Backyard Habitat Certification Program

Backyard Habitat Certification Program Plant Roots, Create a Habitat, Transform the World...One Yard at a Time. Banner photo credit: Peter Stevens
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Jeanne and David's habitat, nestled in Tigard, is proof that meaningful change doesn't require acres of land or years of...
05/30/2026

Jeanne and David's habitat, nestled in Tigard, is proof that meaningful change doesn't require acres of land or years of effort. By swapping out a patch of lawn for a thoughtfully chosen selection of native plants and adding a few key wildlife habitat features, they earned Silver certification and sparked more than a few curious conversations with neighbors.

Out front, you'll find a well-placed assortment of native gems, including checkermallow, Oregon and broadleaf stonecrop, wild strawberry, and bigleaf lupine. Step past the vegetable garden on the side of the house and into the backyard, where you'll be greeted by the lovely sound of a running water feature and a garden peppered with natives such as vine maples, western columbine, maidenhair ferns, salal, fringecup, and more.

Great job, Jeanne and David, on bringing such lovely plants into your habitat and reaching Silver certification! We look forward to seeing you again when you're ready to move up to Gold!

Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District

City of Tigard Government

🌻 June is almost here, and the Open Gardens Project is buzzing with activity! It is one of the most popular months for g...
05/29/2026

🌻 June is almost here, and the Open Gardens Project is buzzing with activity! It is one of the most popular months for garden visits, and for good reason. Habitat yards across the region are lush, full of life, and open to registered BHCP participants for exploration.

Log in to the OGP webpage to browse available gardens near you. New dates are added regularly, so it is worth checking back often. And remember to always verify the schedule before heading out, since events can be canceled without notice.

Not yet registered? Request your invitation here:
https://forms.fillout.com/t/6346nXVUhgus

Paige and Matthew did their homework and then the heavy work and transformed their Jennings Lodge neighborhood yard into...
05/28/2026

Paige and Matthew did their homework and then the heavy work and transformed their Jennings Lodge neighborhood yard into a Platinum certified wildlife paradise!

They removed all their lawn and a chaotic burden of invasive plants by hand. They selected stabilizing plants including a multitude of ferns and grasses on their sloping areas. They added fast growing plants like blue elderberry and ninebark to quickly add height, shelter and food. They also included an abundant amount of fast spreading ground covers like oxalis and creeping snowberry to help keep those invasive plants under control.

They thoughtfully added many plants to bloom throughout the seasons: red-flowering currant, osoberry for early season and Douglas aster, goldenrod and fireweed for mid and late summer blooming. What’s listed here is just a glimpse of what they have done.

Thank you Paige and Matthew for being dedicated land stewards!

Clackamas SWCD

WeedWise: A conservation program of the Clackamas SWCD

City of Milwaukie

Amit's yard in the Columbia Slough watershed has been beautifully naturescaped in two zones of full-sun and part-shade. ...
05/27/2026

Amit's yard in the Columbia Slough watershed has been beautifully naturescaped in two zones of full-sun and part-shade. Amit is a biology teacher who is well versed in ecosystem science, and shared that "while it's hard work to prep a site, when the plants go in and the pollinators arrive it's so satisfying."

He worked with Elemental Romantism on a design. The 4 canopy layers include big-leaf lupine, Cascade penstemon, prairie junegrass, nodding onion, meadow checkermallow, Western columbine, early blue-violet, piggyback plant, birch-leaf spirea, bald-hip rose, common snowberry, Cascade Oregon grape, sword fern, salal, mock orange, tall Oregon grape, red-flowering currant, oceanspray, and evergreen huckleberry with a bitter cherry on top.

Amit is looking forward to learning more and naturescaping another zone around a sugar maple in the backyard that features a crow’s nest. Congratulations on your Gold certification, Amit. This yard has the potential to amplify habitat for birds and pollinators in nearby parks as well as the Columbia Slough wildlife corridor.

East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

Caryn and Kevin began with a large, sunny backyard in Camas that was truly a blank slate, gently sloping down to an HOA-...
05/27/2026

Caryn and Kevin began with a large, sunny backyard in Camas that was truly a blank slate, gently sloping down to an HOA-owned bioswale. Deer and rabbits have certainly made their presence known, grazing on new plantings, and even coyotes regularly pass through—but none of that has deterred them.

With creativity and determination, they’ve built small fences and protective cages around young plants, with mostly great success. Along one fence line, a row of tall Oregon grape is interplanted with vine maples, creating the beginnings of a layered native screen. They’ve also planted three red alder and are enjoying how quickly they grow. Despite heavy browsing, they’re pressing on and plan to try Douglas fir, confident the third time will be the charm.

Along another fence line, ocean spray and Douglas spirea are thriving and really taking off. Small pockets of flowers are becoming established, which they plan to divide and spread throughout other areas of the yard.

