Learn how to create beautiful habitats that support thriving ecosystems.
We offer live masterclasses and self-paced courses designed to teach you the knowledge and skills you need to create and manage pollinator and wildlife habitat on your property based on your own unique goals and situation.
“This was really helpful, thank you. I realize I’ve been overthinking this and making it harder than it needs to be. “
~ Darrell
What type of courses are you interested in?
How do the self-paced courses work?
🦋 Everything is on your timeline.
Take the courses you want, when you want to take them.
🦋 Learn in short, fun, bite-sized lessons.
Discover what you need to do, why it’s important, and how to do it (including some of the adaptations you might want to think about for how to make it “fit” your unique situation).
🦋 Take action as you go.
Most lessons include small action steps that will help you immediately apply what you just learned.
The small action steps walk you step-by-step through the process so that by the end of the course, you’ll have accomplished the goal of the course.
🦋 Easily track your progress.
Each course includes a digital workbook to guide your actions so that you can quickly and easily make progress on your goals.
🦋 Get additional support and guidance, as needed.
Each self-paced course is offered only within the Backyard Ecology™ Community so that you can get additional support and guidance that is customized to your unique property, goals, and situation.
Go beyond just gardening for pollinators and wildlife.
Create beautiful habitats that support thriving ecosystems.
What self-paced courses are available?
Part 1 of The Ultimate Guide to Creating Pollinator and Wildlife Habitat on Your Property
Part 2 of The Ultimate Guide to Creating Pollinator and Wildlife Habitat on Your Property
Ecological
Landscape Design
Anticipated: late May 2026
Part 3 of The Ultimate Guide to Creating Pollinator and Wildlife Habitat on Your Property
“You taught me many things that I didn’t realize I needed to know. There’s a lot of information out there, but you don’t always know what you are missing.“
~ Allison
How do the live masterclasses work?
🦋 Join others on a set day and time.
Each live masterclass is held once a year. They take place in a virtual format so you can join from anywhere with internet access.
🦋 Actively participate throughout the masterclass.
The live masterclasses are bite-sized, highly interactive programs designed to help you take action. These aren’t webinars where you just sit there and listen to someone talk.
Go beyond just gardening for pollinators and wildlife.
Create beautiful habitats that support thriving ecosystems.
What live masterclasses are available?
Native Plants 101: Select the Right Native Plants for Your Eastern U.S. Garden
Confidently choose native plants that will work in your yard, look good, AND attract pollinators and wildlife.
Next offering:
March / April 2026
Native Plants 201: Go Beyond “Just Gardening” with Native Plants
Take your plantings to the next level and nurture a thriving ecosystem on your property.
Next offering:
Aug. / Sep. 2026
Backyard Ecology™’s Guiding Principles:
🦋 Curiosity: Nature is fun, interesting, and worth exploring. We will never know everything. Answers lead to more questions. That’s half the fun.
🦋 Balanced: You don’t have to choose. You can support nature AND have a beautiful property that you can enjoy and be proud of.
🦋 Science informed: Habitat creation and management should be based on the latest scientific research available. This is true regardless of whether you’re working in a small garden or on hundreds of acres.
🦋 Stewardship: Anyone can make a positive difference in the natural world and leave an ecological legacy on their property.