NATIVE PLANTS & BIRDS
It’s about our connections to the Earth Community
The Birds and the Trees
As most stories begin, it was simple. I love plants. Plants survive and thrive because their community supports them. They nourish birds as well as all wildlife. We don’t want to wake up one day to a dry and dead Earth. Harmony is possible.
You’ll find below the handouts for quick and easy guides to get started building your own bird gardens aka – Food Trucks for Birds. There are many lists for native plants but this is different because it’s specific to your planting zones. More states coming soon.
Tricia is available for a donation consult to help you build your Food Trucks For Birds – on the migration highway in the sky!
Paradise Trees & Palms
Jen is the super cool manager for our local nursery in Valparaiso, Florida. She has generouly offerd a coupon for all bird lovers interested in helping the birds on their migration highway.
The next Native Plant Festival at their business in Valp is October 19, 2024 from 9am to 2pm. Arrive early for the best selection. Download this coupon to get started today.
Paradise Trees & Palms
Click here for coupon from the local nursery. The next native plant day will be held October 19, 2024 from 9am to 2pm. Arrive early for the best selections.
Family Bird Garden Project
These are the instructions to Ven Diagram the yard. Choose plants at the nursey. Install the plants and a bird “spa” bath. Afterwards, register your food truck. It would be a great activity for parents and kids (homeschoolers too).
– be posted shortly
Homework - Principals of Planting
There is an old saying – plan twice, install once. Before buying the plants, please download and follow the instructions. Then download and print the beginner plants available for your Florida Zone. Paradise Trees and Palms has offered the FTFB participants a coupon to get started on your bird garden installation.
Bird Coloring Page
At Food Trucks for Birds, we offer free educational downloads for the public to learn more about “how to ” plant native plants for success! If you are successful, then the birds will have a “food truck” of native plants to chose from on their migration highway! Enjoy – I’m always adding more material.
Wild Coffee Plant Coloring Page
At Food Trucks for the birds! – we are offering free downloads for educational purposes. Enjoy coloring the shrubs, trees, and birds while learning how to plant native as a food source for for migrating birds – more to come soon!
Geography Bird Migration Lesson
This is two part PDF for the geography lessons for migrating birds. And, you can color it too. Add a color for each state’s official flowers or trees.
Geography Bird Migration Lesson
This is the answers for the geography lesson. Be sure to fold the page in half – no peeking! It’s fun for adults too. I had to look up each state to create this PDF myself.
Register your Food Truck for a Flag
After you have installed your first three plants, take a photo and download this PDF to register to be on our website and (for a donation) get the flag! Let’s create a guidebook for the birds to follow on the migration journey
Food Truck Birds - North FL
Click here for the Food Truck for Birds plant installation plan for North and the Northwest Florida : Plant Zones 8A & 8B
Food Truck Birds - Central FL
Click here for the Food Truck for Birds plant installation plan for Central Florida This part of Florida can do North and South Plants too. Plant Zones 8B to 9B
Food Truck Birds - South FL
Click here for the Food Truck for Birds plant installation plan for South Florida and the Florida Keys: Plant Zones 9 & 11B
Donation for Full Plans
FTFB offers a full scale planting plan with all the details you need on a donation basis. Please consider $35 to help Tricia continue to do outreach programs for the community.
There is no click to download at the moment. I’ll have the online donation system soon. You can go to the GO FUND ME link and make a donation. Then I can email you the plan. See the home page for this link
Additional Resources:
Most people are not aware of the free (pre-paid with our taxes) the county extension offices in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties. If you have more specific questions about native plants in your landscape, call them. The master gardeners are super friendly and very helpful.
UF/IFAS Extension Services Page: http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu
Escambia County Extension Services https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/escambia/
Santa Rosa County Extension Services https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/santa-rosa/
Okaloosa County Extension Services https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/okaloosa/
Audubon Society has great information as well. It’s not as specific to each planting zone in Florida but I used it for reference material for my research about the birds.