Congratulations on Silver certification—and on your perseverance in building resilient habitat despite the challenges.

Clark County, WA

City of Camas

Reese and her husband have been chipping away at their N Portland yard since moving in a couple of years ago. They began...
05/26/2026

Reese and her husband have been chipping away at their N Portland yard since moving in a couple of years ago. They began by removing a serious ivy infestation, and have been approaching their habitat project one manageable zone at a time. They also got some input and planting help from a landscaper with native plant experience.

So far, they've planted a vine maple, sword ferns, Oregon grape, broadleaf and Oregon stonecrop, oxalis, yarrow, Oregon sunshine, bunchgrasses, vancouveria, and more. Their plan is to sheet mulch and chip away at their lawn, steadily replacing thriving weeds and struggling grass with natives. It's a measured approach that will keep this transformational project manageable over the long haul. Congratulations on your Silver certification, Reese!

Metro

Harmony and Christopher have a delightful yard in North Portland that can cheer up passersby, even on rainy and chilly d...
05/25/2026

Harmony and Christopher have a delightful yard in North Portland that can cheer up passersby, even on rainy and chilly days. The front yard has a lavish array of edible and ornamental plants, and the backyard has three dedicated areas for native plants surrounding a handsome mature Japanese maple.

They thoughtfully chose the right native plants for the right spots, including shade loving plants: tall Oregon grape, osoberry, snowberry, goatsbeard, evergreen huckleberry, salal, Pacific waterleaf, oxalis, maidenhair fern, deer fern, bracken fern and sword fern, and sun loving plants: pearly everlasting, yarrow, checkermallow, columbine, grand collomia, Oregon stonecrop and more.

Congratulations on your Silver certification, Harmony and Christopher! As your habitat continues to mature it will provide more and more for wildlife.

Metro

RC decided to devote a portion of his very small SE yard to habitat. After removing some lawn, he intensively planted on...
05/22/2026

RC decided to devote a portion of his very small SE yard to habitat. After removing some lawn, he intensively planted one area with natives: red-flowering currant, Oregon grape, evergreen huckleberry, sword fern, rushes, Douglas aster, checkermallow, woodland strawberry, California poppy and native sedum. The result has already begun to appear: an increase in pollinators, birds and other wildlife.

Way to make room for nature in your immediate surroundings, RC, and congratulations on your Silver certification!

East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

Bethany's home in the Roseway neighborhood is in the middle of a remodel, but the work done to transform the parking str...
05/21/2026

Bethany's home in the Roseway neighborhood is in the middle of a remodel, but the work done to transform the parking strip, front yard, and backyard from grass to a layered habitat for wildlife was still visible. Goldenrod dominates the parking strip and has been paired with other perennials like Douglas aster. The back/side yard is densely planted with large trees like Western hemlock, shrubs, honeysuckle and ferns. A bird house looks over the yard and was used by Black-Capped Chickadees over the last summer.

Congratulations Bethany on your Gold certification and thank you for creating space for wildlife.

East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

Amelia’s corner lot in King neighborhood draws attention for a few reasons. Her stylish turn of the century home with i...
05/20/2026

Amelia’s corner lot in King neighborhood draws attention for a few reasons. Her stylish turn of the century home with its mature ponderosa pine and multiple canopied native plant community underneath makes for an attractive street view. Hidden in the backyard are slate paths, carnivorous plants, and natives along the fences.

Under the Ponderosa pine, are a couple of established vine maple trees, ocean spray, several snowberries, Nootka roses, sword ferns, lady ferns and other seasonal forbs. Amelia started expanding her native plant collection from there, by adding more snowberries, kinnikinnick, fringecup, and sedums under the American elm tree on the opposite corner of the front yard.

In the backyard along the fences, several taller native shrubs like osoberry, mock orange and ocean spray have been added to provide privacy. The neighbors just removed an ancient red oak which had limited the growth of many other plants, like the salal and inside out flower. Hopefully that will allow for the other natives like the ginger and lily of the valley to thrive. There is plenty of shade under the neighbors' deodore cedar, where the sword ferns, fringe cup, and other natives are comfortable.

Amelia redesigned her shady backyard, by removing the lawn and laying down slate pathways and a patio area. One of her disconnected downspouts flows onto the slate and supports her healthy crop of bleeding heart. This area is divided by the remaining stumps of an older cherry tree, on which various potted plants are perched. Other collectible carnivorous plants share the space, along with a dry sauna and cold dipping pool.

Congratulations, Amelia for taking the first step towards replacing many common ornamentals with native plants, and receiving your Silver level certification. Next up is to tackle some of the undesirable plants that were hiding in the shadows. We hope to see her resubmit her property soon for Gold level.

East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

Address

Portland, OR

Website

https://linktr.ee/backyardhabitatcertification

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