TREES

Shadbush, also known as Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier). White spring flowers, summer blueberrylike fruit, fall yellow and orange color.

Crabapple (Malus). Many cultivated varieties appeal to birds and bees. Birds seem to prefer the fancier crabapples, bred from Japanese parents, to the native crabapple, which is prone to disease. White or pink spring flowers, red fall color, red-yellow or orange clusters of small apples. Look for "disease resistance" on the tag.

SHRUBS

Fothergilla. Brushlike white flowers in spring, spectacular red and orange fall color.

Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia). Fragrant white or pink summer flowers. Catnip to bees. Yellow fall color.

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata). Very pretty bright-red, bird-supporting berries that ripen in September and persist into January.

Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica). Nice tangle of stems for bird protection. Yellow catkins in spring, velvety pink summer fruit.

FLOWERS

Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum). Tall perennial with large clusters of purpley-pink flowers that are a butterfly magnet. Also beloved by the good (pest-eating) wasps. Seed heads attract finches.

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). Tender perennial with licorice-scented foliage and beautiful fuzzy blue, purple, or white flowers in spikes. Attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.

Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Perennial with bright-orange, red, or yellow clusters of flowers that attract all kinds of butterflies and feed the Monarch butterfly larvae.

Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). Red and yellow flowers with curved spurs nod over lacy foliage and attract hummingbirds.

These plants work for sunny to partial-shade areas in gardens in more than half of North America. To find appropriate plants for all regions, including desert, arctic, and tropical, go to www.wildflower.org, the site for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Or Google "native plant societies" in your state. Also, the newest book in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden all-region guide series, The Wildlife Gardener's Guide by Janet Marinelli, is very useful.