Last summer, several horseweed plants took up residence in the roofline gutter of my house. Horseweed ( Erigeron canadensis ) is a tall, leggy plant that branches into small flowers at the top. When the plants went to seed, their long, dry stems flopped over out of the gutter to dangle unattractively in front of my windows. I’m not sure if my neighbors took notice, but the birds did. Throughout the fall, I’ve seen tufted titmouse fly up to the dry flower seed heads to grab a quick snack. While I should probably consider better gutter maintenance, part of me loves the dried horseweed hanging from my roof because it reminds me that I share my space with wildlife.
The movement to “rewild” yards and cultivate more naturalistic spaces through home gardening continues to gain momentum in reaction to the ways human-caused climate change and the biodiversity crisis are reshaping the world we know. For many, supporting the local ecosystem by fostering space for wildlife in home gardens can feel like an act of resistance.