Seedheads And Leaf Litter

September 14, 2026

An American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), demonstrating why it is important to leave your gardens as they are now. Seedheads can wait until spring to be cleaned up, and in doing so you are providing many birds with food during the winter.

And all that leaf litter around your yard? It helps many beneficial insects overwinter, as adults, eggs, caterpillars, or pupae. They seek shelter in the leaf litter, which provides insulation and protection. Let those leaves offer protection for these critters.

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Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

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