It seems a little late to be passing this information along, but perhaps it can be useful in planting the seed for a new way of thinking, for some gardeners. If I've learned anything living in Southeast Missouri, it is, there's always next year, when it comes to gardening.

Did you know that your own backyard can be certified as an official backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation? A brochure and application can be obtained by writing to this address: Backyard Wildlife Habitats, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190-5362 or by calling (703) 438-6294.

You may find out that your backyard is already certified, get some ideas that would benefit wildlife, improve your garden, and/or just be fun and interesting to experiment with.

The whole process starts simply by providing four basic habitat elements: food, water, cover and places to raise young. By doing this, you will also help improve the community's environment.

For the first half of 2001, the City of Jackson has done some $8,160,998 worth of construction. The figures were provided by City of Jackson and are up to July 6. This evidence of growth in our city is great news. However, with this new construction comes loss of wildlife habitat -- something that can be restored with little effort.

First, identify what you're already providing in your own backyard. Native plants that provide food and cover are very important. Make a list of all the plants in your yard. This includes everything from trees to wildflowers. Try to determine which are native to your area and which are not. A publication called "Missouri Wildflowers" is available from Missouri Department of Conservation, 2302 City Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, 63701, and "would be very helpful in the identification process," according to A.J. Hendershott, outreach and education supervisor. You may call the Missouri Department of Conservation at 290-5730 for more information.

The second step would be to think about which plants might provide food, such as seeds, fruits, nuts and nectar. It is especially important to restore the native plant communities to your yard, since native plants and wildlife have co-evolved. Native perennials and annuals provide nectar for both butterflies and hummingbirds.

Supplemental feeders provide nectar and a variety of seed for many birds throughout the year. These should be used as a supplement to natural food provided by plants.

Water can be provided in a birdbath, small pond, recirculating waterfall or a shallow dish. Please make sure you provide water year-round, if you decide to do so. In subfreezing weather, when the need for water is critical, birdbath heaters are available. However, a pan of hot water set out, will take a while before it freezes and is better than no water at all.

A small pond set into the ground supplies water for drinking, bathing, as well as cover and reproductive areas for small fish, insects, amphibians and reptiles.

Safe cover can be found in dead or dying trees and used by woodpeckers, flying squirrels, a multitude of insects and cavity-nesting birds, such as owls, bluebirds, chickadees and wrens. Put that chain saw away!

One good clump of evergreen trees and shrubs provide year-round cover from weather and predators. Juniper, hollies and live oaks provide food as well as cover.

Rock, log and mulch piles also offer good cover. Small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and a great variety of insects and other small animals find homes in these structures.

The final requirement toward creating a wildlife habitat in your backyard is providing places to raise young. Dead or dying trees provide nesting areas for owls, flying squirrels and other cavity-nesters. Evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs provide nesting areas for birds. Rabbits, shrews, mice, snakes and salamanders lay their eggs or raise their young under boughs of plants as well as in the rock, log or mulch piles. Aquatic animals, such as frogs, toads, newts, dragonflies, and other insects deposit their eggs in ponds and other wetlands. Butterflies require "host" plants that serve as food sources for butterflies during their larval or caterpillar stage.

For those of you like me, who might be novice gardeners and learning as you go, there's a lot of information to process here. Some suggestions are just too easy not to include in improving the garden and helping nature; others offer a challenge. Whichever category you fit into, I hope this information has been helpful.