I was inspired earlier this summer by some reading that I did about British gardeners. It seems that they have been spending a lot of time attracting wildlife to their gardens, and as is so often the case, they have come up with some interesting and innovative ideas. Enter: the insect hotel. The idea is to create habitat space for the desirables, to the greatest extent possible.

The bottom layer of my hotel is a series of house bricks, with the holes lined up just such a way that garden snakes can stay over winter. Above them is a series of bark and wood pieces that are in varying stages of decay. Rot and decay is very helpful where insects, newts, salamanders, toads and many other wildlife desirables are concerned. For the most part, they do not have much use for clean, new, bright and shiny. No granite counter tops in my insect hotel! Note that the front of the hotel faces the sun, the back is in the shade and the hotel itself is only steps to water.

Have a good look at this segment and tell me what you think. I am predicting that the next generation of Canadian gardeners will all have an insect hotel in their back yard. In fact, it just may become a feature that is built into future new-home developments.

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