Welcome Wildlife

If there’s one thing that can rival the latest toy or electronic gizmo for a child’s attention, it’s a chance to observe wildlife. Here are a few ideas to turn your yard into an attractive stopping group for friendly critters.

Craft materials: Sugar

Red duct tape

Garbage can lid

Flat stones or bricks

Terra-cotta flowerpot

Sandy soil

1. Hang up a hummingbird feeder. With wings that beat up to 80 times per second, these little birds literally buzz about searching for nectar. To give them an energy boost, pick up a hummingbird feeder at your local garden center or birding shop. No need to purchase nectar, though. Simply stir 1 part white cane sugar into 4 parts water, and skip the red dye so often recommended to attract hummingbirds. You can use the red duct tape to decorate the feeder instead.

2. Set up a birdbath. Just as we humans enjoy taking a quick dip on a warm day, so do the birds. A simple way to provide them with the sort of shallow pool they prefer is to cradle an inverted garbage can lid in a base of flat stones or bricks and fill it with water and a few small rocks for a landing place. Choose an open spot that neighborhood cats can’t sneak up and be sure to clean and refill the lid regularly.

3. Provide abodes for toads. These hungry amphibians can be a big help in keeping garden pests, such as slugs, grubs, and potato beetles, under control. Entice them to hang out around your garden by creating a shady retreat. Pick a spot that’s protected from the wind and where the soil is moist. Dig a few shallow depressions in the soil. In each one, lay a terra-cotta flowerpot on its side and them fill it partway with sandy soil.

Landscaping with Mementos

The stepping-stone path offers a concrete method of preserving your most precious garden harvest: happy memories.

Each family member gets to decorate his or her own stone inserting personal (nonperishable) mementos: small seashells, pet rocks, small toys, impressions of a favorite leaf, free-form tiles from a broken flowerpot. If you can step on it, you can preserve it.

If you’ve never worked with concrete before, don’t be daunted. Mixing mortar, in fact, is a lot like preparing cookie dough. One safety note: concrete contains portland cement, a potentially caustic substance. The job of mixing the stuff is strictly for grown-ups. After making hand prints, be sure to wash with soap and water.

Making the molds

For round stepping stones, use a handsaw to cut a 2 ½ inch wide section from the building form. In the area where you’ll be setting the path, dig a hole just large enough to accommodate the form and set it into the ground, firming the soil around it. Alternatively, you can create a free-form stone by simply digging a hole in the shape you desire, roughly 2 ½ inches deep. Once the mold is complete, place a 1-inch layer of pebbles, small stones or gravel in the bottom.

Mixing the concrete

Following the directions on the bag, combine the concrete with water in a mixing tub, stirring it with a hoe. It’s ready to pour when it doesn’t fall off a hoe held nearly parallel to the ground. Use the hoe or a trowel, if necessary, to scoop the concrete into each form. Smooth the surface with a scrap of wood.

Adding the mementos

When your fingertip leaves a lasting impression in the mixture (usually after one to two hours), you can start customizing. Using a stick or pebbles, write your name and date, make impressions of your hand, a favorite toy, a favorite flower) and add your mementos.

Let the stones cure for several days (Do not walk on them during this curing period.) Remove the cardboard forms with a craft knife.