Amanda Robinson of Keizer is passionate about gardening and native plant species, so much so that her yard has been certified as a Little Habitat by the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Little Habitat Project aims to create more resilient and sustainable ecosystem functions by promoting habitat connectivity, enhancing biodiversity and food webs, and engaging community members in conservation efforts.
The native plants support local pollinators, and benefit insects, and birds.
Robinson has turned her 7,000 square foot lot into a habitat for native plant species and for insects, birds and small mammals. Her habitat also includes a water pond.
Her Keizer house is the third home she has owned where she created a little habitat. With the little habitat taking over both the front and back yards, there is no longer grass; she has sold her lawn mower.
The Little Habitats trend is growing in popularity. A Facebook group, created by Robinson and Michelle Harvey, Salem/Keizer Oregon Gardening for Pollinators and Birds, is attracting new members every week.
Many of the plants in little habitats provide shade, absorb heat and dampness, protecting homes and people and grow well with minimal watering—important during a time of climate change. There are many little habitats in the mid-Willamette Valley.
John Savage, president of the Willamette Valley chapter of the Native Plant Society, has been educating residents through nature walks and hikes and through school programs.
When she first started her habitat project at her Keizer home, her neighbors in the Gubser area were mystified.
“They now like what they see,” said Robinson. She is able to place a sign in her yard that declares her yard a Little Habitat.
She carefully tends to her habitat, enjoying the different plants, the birds and insects.
Currently, she is enjoying other visitors.
“This year I have tons of Ladybugs. They eat aphids too, which is natural pest control,” said Robinson.
Native plants are a cornerstone of a wildlife habitat. The Little Habitat Project includes more actions for plants. The four plant action areas are: noxious invasive plants, native plants, vegetation layers, and plant practices.
Some of the target species in a Little Habitat are pollinators, birds, beneficial insects, amphibians and mammals. Robinson’s two cats can enjoy the habitat and its visitors from their catio, which keeps birds and insects safe.
Robinson would like to see more homeowners become part of the Little Habitat project. Her advice for anyone interested in creating a Little Habitat is to reach out to Marion Soil and Water Conservation District. To learn more the public can visit marionswcd.net/little-habitat-project. The public can also join the Facebook group, Salem/Keizer Oregon Gardening for Pollinators and Birds.
For her habitat’s plants, Robinson’s favorite is called Shooting Star.
“It is a spring ephemeral and it has gorgeous flowers. After it is pollinated, and in the heat of summer, the leaves die back and it retreats underground until the next spring. It’s pretty cool,” Robinson said.
It is not just private homeowners getting involved. Additionally, Keizer elementary school, Forest Ridge Elementary School has been incorporating lessons in their on-site Butterfly Garden, planted mostly with native plants and maintained by families of the school since the school’s early days.
The City of Keizer continues to find new ways to add native plants around town and to educate residents regarding safe use of and ways to protect the public spaces.
With her third Little Habitat, Amanda Robinson is getting to be an expert and would like to spread the word of their overall benefits.
Contact Quinn Stoddard
[email protected] or 503-390-1051
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