Birds as Winter Colors

It’s true that virtually all flowers and lithe green things have finally been beaten down by the three or so frosts that have carpeted much of the landscape of late. There still are plenty of scarlet, flame and nutbrown leaves scattered on the tress and on the ground. But not for long. