Feeding the Birds in the Winter

I shared a post about the pine siskins drinking from a partially frozen bathtub pond last Wednesday so this week I thought I'd show you their nearby feeding station. I have stationed two bird feeders on my deck rail where I can enjoy all of the birds from the kitchen table. The bird feeders contain both black oil sunflower seeds and safflower seeds as well. I also have 4-5 suet feeders in the vicinity of these bird feeders, and have recently added a plate full of mealworms. The variety of foods attracts not only siskins but: finches, sparrows (song, chipping, and house), juncos, cardinals, woodpeckers, chickadees, and titmice.

The whole rail is pretty busy with birds hopping everywhere elbowing their neighbors for a spot at the feeder. I enjoy the movement and color and antics of the birds all day long.

Everywhere you look in your garden you can enjoy life-even in the dead of winter in Tennessee....

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

The Rose Breasted Grosbeaks Love to Eat....

SAFFLOWER seeds!

Since Mr. Fix-it is home all the time he has been enjoying the birds along with me. One sunny morning he asked, "What type of birds are these??"

We were both excited to see THREE pairs of rose breasted grosbeaks feeding at a bird feeder on the back deck. All pictures were taken through my windows because these birds are skittish.

Safflower seeds are a type of seed all the other birds refuse to eat unless it is their only choice. I was surprised to see the grosbeaks having a ball. They had the feeder all to themselves.

We had a special treat later that evening when the grosbeaks came back for dinner. My daughter  Christine was here and I kept telling her and the Jimster to look look! They had never seen these birds before.

The females are the brown birds and the males are, of course, the flashy birds with the red breasts. They make a lovely whistling sound in the garden. These birds do a good job of eating insects but do visit bird feeders as you can see. I know they like black oil sunflower seeds but it sure seems to me they love the safflower seeds....

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Bird Gets Stuck in the Bird Feeder: No Laughing Matter

This was not the post I had originally scheduled for today but I thought this drama merited a change in the posting schedule. I was doing a bit of gardening in between working on a landscape design when I spotted a titmouse stuck in the bird feeder. Obviously the bird feeder was empty and the titmouse thought he or she could outsmart the emptiness by reaching inside-with its head. I thought to myself "Wow! A picture opportunity!" I ran and grabbed my camera and the poor thing was still stuck in the bird feeder-I thought "What luck!" But then it became clear the bird was actually stuck! Struggling as hard as it could it could not free itself from the feeder. I immediately got the boys to come and help me try to get the poor thing out. Its head was somehow jammed in between the opening and the frame holding the opening. I tried to gently push its head out and pull its body out at the same time. The little bird first bit me then squawked and he wasn't budging! How do you tell a little bird to be calm and relax and it can get itself free? It wasn't working for some strange reason:) Enter Mr. Fix-it who immediately took off one of the bars holding the feeder together and the little titmouse flew off none the worse for wear.

I have had this bird feeder for more than five years and never has a bird gotten stuck in it. Has anyone else ever had this happen to them? It was a bit of drama for a little bird...

in the garden...that ended well.

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Plant ID and an Update

Posted by: Dawn

Remember we commented about being someplace and spying a unusual plant or annual in a public place, and feeling as though you had to have it? Yes, every gardener has clipped a few, pulled a few and I have even known a gardener who's dug a few! I would never go that far because I'd be so nervous!

Anyway, for me, this is that plant. Last fall, my Mother in Law went to the hospital for a inpatient procedure, when my husband and I picked her up late that night we both were in awe over the 50 yards of garden that was next to the walkway and four feet wide. The only thing growing in it was Riegers begonia and this plant pictured above provided the height in the background.

Well, considering both plants would die once the frost got to them (right?) I pinched a top of one and came home with a teeny, weeny sample. It stayed short (not even 3 inches) for quite sometime until I moved it to a brighter place. Does anyone know what it is? I'm fairly sure it's a annual, the leaves are veined and leathery feeling and it's purple underneath. It needs bright light, will bounce back from lack of water. I'm guessing it's maximum height is about 15 inches. I'd like to purchase more of it for an area outside so I can enjoy it in the garden. Any help would be appreciated.

I wanted to mention our bird feeder from my last post, these photos were taken April 12th, by the 19th, the Styrofoam was bare and had to be removed for fear my woodpecker would injure himself. He is not the smartest bird and I'm faintly aware there is a nest close by. My female has given me a swoop with a displeased warning when I've walked around the yard. If I were braver I'd purchase something for them to munch on, although I'm not quite sure what that would be.

My chick-a-dees have had a ball, pun intended. In the Garden

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,In the Garden

Pine cones and Sweet gum

Posted by: Dawn

My kids had last Friday off from school; some workshop, in service, that sort of thing. So what to do with a free day, no snow, but bitter blowing cold? My seventeen year old didn't care, he bugged out to a friend's house and spent the night and it took him a full day and full night to recover.

My daughter and I decided to make the best of a quiet spring day.

I saw this somewhere in my travels and I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

What you need: Use the skewer to poke a hole through the center of each ball,

**missing the day of photo shoot...a plentiful supply of pine cones and sweet gum. Thanks, Skeeter for the sweet gum!

use the sharpie to draw the idea,

Make sure you have glue designed for styrofoam. Oh, use the snipers to cut a well in your design.

Glue.

And...glue some more.

Estimated drying time: One day.

String one bead through the twine that you cut at the size of 6x's bigger than your biggest ball. Tape both ends of twine to the end of skewer, thread through your pre-made hole.

Cut the twine of and string both ends through the smaller ball, place the last bead on top, knot both ends together.

Time for the secret ingredient!

Three part peanut butter to one part birdseed. Coat with seed and wa-la! This feeder is up really high, just outside my daughter's window, she has promised me to tell me when a little birdie lands on it.
Until then, sweet tweets In the Garden!

Happy Birthday to Lola!

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Feeding the Birds in the Summer

Feeding the birds in the wintertime is a no-brainer for most people, but feeding them in the summer is not as widespread it seems. It is a shame too because summertime feeding of birds is so much more rewarding.

I've always fed the hummers in the summer and allowed the plants to feed other birds. Well, like always I put out my hummingbird feeders this summer but they were quickly inundated with ants! Since my hummingbird feeders were mounted to my porch and a second story window, ants were a bit too close to the inside of the house for comfort, so I sought to find another way to feed not only the hummers but all birds. I wanted a station that was convenient and pretty. I think I've found it. The above feeding station is made from a pole (purchased from Heimonsohn Salvage for about $2), and some old hay rake tines. I found these hay rake tines at a roadside stand off from Ashland City Road here in Clarksville. I think they are fairly common but I'd been unable to locate them until recently. I set the pole in concrete, added the hay rakes, and hung my bird feeders and what a busy place it has turned out to be! I think the total cost of the station was a grand total of $20, not including the bird feeders and food. A pretty good investment really.

I can watch this station from inside of the house. Of course I don't get the close up views that I did when the feeders were hung from the porch, but I did leave one type of feeder on the porch, a suet feeder. I was under the impression you should not put out suet in the summer since the temperature was so hot it would melt the suet. Well, it turns out that is not so. I left a suet block out front and I tell you it is as busy as the feeding station. There were three woodpeckers on it at one time recently. I could not believe it. Cardinals, finches, and woodpeckers are the main diners, but the occasional chickadee fits in a bite or two as well. This suet feeder is within 5 feet of my living room window and I can see it clearly when sitting and relaxing. I recently taped a woodpecker feeding on the suet, complete with background noise in the form of a television. I thought I'd share the video with you all....

in the garden....enjoying the birds.