The uniquely manicured grounds of Thaea Lloyd’s Sandy Springs home provides more than just a quiet respite for enjoying the outdoors.

The landscape architect’s yard is a haven for birds, raccoons and other creatures that also call her land home.

“I’m very conscious of what I plant,” said Ms. Lloyd. “I try to plant something edible for the animals.”

Designated a wildlife sanctuary by the Atlanta Audubon Society, Ms. Lloyd’s home is the first stop on the organization’s Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Tour on Sept. 11.

“I think wildlife is a precious resource,” said Ms. Lloyd, explaining why she chose to have her home named a sanctuary by the organization 12 years ago. “I try to put back something for the animals because I get pleasure out of seeing an animal benefit form something I’ve done for them.”

The tour includes three private homes in Buckhead and Sandy Springs as well as the society’s headquarters and the grounds of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Buckhead.

“The tour is designed to show people what a broad variety of backyard wildlife sanctuaries have been certified and hopefully to inspire participants to want to do the same,” said Jacqueline McRae, the society’s wildlife sanctuary program coordinator.

Even though this is the seventh annual tour, the sanctuary program began in the late 1970s to make bird lovers and gardeners more conscious of what they plant, she said.

“How we currently maintain our private green spaces puts our birds and wildlife under pressure,” said Ms. McRae. “The tour stresses that it is easy and essential for us to pay attention … We want participants to go home and enhance their own gardens to include food, water, shelter and nesting sites.”

Those necessities are just four of the requirements to receive sanctuary certification.

The church serves as an example as one of the few large-scale properties to be named a sanctuary.

“Trinity is very honored to be on the tour,” said Linda Bath, a member of the church’s sustainability committee. “We hope that our certification as a wildlife sanctuary encourages larger properties (other churches, schools, office parks) to become a part of the Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary project.”

Also on the day of the tour, participants will have the chance to meet two naturalist authors, Charles Seabrook and John Yow, who will be signing copies of their books at the society’s headquarters at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve on Roswell Road in Buckhead.

If you go

o What: Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Tour
o Benefits: Atlanta Audubon Society
o When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 11
o Where: for addresses of gardens, visit the website below
o Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 day of tour 
o Information: (678) 973-2437 or visit www.atlantaaudubon.org.