Retired biologist brings focus to bringing nature to your yard in a big way

Craig Hensley stepped into his small greenhouse in Boerne and surveyed the rows of native Texas plants he’s grown over the past six years — some 30,000 to 40,000 seedlings that would eventually transform not just his own yard, but inspire others to rethink what a backyard could become.

The retired biologist brought that passion to the Riverside Nature Center on Tuesday, delivering a talk on “inviting nature into your yard” that challenged homeowners to abandon their “biological desert” lawns in favor of native plant havens that support struggling wildlife populations.

“We’re surrounded by these green lawns mowed to two inches that have absolutely no value to the natural world,” Hensley told the audience, describing typical suburban landscapes as sterile environments that fail to support the pollinators, birds and other wildlife facing mounting pressures from habitat loss and climate change.

Hensley should know. Over four decades in environmental education, he’s worked with organizations from the Thomas Irvine Dodge Nature Center to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, where he spent 13 years, including six as a Texas Nature Trackers Biologist. His programs on everything from astronomy to snakes have reached countless children and adults across multiple states.

But it’s his own 0.23-acre yard in Boerne that serves as his most compelling argument for change.

When Hensley moved to the property, it was dominated by St. Augustine grass and non-native plants, such as nandina and boxwood. Today, his iNaturalist project has documented 688 species in that small space — about 99 native plant species he’s added, plus roughly 450 animal species that have made his yard their home.

The transformation didn’t happen overnight. Hensley began by inventorying existing plants to identify valuable natives like straggler daisy and frog fruit already growing there. Then came the strategic selection of new plants designed to support different pollinators throughout the seasons.

“I wanted composites like basket flower and cone flower because their shallow tubes accommodate many pollinators,” he explained. “Tubular flowers for long-tongued pollinators like hummingbirds. Plants with different colors, heights, and bloom times so there’s nectar available from late January through December.”

His “must-have” list includes mealy blue sage, which he calls deer-resistant and attractive to “every pollinator” he’s observed, and Texas milkweed, critical for queen butterflies. Frostweed provides white flowers that monarchs love during migration, while Texas prairie parsley offers early spring nectar for small pollinators.

The results speak for themselves. Hensley has documented 53 species of bees, wasps and ants in his yard, along with at least 153 species of butterflies and moths. More than 80 bird species have visited, including unusual sightings like the Western Tanager, drawn by the native plants, insects and water features he’s added.

“It’s become a tiny little oasis surrounded by biological deserts,” Hensley said.

The broader implications extend far beyond aesthetics. Hensley emphasized that caterpillars — moth and butterfly larvae that many homeowners try to eliminate — are crucial food sources for baby birds. He cautioned against spraying trees for caterpillars, noting it “shrinks bird populations.”

The challenges facing pollinators and wildlife are significant: habitat fragmentation, loss of natural diversity, diseases, agricultural practices, pollution and climate change. Even well-intentioned efforts can fall short — cultivars of native plants often sacrifice nectar and pollen quality that makes them less beneficial than true natives.

Hensley’s solution is both simple and profound: transform residential yards into habitat, one property at a time.

Adults are the decision-makers for environmental stewardship, not children,” he said, urging audience members to educate others beyond those already committed to conservation. “We need to spread the message.”

He recommends resources including “Native Host Plants for Texas Moths” and “Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies” by Jim and Lyn Weber, along with websites for the Native Plant Society of Texas, Xerces Society and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Seeds can be collected from roadsides and fields, though he advises taking only some and remembering they often need winter stratification to germinate.

The work requires effort — removing non-native plants, avoiding pesticides, sourcing appropriate natives from local nurseries and plant sales. But Hensley describes maintaining a native garden as “a lot more peaceful” than traditional landscaping, fostering an “intimate relationship with your yard or your property.”

His talk, initially planned as possibly his last at the center due to retirement and a planned move to Minnesota, ended up generating interest for future engagements. The message resonated: even small efforts can make significant differences.

Hensley urged homeowners to register their yards with programs like Douglas Tallamy’s initiative aimed at creating a national park of habitat using residential properties. Simple steps like displaying pollinator recognition signs can spark conversations with neighbors.

“Even if future homeowners remove the native landscaping, the efforts make a positive difference for a while and can inspire others,” Hensley said.

In a time of environmental uncertainty, his small yard in Boerne stands as proof that individual action, multiplied across communities, can create vital refuges for wildlife while connecting people more deeply with the natural world around them.