Bringing Nature Home: An Urban Yard

Bringing nature home has given a family over 10 years of gardening and birding enjoyment in their own back yard. In 1997 Robert & Marlene Olsen of Saint Paul hired Out Back Nursery and Landscaping to design and install a back yard habitat garden utilizing Minnesota native plants.


The original backyard was lawn grass and a privet hedge along the alley. Common visitors to their yard were European Starlings, English Sparrows, Robins, Mourning Doves and Grackles.

They were interested in an ecological approach to attract more birds. The Olsen’s are avid bird watchers and were interested in wider variety in their own back yard. They were also open to reducing time and resources spent on mowing and watering the lawn.

The design concept integrates native plants from the “oak savanna” and “prairie” plant communities of Minnesota with some formal elements such as hedges and patio. An outdoor room is located between the house and garage with a brick patio.

Hedges of White Snowberry, ‘Regent’ Serviceberry and American Hazelnut surround three side of the patio.

The remaining side opens to the “prairie” garden which covers most of the back yard. 24 wildflower species and 5 grass species are still thriving in the garden today.

11 wildflowers produce seeds for the birds and 8 wildflowers provide nectar for the Ruby throated Hummingbird. A Pagoda Dogwood and Allegheny Serviceberry tree are included in the garden because they have berries that are irresistible for birds like the Northern Cardinal and Cedar Waxwing.

As the garden matures and evolves, the diversity of birds has increased. A supplemental bird feeder and bird bath are located in the garden. They are convinced that the garden and feeders complement each other very well. “We see juncos and finches amidst the wildflowers and grasses throughout the season as well as at the feeder.


The Olsen’s always tell people, “Every garden should have Serviceberry shrubs and Blazingstar wildflowers, these two plants attract birds and look great!” Also, they often remark on how they spend 60% less time mowing and virtually don’t water the garden.


Common visitors: Dark eyed Juncos, Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Black capped Chickadee, Goldfinch, Purple Finch, House Finch, White Breasted Nuthatch.


Occasional visitors: Gray Catbird, Chipping Sparrow, Harris Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, Red breasted Nuthatch, American Crow, Yellow Shafted Flicker, Grackle, English Sparrow, Starlings, Robin.


Highlights: Ruby throated Hummingbird (feeds on Fragrant Hyssop, Wild Columbine, Blazingstar, Great Blue Lobelia nectar); Sharp-shinned Hawk/Cooper’s hawk (feeds on songbirds that come to the garden); American Kestrel (feeds on mice)