Feeding The Birds

Many people feed the birds in the wild.  Some just love to watch them come to their feeders to eat and communicate.  Migrating birds need certain foods to sustain them through their long journey from here to there.  Did you know that some of them like special kinds of foods?  There are also many different and economical ways of feeding such birds.

One of them is considered a table feeder. It is simply just a table or something that can be used as a table for birds.  I use pot trays. I hang them from the eaves of my back deck.  You can use a myriad of things besides this.  

 Some of the other things you can you are:

·        old plates

·        flower pot trays

·        plastic festival plates that you can buy at Walmart

·        shallow bowls

·        party platters that were used to put meats or vegetables in for parties 

I bet you can come up with many other ideas as well.

I have found that even those birds that are tree climbers or walkers, as I call them, like Woodpeckers and such, hang on the sides of the feeders to feed.  It looks quite awkward for them.  I finally found a solution for them right out of my latest Mother Earth News Magazine.  They have a recipe for those types of birds and an idea of what t put it in.  It was simple and easy and the container is something every cook would have in the house.  They used an onion bag.  I bet your could also use a bag the oranges come in too.  They are stretchy and you can tie them knot one end and fill them up with a mixture of peanut butter, lard or bacon/hamburger grease and cornmeal or other seeds.  

In the Mother Earth News Magazine they call for a mixture of 

1 part peanut butter 

5 parts cornmeal.  

I would use crunchy peanut butter in mine though.  

Stuff the bag with the mixture and hang it high enough that the dogs and cats cannot get to it. 

These are nice to have in cooler and cold months when other food sources are not available for them and they can hang on the sides. 

In the warmer months you can just purchase the suet cakes that do not melt.  

© Debra K. Allen a.k.a Lady Guinevere

I researched and wrote this article. Please do not copy and paste any part of this article, picture included for your own use. I will find you and report you for stealing.  It is my right to change any information therein at any time and/or change the location of my article. 

Bring the Birds to You with Home Made Bird Feeders

Nature provides us entertainment with many creatures.  There are huge animals like the majestic Moose, Elk, Bear and wolves, big cats and domestic animals as well.  Though these are wonderful animals to observe in their natural surroundings there is nothing quite like watching birds.  Temperatures variations and weather don’t seem to bother them and they twitter all over the landscape eating all the time.  In my neck of the woods I have watched a family of Pileated Woodpeckers increase in size.  They come to my feeders all the time as well at Blue Jays, Chickadees, Titmouse and some other birds that I don’t know what they are.  I can see the feeders and watch the birds for hours as they peck and fill their bodies. Some of them take turns coming and landing on the feeders and some just like the cat food in bowls on the deck floor.  I have watched a Blue Jay gobble up 6 pieces of cat food, take off with it and a few minutes later come back for more.  Thought Blue Jays are mean bird and will peck a cat to get to its food, they are gorgeous.  Watching birds is becoming a great pastime.  Teach your children about the birds that you see and let them watch them as well.  Bring them to your own back yard by making your very own inexpensive bird feeders.  Make your own feed and hang them in places that you will be able to see and watch them for hours.

There are plenty of Bird Feeders on the market.  I made a few feeders and have a recipe on how to make your own feeder and feed.  Remember to hang them high so cats and other critters don’t get to them.  Watch out for the squirrels as they love to get into them.  I have tried many different feeders and way to put up my bird feeders so the squirrels don’t get to it but they are very persistent.  I have tried put PVC Pipe with a platter on top and in the middle of the yard under no trees slathered with Petroleum jelly and they jumped onto it from the nearest tree some many feet away.  They couldn’t stay on the platter but that wasn’t their intent.  What they were doing was spilling all the seed on the ground and they were eating it wherever it landed.  Smart they are!  Another way that I have it now is hung under the eave of the house on my back deck.  For years no squirrel even attempted to get to them.  Last year two squirrels did manage to get to the feeders but they had such a difficult time getting down they never tried it again.  Plus the trees that they got onto the roof on are gone.  So for now my feeders and the birds are safe.

Here is a picture of my feeders and how they are hung from the back deck.  I do have cats but they cannot reach the feeders and the birds don’t come near them for them to catch them.  I have found that you cannot just put bird seed in the dish.  They throw it around and it will be everywhere instead of in their bellies and you will have one big mess. 

I make my own suet for the feeders.  Now you can get creative with things that you have around the house.  I have found that they prefer bacon drippings over lard, but will eat it if that is all there is.  I normally add 1 cup crunchy peanut butter and 1 cup bacon drippings, lard and sometimes vegetable shortening to a large pot and melt it to liquid. To this I add whatever I have around the house like raisins, peanuts stale nuts or even corn.  Add a few cups of fruit and nut bird seed, a cup of rolled oats and maybe some cornmeal.  Then after that you can add a finely chopped apple or I have even added blackberries and peaches.  They love the blackberries.  While warm spoon this into your containers.  Let it cool down for a bit and then hang them.  This should last a few months.  Enjoy watching the birds come to your feeders.  They will entertain you for hours.

