With temperatures warming up this week, residents may be thinking about what to plant in their garden.  

The Nature Conservancy of Canada held a webinar on Wednesday to give tips on how to attract birds and pollinating insects to your garden and flower beds.  

Dr. Mhairi McFarlane, director of science and stewardship with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, said plants and birds are closely linked.  

She said the key is to grow native plants that will attract more insects which, in turn, will attract more birds. Even birds like hummingbirds that drink nectar and birds of prey need insects at some point in their life to feed their chicks.  

McFarlane said there are a number of factors as to why we are seeing a decline in the bird population. One is the loss of habitat, while the other issues include free roaming cats, birds running into windows and disease.  

She did say the bird feeders do help engage people with the natural world. That being said, she recommends that they stay out of the reach of other animals and pay attention to local advisories.  

“There is a bunch of things like that that you have to be careful about and make sure we aren't accidently causing harm instead of helping out our little feathery friends,” she said.  

She said the key is native species of plants because they have evolved over thousands of years with wildlife and insects.  

In urban areas, McFarlane said there are usually a number of initiatives and groups you can join and volunteer with to save the bird population if you aren’t able to grow a garden.  

When it comes to butterflies, McFarlane said Monarch butterflies are top of mind as they were named an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.  

Specifically with Monarchs, she said it comes down to native plant selection. Monarchs will only lay their eggs on milkweed plants, which is just one example of one specific plant species that effects a specific animal species.  

She also recommended being a “lazy gardener” to allow adult butterflies to shelter in the debris.  

According to McFarlane, pollinators can be fussy eaters, so planting a wide variety of native plants is your best bet.  

For native plants, she recommended talking to your local greenhouse and asking. Even if they are unsure, it at least gets the conversation started and they know that there is a demand for native plants.  

McFarlane said there are a couple of things you should look out for. First, find plants that are not just native to your province, but your region as well. For example, something native in northern Saskatchewan will not be native to southern Saskatchewan. Also watch out for plants that grow well in your area versus native plants. They can be two different things as there are many invasive plants there are not native to the area.  

When fall and winter hits, McFarlane recommended that you don’t hurry out to clean up your garden.  

"Don't be too quick to pick up those fallen leaves and leave those dead stems because they will be harbouring beneficial insects."  

She added that being a “messy gardener” should be done practically for esthetics and to keep pests at bay.  

For those living in apartments, she said it’s worth a try planting native flowers in pots on your balcony.