Wildscapes and Landscapes

Create natural habitats for Wildlife with a “Texas Wildscape”, and learn about Landscaping and Rangeland Ecology and Management.

Wildscapes Defined:
by Wikipedia

Adapted from TPWD Texas Wildscapes website: A “wildscape” is a habitat restoration and conservation plan for rural and urban areas. It enables you to contribute to wildlife conservation by developing wildlife habitats where they live, work and play.

Wildscapes provide the essential ingredients for a variety of wildlife – food, water, shelter, and space. This is done by planting and maintaining native vegetation, installing birdbaths and ponds and creating structure. Feeders can supplement native vegetation, but can never replace it. The goal is to provide places for birds, small mammals, and other wildlife to feed and drink, escape from predators and raise their young.

By inviting wildlife to seek refuge on your property, you can enjoy and understand the role wildlife plays in your community. Attract wildlife by planting trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses at your home, at school, or at work. It helps our wildlife, and it’s fun!

Texas Wildscapes is more than a backyard program. It applies to rural properties as well; even community parks, business offices, churches, schools and apartments can be involved. You can do more than just attract birds. Every species has its own specific habitat requirements. If you know those requirements, chances are good that whatever you desire – butterflies, frogs or even lizards – will be visiting your site!

Landscaping Architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, and/or aesthetic outcomes.

It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions that will produce the desired outcome.

The scope of the profession includes urban design, site planning, town or urban planning, environmental restoration, parks and recreation planning; green infrastructure planning and provision, all at varying scales of design, planning and management.

• 2022 Class – Grasslands and Range
  • Importance of Native Grasslands
  • Prairies, woodlands and wildlife – managing for diversity
  • Rekindling Ecosystem Interactions with Patch Burn Grazing
• 2020 Class – Prairies, woodlands, grasslands, diversity, Patch Burn Grazing PBG
  • ECRMN Presentation August 2019 TSiegmund
  • Importance of Native Grasslands
  • WNBRI OCT 2014 PB Grazing
  • Key references provided: Resources
    
    
• 2020 Class – Wildscaping Texas, by Cheryl Lewis
  • “If suburbia were landscaped
    with meadows, prairies, thickets, or forests,
    or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle,
    fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing
    and human spirits would soar.”   Lorrie Otto
  • Presentation PDF
  • Resources PDF, many great web links and more
  • Privet ID
• 2009 Class – Texas Wildscapes, Mark Klym – A Focus on Hummingbirds and Butterflies
  • Basics of an Effective Backyard Habitat
    Gardening For Wildlife PDF file
• 2018 Class – Rangeland Ecology and Management, Tim Siegmend, 2-1-18
  • TMN Class Manual – Unit 20 – Rangeland Ecology and Management
  • Importance of Native Grasslands
  • Nov 2017 FW Nature Center Grassland Restoration Talk Tim Siegmund
  • Jan 2018 PLAC Meeting Tim S Intro and PUB
• Landscaping Architecture, Adv. Training, Jan 13, 2010, Milano, by Alan King, The Land Design Group
  Lanscaping Design Principles PDF file
• Connemara Wildlife The Connemara Meadow Nature Preserve July 11 2018 Bob Mione.pdf

Various Contributions:

• Donna Lewis backyard walkthru Feb 2019
  • Donna’s list of best native pollinator plants for your consideration NativePlantsForPollinatorsDonnaLewis
  • 35 minute video walkthru of her amazing “certified” wildscape, available only on Chapter laptop.
• How come I ain’t got no Hummin’birds?
  Creating Hummingbird Habitats PDF file
• Habitat Certifications – What are we looking for?
  Habitat Certification Programs PDF file
• Where would I go in Texas if I wanted to see Hummingbirds? Lots of good photos.
  Chasing Hummingbirds Across Texas PDF file

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