One thing about nature is that you can never know everything there is to know. There is always something new to discover and new questions to ask. We love learning, digging into the research to find out what new information scientists are discovering, and then sharing that new knowledge with others.
Below are some of the educational resources we recommend. Some are ones we produce. Others are resources that we use ourselves and recommend to others. Check back often, because we’ll be updating as we find or create additional resources that we think you might find valuable.
The Backyard Ecology Community
The Backyard Ecology Community is for busy homeowners in the eastern U.S. who want to confidently create and maintain their pollinator and wildlife habitat.
We created the community as a safe place to ask questions, learn, celebrate accomplishments, and help each other attract more pollinators and wildlife.
Become a member of the Backyard Ecology Community today and say good-by to…
🌱 trying to figure it all out on your own,
🌱 feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by information overload, and
🌱 struggling with generic, cookie-cutter solutions that never seem quite “right” for your situation.
Native Plants 101 Workshop: Select the Right Native Plants for Your Eastern U.S. Garden
This live, interactive, online workshop will help you confidently choose native plants that will work in your yard, look good, AND attract pollinators and wildlife.
Registration is required and includes workshop replay and bonuses.
Recent Backyard Ecology Videos
Recent Backyard Ecology Blog Articles
- More than just a forest: Our surprisingly diverse eastern ecosystemsby Backyard Ecology on February 18, 2026 at 11:45 am
If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, like me, then you may remember hearing about: I even remember the Weekly Reader magazines that we got in grade school having articles on those topics. The general impression we were given at the time was that prior to European settlement the whole eastern U.S. was
- Winter hummingbirds: Caring for these rare and exciting backyard guestsby Backyard Ecology on November 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Winter hummingbirds are relatively rare but exciting guests if you’re lucky enough to have one show up. So, it’s important to know what to do if you find one.
Recent Backyard Ecology Podcast Episodes
- The Science Behind “Leave the Leaves”by Backyard Ecology on October 9, 2025 at 10:45 am
“Leave your leaves” has become an increasingly common mantra each fall. However, until recently little to no scientific research had been done to quantify impacts of leaving your leaves in a typical suburban yard. We discuss the results of that research and actionable steps that you can take in your own yard.
- A Bad Naturalist’s Journey to Restore a Mountaintop Meadowby Backyard Ecology on September 11, 2025 at 10:30 am
Paula Whyman, author of the book Bad Naturalist, shares her journey of trying to restore and manage a remnant prairie located on a Virginia mountaintop.
Books and Other Items
We often get asked about books, apps, and other equipment that we use and recommend. So, we created a whole page of recommendations on our Backyard Ecology website because we wanted to make it easy for you to find those resources.