Turn your garden into a welcoming habitat for local wildlife

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Mornington Peninsula Shire’s unique flora and fauna is our shared pride and joy. Our native plants, critters and animals are a welcome sight in every garden.

Mornington Peninsula Shire is excited to invite our residents to participate in the Gardens for Wildlife program. The free program aims to inspire our community to plant indigenous species in their gardens to attract local wildlife.

When planting indigenous plants, you are creating a welcoming habitat for indigenous animals local to the Peninsula and have a better chance of attracting wildlife.

We want your help to pick a mascot for our Gardens for Wildlife program before it kicks off in 2021.

The Blue-Banded Bee gets its name from the metallic turquoise bands across its golden and white fluffy body. It performs ‘buzz pollination’ or sonication by shaking its entire body rapidly. Certain plants will only release their pollen this way, including tomatoes and the native Hibbertia species.

The New Holland Honeyeater stands out with its bright yellow plumage. Your garden will become a hive of activity with these high energy birds darting through the air catching insects or chasing away other honeyeaters from their favourites: Banksia, Eucalyptus and Correa.

The Superb Fairy-Wren show off their blue and black plumage, particularly in breeding season. These beautiful birds are great at removing pests from your veggies and other plants. You can attract Superb Fairy-Wrens by planting dense native shrubs such as Bursaria spinosa, Acacia paradoxa and Leptospermum continentale.

The Common Grass Blue Butterfly flutters by low to the ground with its pretty, blue-lilac wings. Commonly seen in open meadows, there is a good chance of attracting the Common Grass Blue Butterfly by planting pea flowers such as Indigofera australis and

Swainsona lessertiifolia.

Active from spring until autumn, the Ringed Xenica Butterfly derives its name from the unique pattern and large eyespots on the underside of its wings. Native grasses such as Poa, Themeda and Microlaena will likely attract these butterflies.

Cast your vote online at mornpen.vic.gov.au/gardensforwildlife

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