© Debra K. Allen a.k.a Lady Guinevere

I researched and wrote this article. Please do not copy and paste any part of this article, picture included for your own use. I will find you and report you for stealing.  It is my right to change any information therein at any time and/or change the location of my article. 

Planting Colorful Perennial Bulbs To Last For Years

Planting Perennial Bulbs To Last For Years

Spring! I love Spring! All winter I wish for Spring when the ground starts to warm up for digging in the dirt. I cannot wear gloves. I have to do asRebecca Kolls, Master Gardener, says, "Get Those Hands Dirty".

Did you know there is something therapeutic about getting dirt on your hands and digging in it? There is and it isn't just to make your muscles ache which by the way mine do for a few days after digging in the dirt. I rather call it playing in the dirt.

Like the person whom asked this question about what flower bulbs they can plant that will come back year after year, I like that too. Perennials are my favorite. They don't need lots of attention and they do come back and ad beauty to our flower beds each and every year. Some even will multiply themselves without the aid of digging and dividing. One of them is the Bearded Iris.

Irisis In My Garden

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This is one Iris I have in my garden

The Bearded Iris

Irisis's now come in a variety of colors, species and heights to suit any garden. They bloom in the summer. Experience has taught me the are prolific flowers which do not have to be planted very deep at all. The bulbs can be chopped up into many pieces and each piece will grow a new plant. This is a perfect plant for shallow plantings. Someone gave me a bunch of Irises a few years ago and they only filled in half of my garden that I placed them in. Last year, the third year, I divided them and cut the bulbs into smaller pieces and threw the "old" parts away, like instructed. I was told these "old" parts would grow. That is not true at all. I put them back in my garden and now the garden is 3/4 full. I also have some Hyacinths in there. My Irises reach a hieght of 4 feet and are very stately. I have a few Yellow ones and lots of the purple ones. I am hoping to get some Black and other colors in there. These are a bit expensive but the rate they reproduce makes these flower bulbs a bargain to any garden.

Daffodils

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The "Dils

Daffodils varieties can grow 4 inches tall to 20 inches tall and can be planted singlulary, in groups or naturalizing. Naturalizing is good if you have a field or open space that you wnt to have filled up with Daffodils. They self-dividing and will fill in an area in a coupe of years. This is great for those lots that have woods and fields as I had once and they were gorgeous and so picturesque. These all bloom in Early Spring.

Daffodils have long trumpets or cups as some are called depending on the variety. They can be planted in the spring and depending on the varieties you purchase they can bloom from mid t late summer all the wy into early fall.

Jonquils have smaller cups or trumpets and have a sweet aroma. They sit atop slender stems. Depending of the variety chosen they can bloom from early to late spring. These would be great placed in a windo box or under a window. When a slight breeze comes you can get the sweet aroma of these beautiful flowers.

Tulips

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Tulips

There are many varieties of Tulips. All are very pretty. You have the tall stately tulip to the lacy Angelique and shorter versions as well. They are sure to make a great impression on any garden and they are perennials. They also bloom in the summer

Crocuses

Crocuses

Crocuses are small to Giant and are the first bulbs to bloom in the early Spring. These are used in garden edgings and also are excellent for naturalizing in a field. They now come in many more colors than the basic lavender.

Tips on Planting Bulbs

• Be sure to purchase the biggest bulbs for planting so you get strong plants when they come up in the right time for the flowers you selected.
• If you get them before you are ready to plant the bulbs store them in the refrigerator or cool dark place such as a garage.
• You will need a garden spot with well drained soil. First fill the hole with compost or leaf mold to give them a great start.
• If rodents are a problem you can plant your bulbs in small wire cages and put chicken wire on top of the row after planting your bulbs. I used course steel wool and buried it around my garden. When doing this pull the stell wool rolls out to thin it and bury it in a trough around the garden perimiter.
• Small bulbs should be planted 3-6 inches apart and larger bulbs up to a foot apart.
• Small bulbs should be planted 2 inches deep, medium sized can be planted up to 4 inches deep and large bulbs like Tulips are planted 8 inches deep.
• When dividing hidden bulbs or ones you don't know where they are when the foilage has died back. Divide them in the early spring when you can see the plnat breaking the soil barrier.

© Debra K. Allen a.k.a Lady Guinevere

I researched and wrote this article. Please do not copy and paste any part of this article, picture included for your own use. I will find you and report you for stealing.  It is my right to change any information therein at any time and/or change the location of my article. 

