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How to turn your Madison yard into a mini wildlife haven

A grassroots effort is helping local properties become part of a nationwide habitat network.

A dense cluster of bright pink wildflowers with five-petaled blooms grows among slender green leaves and stems, creating a vibrant, textured patch of color.

Wisconsin is getting wilder. | Photo by @wackybadger via Openverse

Want more from your lawn than just grass? You could turn it into a mini “national park.”

Meet Homegrown National Park, a nationwide grassroots movement that invites property owners to restore wildlife habitats through sustainable planting and the removal of invasive species.

Here’s how it works: Swap a portion of your lawn for native plants that support food webs for local fauna, then watch your yard transform into a natural oasis where wildlife thrives.

A map of Madison, Wisconsin, showing clusters of numbered blue circles indicating locations or data points across the city, along with several green palm tree icons marking specific sites near lakes Mendota and Monona. Highways, major roads, and surrounding neighborhoods are also visible.

Explore the map for yourself. | Screenshot via Homegrown National Park

Registered habitats are tracked on a digital biodiversity map, so you can see which Mad City neighbors are pitching in.

Ready to get started on your own turf? Learn how to register your green space and browse beginner-friendly planting tips.

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