When I purchased my home the yard was pretty much a clean slate. There were 4 apple trees, a few evergreensand green ash (I think) along with several walmart specials. I looked forward to creating wildlife habitat, particularly for birds and butterflies, in our yard. My wife requested that we keep the front as a lawn, some planting OK but nothing crazy. I agreed so I was given free reign in the back yard. This means I have about 1.25 acres to play with. I am trying to keep it as native as I can but there are some plants that are domestic (some of the fruits) and some I just really like that are not native so I planted anyway. Just some of the plants that are currently residing here now are:
2 dead poplars for the woodpeckers, 3 of the ash, a viburnam patch - with arrowwood, mapleleaf, Blackhaw and nannyberry viburnum - hedge row with berries and plum, hawthorn, mountain ash, chokeberry (red and black), Paw Paw, and misc. other shrubs. 2 Peach and two Nectarine trees several sweet and 3 sour cherry trees. Some mulberry, and sasafrass several types of crabapples and native wild plum. Blueberry, winterberry, spicebush, ninebark, red buckeye, bayberry, dogwoods several variaties of apple, and pears. Then as I expanded into side yard and places red cedar, shadbush and on and on. The list of flowers is to long, but I have tried to get as many host plants and nectar sources as I can, so hopefully over time I will get the photos up.
The following photos are a pictoral guide to the yard. Hope you enjoy and that the collection continues to grow. If you have any suggestions on what I may be missing let me know.