When I was having breakfast in my private courtyard a month or two ago, a hummingbird flitted over the flowers in my built-in planter. I was entranced! There’s a design concept called biophilia, which promotes the physical and mental health benefits of incorporating nature into your spaces. I’m a big fan!

I haven’t seen another hummingbird since that singular visit, (so I’m going to plant some hummingbird-enticing flowers to lure more of them in), but the memory is vivid and delightful.

When I lived in Tampa, I used to love watching the many varieties of water birds land on the pond behind our suburban house. I ate outside there too. In fact, the birdwatching was such a joy that I bought two metal crane statues for my back yard here in San Diego. (Check out the Bonus Nugget below for that story from Apartment Therapy.)

According to the latest Yelp lifestyle trends tracker, I’m far from alone in my birdwatching delight. Interest, evidenced in searches and project requests, has nearly doubled since last year.

So I wrote my Forbes.com article this week on the benefits and dos and don’ts of birdwatching at home. Please share in the comments whether you have feathered friends visiting your property.

I love how the birdhouse matches the main house!
[Pexels]

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BONUS NUGGET

As promised above, here’s a link to my story about adding bird statues to my San Diego outdoor living space, so I can enjoy them as I did the real cranes, wood storks, ducks, herons and egrets that used to visit our pond in Tampa. (Please ignore the goofy title they gave the piece.)

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WILDFIRE SEASON CALLS FOR RESILIENCE!

One of the lessons learned since 2020 was the need for resilience in our living spaces. I included this important topic in the FREE Bonus Chapter I added to my award-winning Wellness by Design book. You can find out more here.

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GOLD DUST

Here are links from around the web to enhance your home, health, safety and life:

• Remodeling-related: Investing in Long-Term Value with New Windows – Green Builder
• Maintenance-related: Best Way to Get Rid of Ants Indoors –  Good Housekeeping
• Outdoor-related: 59 Small Patio Ideas That Designers Love – House Beautiful