Dia Mirza turned her Mumbai home into a mini jungle. Actress shares 3 easy steps for beginners to attract birds, butterflies and bees

Living in a city does not mean you have to stay disconnected from nature. Actress Dia Mirza is proving that even a small space at home can be turned into a green corner that welcomes birds, butterflies and bees. The actor recently shared a glimpse of her home and explained how simple changes can make an urban space friendlier for wildlife. The best part? You do not need a large garden or even a balcony to get started. From flowering plants to nesting boxes, Dia has three easy suggestions for beginners.

1. Start with flowering plants, even without a balcony

The first step is perhaps the easiest one, add flowering plants to whatever space you have. Dia explained that she does not even have a balcony at home, but that has not stopped her from creating a green space.


Instead, she has placed metal troughs outside her home and filled them with flowering plants. These have become a welcoming spot for different kinds of visitors.

According to Dia, planting flowers is one of the simplest ways to attract birds and butterflies to an urban home. Her own experience shows just how much difference a few plants can make. She has spotted several birds visiting the space, along with butterflies.

The actress described the experience as magical, especially because all of this is happening in the middle of a busy city.

For someone starting their first home garden, flowering plants can therefore be a good place to begin. They can add colour to an otherwise plain space while also creating a more inviting environment for insects and birds.

And you do not necessarily need an elaborate garden setup. A few planters, pots or troughs can work if they are placed in a suitable spot with enough light.

2. Add nesting boxes to give birds a safe space

Dia's second suggestion is particularly useful for people who want to do more than simply grow plants. She recommends putting up nesting boxes for birds.

Cities are rapidly changing, and birds can struggle to find suitable spaces to build nests. Buildings, roads and construction have replaced many natural habitats, leaving fewer safe corners for birds.

A nesting box can provide an additional option for them. Dia has one at her home and has seen birds such as sparrows around the space.

The idea is simple: if your home has enough room, adding a properly placed nesting box can give birds a safe spot to rest or nest. It can also make your garden feel more like a living ecosystem rather than simply a collection of decorative plants.

For beginners, this is a small addition that can make a noticeable difference. Along with plants, a nesting box can turn an ordinary window, terrace or outdoor corner into a space that birds can actually use.

3. Plant native trees that offer food and shelter

Dia's third tip is to think beyond flowering plants and include trees wherever space allows. Trees can provide birds and insects with food, shelter and places to spend time.

She suggests plants and trees such as mulberry, gulmohar and peepal. These can be particularly useful when the goal is to create a space that supports local wildlife rather than simply making the home look greener.

Fruiting trees can also be a good choice. Dia recommends options such as guava, pomegranate and lemon. Apart from giving homeowners something to grow and enjoy, fruiting plants can provide food for different creatures.

Of course, not everyone living in a city will have enough room to grow a full-sized tree. That is where starting small becomes important. A few suitable plants can be the first step, and homeowners can gradually expand their green space based on what their home allows.

Dia's approach is ultimately about making nature a part of everyday city life. Her own home shows that creating a wildlife-friendly space does not necessarily require a sprawling garden.

With flowering plants, nesting boxes and suitable trees, even a compact urban home can attract birds, butterflies and bees. And once the first visitors begin arriving, a few plants outside a window can start feeling like a tiny piece of the natural world right at home.