Here are just a few of the more common wildlife species you might find—as well as what to do to welcome or discourage a visit.

Hummingbirds

Fast-flying hummingbirds are amazing and fun to watch. These tiny birds, which feed three to five times an hour, can consume up to half their weight in nectar. To attract them, plant a variety of nectar-producing, tubular flowers (cardinal vine, honeysuckle and salvia are good choices) in vivid shades of red and pink. Add a commercial hummingbird feeder or two filled with a 1:4 ratio of sugar to water. Refill feeders as soon as they're empty, but not before cleaning them scrupulously with a bottle brush and hot water.

Butterflies

Butterflies bring a little extra tranquility to your backyard sanctuary. Beautiful, sun-loving butterflies love nothing more than to rest on a flat stone located in a warm, windless spot next to small groups of flowering plants. To attract butterflies, include plants that produce yellow, purple or orange flowers, such as asters, butterfly bush, marigolds and zinnias. Provide a shallow mud puddle so butterflies can quench their thirst. And, for the caterpillar stage, offer food in the form of an undisturbed patch of a leafy green plant, such as clover, dill, violet or milkweed.

Squirrels

Squirrels can be greedy guests at the bird feeder. To discourage them from munching all your bird food, locate feeders at least ten feet from jumping-off points like trees, fences and rooftops. Make it difficult for squirrels to get a grip on feeders by adding a dome-shaped baffle, sliding a PVC pipe over the pole, or putting up a feeder with a collapsible perch that gives under their weight. Finally, if you can't beat 'em … feed 'em! Give squirrels their own feeder stocked with the hard foods they love like field corn, pumpkin seeds and peanuts.