Designing Habitats in Urban Environments - Design with the Desert: Conservation and Sustainable Development - page 387

FIGURE 22.1
Large groupings of plants provide continuity to the design and effective cover for wildlife.
FIGURE 22.2
Massing of particular plant species provides a unifying effect to designs with high species diversity.
3. Use plant massing : In contrast to variety, it is important to incorporate some masses
of a single plant species that unify the design (Figure 22.2).
Too many individual species can add disjointedness to the design—adding
masses of certain plants creates unity and can also increase pollination and fruit
production for those species.
4. Create open spaces : Providing open spaces in wildlife areas is just as important as
creating plant masses. These areas serve as an aesthetic contrast to the variety of
plant groupings and also create areas for wildlife interactions (such as sunning or
bathing) and viewing.
The following discussions cover more specific design guidelines, elements, and plants for
areas designed for native birds, hummingbirds, and butterflies. However, some of these
guidelines will coincide with needs for a range of wildlife types.