PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Attention
26 November 2014
Izinyoni Nursery provides valuable tips on how to attract birds to your garden
A garden is meant to provide an oasis of calm, a place to relax and escape from the rigours of daily life- particularly for those of us that live in urban areas. A garden should be a personal Eden, a place of peace and beauty heady with the scent of flowers, and laced with the sound of birdsong. It is possible to create such a space even in the smallest of gardens, and with the correct planting choices you will find that nature can flourish anywhere. Wild birds, with their fascinating colours and enchanting melodies, are a welcome addition to any garden, and the South Coast’s Izinyoni Nursery is on hand to provide some valuable insight into the best ways to attract them to yours.
According to renowned horticulturalist and indigenous plant expert Geoff Nichols, “wild birds all have their own way of life and will slot into a habitat or area created by you which provides some sort of resource or a combination of resources”. Therefore, in order for wild birds to take up residence in your garden, you must make them feel at home. The best way to do this is to replicate their natural environment by choosing the plants and trees that they naturally rely on in the wild for food, water and shelter. If you hope to turn your garden into a haven for local birdlife, your planting choices must meet at least one of these requirements. In order to copy nature successfully, it is best to choose indigenous plant and tree species for your garden. Indigenous plants have many benefits- as well as attracting birds and other wildlife, they are perfectly adapted for the weather and soil of the South Coast, meaning that they need less water than exotic species and are easier to grow successfully.
When it comes to choosing plant and tree species that will attract birds to your garden, you need to consider which species provide good nesting spots for birds, and which ones will provide them with food. For example, fig trees are a good choice as their soft wood provides those birds that need a hole to nest in (like woodpeckers and barbets) with an excellent nesting site; whilst their fruit not only caters to nectar-eating bird species, but also attracts insects that will in turn provide sustenance for insectivorous birds. The fig tree Ficus natalensis is an indigenous species for KwaZulu-Natal, and is available for purchase alongside other fig species at Izinyoni Nursery.
Located on the premises of Crocworld Conservation Centre near Scottburgh, Izinyoni Nursery specialises in indigenous plants and trees, and is staffed by knowledgeable botanists and gardening experts who can help you to pick the best bird-friendly species for your garden. Other excellent choices include the Tree Fuchsia (Halleria lucida), whose red flowers and tasty fruit attract a number of different bird species; the Wild Honeysuckle Tree (Turraea floribunda), which is especially popular with nectar-eating birds; and the Coastal Climbing Acacia (Acacia kraussiana), which acts as a popular nesting site for many avian species. All of these trees, and many more besides, are available for purchase at Izinyoni Nursery.
The Izinyoni Retail Nursery is based at the entrance to the Crocworld Conservation Centre and caters to wholesale and single item buyers alike. It is open to all members of the public from 08h00 to 16h30 daily Monday to Sunday, while the Izinyoni Bulk Sales Nursery is open from 08h00 to 13h00 daily from Monday to Saturday. Originally conceived to facilitate the gardening needs of the new Mpambinyoni housing development at Renishaw, the nursery is now dedicated to serving members of the public, and to encouraging indigenous gardening choices.
ENDS
Issued on behalf of:
Martin Rodrigues
General Manager: Crocworld Conservation Centre
Disseminated by:
Olivia Jones Communications
For more information please contact:
Olivia Jones Communications
Cell: 083 653 1720
Work: 031 303 9341
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
