One of the reasons I love gardening is because I feel I can make a safe haven for wildlife, providing housing, food, and water for all sorts of critters who might visit my garden. A month ago I hung up two new cedar birdhouses, one bluebird house, and a smaller one for wrens and little birds, anticipating that birds would soon be returning and seeking a place to build their nests. Today I had a gratifying moment as I was out weeding: a black-capped chickadee decided to check out the wren house. He sat at the doorway and peeped inside for a while, then finally decided to go inside to see it more completely. He popped out after a few moments and went directly to the next small birdhouse in my yard, a hollowed-out gourd hanging on a shepherd's hook. He must not have liked it as well as the wren house (and who could blame him?) because he didn't go inside. He went to the feeder, grabbed a morsel, and took off. I'm hoping he's gone to share the news of his find, and maybe he'll be back with his partner soon to get her approval.
I love trying to attract birds to the garden. I always try to keep the feeders full (one with safflower seeds and the other with thistle). I have a hummingbird feeder that will be going up soon (I need to find a good place out of direct sun for it), and a birdbath to hang from the feeder pole as well before the hot weather arrives. As soon as I see bluebirds nesting nearby, I'll start putting mealworms in the mealworm cup. The bluebirds love to have these to feed to their nestlings.
I also plant things in the yard that I know the birds will like. I have several holly shrubs (ilex) that I know certain birds use for food (the berries) and housing. They also love the pyracanthas, viburnum, dogwood, and honeysuckle. Flowers for songbirds include: roses, Amaranthus caudatus (Love-lies-bleeding), asters, calendula, bellflower, bachelor's buttons, cosmos, phlox, scabiosa, marigolds, verbena, and zinnias. I remember how popular the zinnias were last summer with the goldfinches. I have more zinnia seed to direct sow in the garden in another week or so. Hummingbirds prefer hollyhocks, fuchsia, tiger liies, four o'clocks, petunias, salvia, phlox, nasturtium, cardinal flower, monarda (bee balm) and butterfly bushes.
I'm very excited to see the birds out house shopping, and maybe soon they'll be moving in and scrounging the yard for suitable building materials. I may help them by putting out some clean poodle hair and short strands of soft yarn for them to "find." I remember one spring day several years ago when my cat Moshe was napping peacefully in the herb garden; he was suddenly awakened by a bird trying to pull some hair out of his fluffy tail. Brave bird! I guess she thought his hair would make the perfect nest lining. Maybe they'll be happy with poodle hair this year as my little cat is no longer with us. Finally I've discovered a way for the poodle to be helpful in the garden.
Wishing you happiness in spades,
M.R.S.
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| The chickadee seemed to like this house best. |
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| He also checked out the gourd house. |
I love trying to attract birds to the garden. I always try to keep the feeders full (one with safflower seeds and the other with thistle). I have a hummingbird feeder that will be going up soon (I need to find a good place out of direct sun for it), and a birdbath to hang from the feeder pole as well before the hot weather arrives. As soon as I see bluebirds nesting nearby, I'll start putting mealworms in the mealworm cup. The bluebirds love to have these to feed to their nestlings.
I also plant things in the yard that I know the birds will like. I have several holly shrubs (ilex) that I know certain birds use for food (the berries) and housing. They also love the pyracanthas, viburnum, dogwood, and honeysuckle. Flowers for songbirds include: roses, Amaranthus caudatus (Love-lies-bleeding), asters, calendula, bellflower, bachelor's buttons, cosmos, phlox, scabiosa, marigolds, verbena, and zinnias. I remember how popular the zinnias were last summer with the goldfinches. I have more zinnia seed to direct sow in the garden in another week or so. Hummingbirds prefer hollyhocks, fuchsia, tiger liies, four o'clocks, petunias, salvia, phlox, nasturtium, cardinal flower, monarda (bee balm) and butterfly bushes.
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| Hummingbirds love to visit the fuchsia. |
I'm very excited to see the birds out house shopping, and maybe soon they'll be moving in and scrounging the yard for suitable building materials. I may help them by putting out some clean poodle hair and short strands of soft yarn for them to "find." I remember one spring day several years ago when my cat Moshe was napping peacefully in the herb garden; he was suddenly awakened by a bird trying to pull some hair out of his fluffy tail. Brave bird! I guess she thought his hair would make the perfect nest lining. Maybe they'll be happy with poodle hair this year as my little cat is no longer with us. Finally I've discovered a way for the poodle to be helpful in the garden.
Wishing you happiness in spades,
M.R.S.
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