Guides

We want to help you take action.

Our free guides are designed to help you confidently explore nature and create a thriving backyard ecosystem that you can be proud of.

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Black swallowtail on bergamont flowers

Free Guides

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Discover Your Next Steps

Learn what stage you are at and receive practical “next steps” to create your own thriving backyard ecosystem.

Interactive quiz
3-minutes

Purple coneflowers next to house
3 Reasons Why Fall Is the Best Time to Plant

Spring is the traditional planting season, but fall is actually the best time for planting native plants.

4 page, infographic-style, e-book
2-minute read

Ecoregion and plant hardiness zone maps
An Introduction to Gardening with Native Plants: Hardiness Zones and Ecoregions

Did you know that garden hardiness zones are unimportant when it comes to gardening with native plants?

9 page e-book
10-minute read

Backyard Ecology™’s Guiding Principles:

🦋 Curiosity: Nature is fun, interesting, and worth exploring. We will never know everything. Answers lead to more questions. That’s half the fun.

🦋 Balanced: You don’t have to choose. You can support nature AND have a beautiful property that you can enjoy and be proud of.

🦋 Science informed: Habitat creation and management should be based on the latest scientific research available. This is true regardless of whether you’re working in a small garden or on hundreds of acres.

🦋 Stewardship: Anyone can make a positive difference in the natural world and leave an ecological legacy on their property.