By Amanda Rose Newton
The holiday season is a time for joy, community, and making your space feel warm and festive, and it’s also a fantastic opportunity to support the wildlife that shares our yards year-round. In Florida’s mild winter climate, birds, mammals, butterflies, and beneficial insects are still active and in need of food, shelter, and nesting materials.
Instead of decorating with plastics and glitter, try using wildlife-friendly natural elements that feed, shelter, or benefit critters in your landscape. Here’s how to do it and which wildlife visitors will thank you!
Pinecones: Tiny Feeders & Shelter Spots
How to use them:
String pine cones with natural twine and coat them with peanut butter (no xylitol!- this sugar substitute is toxic to most animals) and native seeds, or hang them as is in clusters.
Wildlife helped:
- Native seed-eating birds like Carolina wrens, titmice, and sparrows will chow down on the seeds.
- Woodpeckers and nuthatches can glean insects from the rough surfaces.
- Beneficial insects may find crevices to overwinter.
Garden Bug Pro tip: Scatter a few on the ground so ground-foraging birds and small mammals can appreciate the extra snacks.
Berries & Fruit Accents: Real Food for Real Birds
How to use them:
Decorate wreaths and garlands with clusters of native berries like Beautyberry (Callicarpa), or Sparkleberry (Vaccinium).You can also hang pieces of fruit like slices of orange or persimmon on hooks.
Wildlife helped:
- Mockingbirds, thrushes, cedar waxwings, and robins relish native berries through the winter.
- Hummingbirds may sip fruit juice, especially from citrus slices.
- Butterflies and bees sometimes use fruit as an energy source on warm winter days.
Note: Avoid treated or dyed store-bought berries; always favor fresh, untreated ones.
Seed Heads & Dried Flowers: Low-Maintenance Harvest
How to use them:
Save seed heads from sunflowers, black-eyed Susan, coneflower, and native grasses to weave into wreaths or hang in bundles.
Wildlife helped:
- Goldfinches, sparrows, and buntings love picking seeds from dried heads.
- Ladybugs, lacewings, and other beneficial insects can use the stems as overwintering habitat.
- Butterflies and moths may use hollow stems for shelter.
This is décor and a buffet!
Evergreen Clippings: Cozy Cover & Camouflage
How to use them:
Use clippings from non-invasive evergreens like southern magnolia, podocarpus, yaupon holly, and cedar to craft roping, swags, and boughs.
Wildlife helped:
- Small birds (wrens, chickadees) find shelter from wind and predators in dense evergreen clumps.
- Insects overwintering in leaf litter benefit from the extra cover when placed near the ground.
Avoid invasive clippings like Brazilian pepper and stick to natives and well-behaved ornamentals.
Natural Fibers & Soft Materials: Nesting Helpers
How to use them:
Offer small baskets or hanging pouches filled with materials like natural cotton batting (no synthetics), pet fur, and untreated wool scraps.
Wildlife helped:
- Wrens, titmice, warblers, and chickadees are always in the market for nesting material.
- Native bees sometimes use fibers to line their nests.
Set these up in sheltered spots away from rain to keep fibers dry.
Fruit Garlands: A Feast for Many
How to use them:
String slices of apples, oranges, and cranberries and hang them in trees or near windows.
Wildlife helped:
- Mockingbirds, Cardinals, and Jays will peck at fruit.
- Song birds and hummingbirds may sample sweeter juices on warmer days.
Keep an eye on fruit as it ages, as you will want to remove it before it starts to mold and attracts unwanted pests.
Garden Bug Pro Tip: Holiday Habitat Stations
Make a little wildlife station near your decorations:
- Water source: A shallow bowl with fresh water helps birds, bees, and butterflies.
- Seed tray: Add native bird seed next to decorations.
- Brush piles: Small piles of cuttings near the garden edge provide shelter.
Why This Matters in Florida
Unlike northern climates, where winter can be harsh and wildlife dormant, Florida’s subtropical winters keep wildlife active. Food sources can still be scarce, especially during cold snaps, and natural habitats are limited by our development.
By choosing holiday décor that gives back, you transform your yard into a mini wildlife refuge, supporting:
-resident and migrating birds
-beneficial insects
-small animals like squirrels and opossums
-pollinators preparing for spring
And you get gorgeous, meaningful holiday styles straight from your own landscape.
When you’re done with the décor for the season, don’t throw it away! Place it in your garden or compost heap (unless it has non-native seeds) so the wildlife can continue to benefit from it long after the holidays are over.
