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If you 'clean up' sticks and small limbs from parts of your property, use it to create useful brush piles for wildlife. Loosely formed brush piles can provide nesting habitat, resting areas, concealment, and protection from predators. Brush piles that are relatively open at ground level, but tightly compacted above, can provide good protective cover against harsh weather conditions. They can also provide den sites for additional species of wildlife. Constructing brush piles

The evergreen hemlock, a vital and beautiful forest and landscape tree, is threatened by the invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) insect. Lake & Wildlife Habitat Conservation, along with Save Georgia’s Hemlocks, leads a program to treat all hemlocks in Bent Tree, including those on common and private property (unless the owner objects). Another treatment is scheduled between December 2025 and December 2026. Initial assessments of Bent Tree hemlocks show no HWA infestations,

Minimizing interference from vegetation helps the power company keep the power flowing. Herbicides can be used within the power line right of way to assist this effort. Prior to 3 years ago, Amicalola used a broad spectrum herbicide in a swath 12 feet wide under the lines here in Bent Tree, 6 feet on either side of every line in Bent Tree. This killed all vegetation, the good along with the undesirable, the blackberries and club moss and mountain mint along with the small tr

This is NOT in Jasper, it is the Bent Tree Stables The answer is YES it could , but some dedicated residents are trying to make sure that...

funny, not funny In late summer it is easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of damaging invasive Japanese stilt grass and beefsteak (and...

Parents and grandparents know how to organize households for both purpose and function! A home can keep you almost nonstop busy. Things...

The EPA states that sediment contamination of our surface waters is the biggest threat to our nations water resources. In Bent Tree,...

Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly The little hill just to the right as you approach the back gate entrance arm is adjacent to the small area...

A 'mineral stump' is the 18- to 24-inch-high stump of a hardwood tree that resprouts. The sprouts contain 5X the nutritional value of...

Depending on how you have approached your property to date, you may already have a wildlife friendly habitat yard. Sometimes doing nothing really is the best approach! Review the criteria and assess what practices you can adjust. Examples are: Add some native plants (on your porch or deck can work). Sometimes you can let the seedbank give them to you. Removing suppressive mulch or leaf litter in a somewhat sunny location might reveal them. Ceasing to mow or weed whack the

The beauty of Lake Tamarack at the dam provides Bent Tree residents a glimpse of Georgia's breathtaking natural landscape. From the...

The spillway habitat provides cover for small mammals and insects for birds. Directly across Tamarack Drive from the Memorial Garden is a...

Recognition  – The L&W Habitat Conservation team is interested in your natural landscaping and is available to talk through any questions. We are not professional landscape designers, botanists or horticulturists. We are self taught residents with a passion for Bent Tree's amazing diverse plants and animals.   Certification - Meeting the criteria of a 'Habitat Yard' would mean you likely qualify for several prestigious certifications if you are interested. Getting these cert

Presence of at least 5 native plant species (more about Georgia native plants from the Georgia Native Plant Society or at references below ) Presence of Mineral stumps  (link to YouTube video) or Snags / down logs / woody debris pile (see Firewise guidance from BT Public Safety for placement of woody debris) Most leaves left on the ground Water feature or naturally occurring water source within 100 yards Active removal of invasive stilt grass, Chinese Privet, Beefsteak (

Habitat Yards is a program of Bent Tree Lake & Wildlife, sponsored by the Habitat Conservation sub-committee. It exists to encourage Bent Tree residents to focus on natural landscaping for their property so that it contributes to the overall habitat available to pollinators, birds, and other Bent Tree wildlife. Natural landscapes are beneficial in that they improve storm water retention and erosion control, and increase water quality and biodiversity. They provide food, water

All  living things need to consume food to sustain life. For wild animals finding adequate food is a primary task. Nutritional needs vary...

As our ancestors explored and mapped the world, the stars in the sky were essential to navigation. Clara Lucas Balfour wrote, “What a...

Larry and Debbie Bishop are 19 year Bent Tree residents. In recent years they have a growing interest in our natural environment. They...

Wild animals are not pets; respect their wildness. Feeding wild animals may seem like the caring thing to do, especially in harsh...