Growing Together: Wildlife-Friendly Gardens, OWF & Blooming Junction
At Oregon Wildlife Foundation, we support wildlife conservation wherever it can take place, including your own yard. That’s why we’re proud to collaborate year-round with Blooming Junction, a Pacific Northwest nursery that shares our commitment to creating landscapes that support wildlife and healthy ecosystems. Look for future blog articles and social media posts with more information.
From spring planting to winter habitat planning, our partnership highlights how thoughtful gardening choices can make a real difference for wildlife.
A Nursery Rooted in the Pacific Northwest
Blooming Junction is a full-service garden center with a specialty that sets them apart: uncommon perennials and plants well-suited to the Pacific Northwest. They carry over 2,200 varieties of trees, shrubs, perennials, herbs, and groundcovers, many of which are regional natives or carefully adapted to thrive here.
Even better for wildlife and people alike, all Blooming Junction products are neonicotinoid-free, helping protect pollinators like bees and butterflies, as well as beneficial insects; all vital to Oregon’s ecosystems.
This shared focus on regionally appropriate, responsibly grown plants makes Blooming Junction a natural partner for Oregon Wildlife Foundation.
Building Wildlife-Friendly Gardens at Home
One of the most powerful ways individuals can support wildlife is by transforming their own yards, balconies, and community spaces into habitat. Blooming Junction offers a variety of products that make wildlife-friendly gardening easy, accessible, and beautiful.
Their top recommendations include:
Lawn Alternatives
Traditional lawns offer little benefit to wildlife and require significant water and maintenance. Blooming Junction encourages alternatives such as creeping thyme, chamomile, and clover, which provide ground cover while supporting pollinators and reducing resource use.
Wildflower Seed Mixes
For larger beds and open spaces, wildflower seed blends create a vibrant habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators while adding seasonal color and texture to landscapes.
Shrubs for Birds and Wildlife
Shrubs that provide late-fall and winter berries, along with shelter from the elements, are especially important when food sources are harder to find. Recommended species include Viburnum, Mahonia aquifolium, hollies (Ilex), and crabapples, all of which support birds and other wildlife throughout the colder months.
Water Sources
Access to water is critical year-round. Simple additions like shallow bowls with rocks for bees and butterflies or birdbaths can make a meaningful difference, particularly during dry summer months or freezing winter conditions.
Supporting Conservation All Year Long
Through our ongoing collaboration with Blooming Junction, Oregon Wildlife Foundation helps connect everyday gardening choices with broader conservation goals. Wildlife-friendly yards don’t just look beautiful; they help create urban and suburban habitat, support pollinators, and contribute to healthier ecosystems across Oregon.
When you’re ready, let’s explore wildlife-friendly fencing!
Together, we’re showing that wildlife conservation isn’t limited to public lands. It can happen in backyards, neighborhoods, and communities across the state, one plant at a time.
About Oregon Wildlife Foundation
Oregon Wildlife Foundation is an apolitical operating charitable foundation dedicated to increasing private and public funding support for wildlife conservation projects in Oregon. Since 1981, the Foundation has directed tens of millions of dollars in support to a broad range of conservation projects statewide. Learn more at www.myowf.org.
About Blooming Junction
Offers farm-fresh produce, natural groceries, an uncommon selection of quality plants, garden supplies, unique gifts, and garden art at their 50-acre farm and garden center at 35105 NW Zion Church Road, in Cornelius, Oregon. There’s a lot to see! For more information, visit www.bloomingjunction.com or call (502) 681-4546.
