Visitors to the Wildlife Botanical Gardens often comment on the great diversity of plants encountered in these gardens. The Entrance Perennial Garden offers the first taste of this diversity with close to 200 different species and varieties of perennials representing 30 or more plant families.
In addition to the perennials that are the focus of this garden, trees and shrubs are included in the design to provide ‘layers’ that offer nesting sites for birds that nest at different heights. Trees and shrubs bordered by perennial beds also provide an ‘edge effect’ where one type of habitat meets another, attracting a greater variety of wildlife.
The garden perennials combine with trees and shrubs to provide valuable habitat in the form of shelter and food for birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife. Food comes from seeds, nectar, pollen and berries. Plant tissue provides a food source for emerging butterfly larvae.
Many, but not all, of the plants in this garden are water thrifty. Drip irrigation is installed for the plants that do require water during dry spells, bypassing plants that are more drought tolerant and reducing water lost to evaporation.