it doesn't tell me what type of fruit tree or berry bush attracts cardinals specifically. It would have been helpful to see extra detail, such as: cardinals are attracted to dark berries like blueberries and mulberries. But that type of detail would have been really above and beyond because the book does cover a lot of stuff.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants to make their yard more friendly to wildlife.

Thank you Timber Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.