Gardening Throughout The Year 2

Gardeners Spring Planting Time April Until August

Source: http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2011/01/garden-planting-zones-frost-dates/

If you live in a different planting zone just adjust the weeks for your zone.  I am in the Mid-Atlantic States and am in the Planting Zone 6.  Adjust your weeks and planting schedule accordingly.

We now are in April and Spring is here. We have prepared our lawns and our gardens and even started some indoors and planted some outdoor crops already!

These next months are the busiest of gardening, minus the put up of our harvesting in the Fall.

The months covered in this article are: April, May, June, July and August.

April

The first week of April you will plant seeds of Swiss Chard, Carrots, Onions, Radishes, Cabbage, Kholrabi,  Potatoes and Raspberries.

The Second week you will plant Beets, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Parsnips, Blackberries, Fruit Trees and Swiss Chard.

Third Week is for planting Peas, Radishes, Leaf Lettuce and Collards.  Indoors you will be starting Late Tomatoes.  This week you will also fertilize your lawn 3 days after you apply Crabgrass killer and Grub Control.

The fourth week you are now able to plant Perennials, Start a compost pile, loosen the mulch on your strawberries and put out the Hummingbird Feeders.  You will also plant Peas, Seed a New Lawn, plant Sweet Corn and Transplant Leeks.

Last week finishes up with planting Carrots and spraying your Fruit Trees.

May

First Week of May: plant Snap Beans, Summer Squash, Cucumbers and Fingerling Potatoes.

Second Week you will: plant Head Lettuce, Leaf Lettuce, Winter Squash, Late Celery and Sweet Corn. Take care and pull Broad leaf weeds from your lawns.

The week of Mother's Day you will be doing: Planting Early Celery, Tomatoes, Annual Flowers, Melons (transplant or seed) and Sweet Potatoes. This is the time to fertilize your Houseplants.

The week after Mother's Day: Plant Large Pumpkins, Peppers, Cabbage, Okra, Lima Beans, and Sweet Corn. Do NOT plant Tomatoes with blossoms on them. Also pinch off blossoms of new Strawberry plants.  Harvest your Asparagus!

The last week you will need to: Plant Tomatoes, Eggplant, Jack O Lantern Pumpkins and your Herb Garden. Prune your woody shrubs, such as Azaleas, Viburnums and Forsythia's after they finish blooming.

June

During the First week you will want to:  Plant Snap Beans, Carrots, Tomatoes, Bush Beans, Corn, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Beets, and Winter Squash  Plant Summer Squash and Corn for a late crop.

The Second week: Plant Tomatoes, Bush Limas, Winter Squash, Corn, Beets and Pumpkins.  Watch out and take care of any Squash Vine Borers and Cucumber Beetles.  Mulch your gardens to control weeds and to keep the root systems moist during the hot months.

Third Week Activities include:  Plant peppers, Pole Lima's, and Pole Snap Beans and Raspberries.  Now is the start of Bagworm control in your area.

The Last days of June.Plant Late Tomatoes,Prune your flowering trees, turn your compost, pinch back your mums and renovate your Strawberry Gardens after the last crop of berries have been picked.   

July

The Week of July 4th you will begin to plant for late crops such as Broccoli, Cabbages, Winter Squash, Brussel Sprouts Late Corn, Kale and Beans.

The next week you will be doing these things: Plant Endive, Carrots, Swiss Chard, Beets and Fall Grape Tomatoes.  Watch out and take care of Cabbage Worms and Tomato Blight.

The week after you will want to watch out for Japanese Beetles, Plant your Chinese Cabbage and remove old Raspberry Canes.

Finishing up the last two weeks of July your garden work will consist of: Compost Turning, Plant your Peppers, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Collards, Cucumbers and Kale for the Fall Harvesting. Harvest your Summer Squash and re seed for a late crop too.  Now is the time for you to treat your lawn for White Grubs.

August

August usually is a hot and dry month so it is best to try to keep thing moist by any means possible.  Newspaper will hold water for a while and you can place strips of about 3 pages around plants to keep moisture in as well as mulch and compost.

The first week you will be planting Swiss Chard, Cabbage, Lettuce and Beans your Peas and Spinach.

Mid August Harvest your Okra and watch for Powdery Mildew on pumpkins and Squash.  Plant Radishes for a winter crop and apply nitrogen to your Strawberries.

The Last Week of August:  Re-seed your lawn, Plant Spinach.  Now is the time to look at and order your Spring Bulbs.

© Debra K. Allen a.k.a Lady Guinevere

I researched and wrote this article. Please do not copy and paste any part of this article, picture included for your own use. I will find you and report you for stealing.  It is my right to change any information therein at any time and/or change the location of my article.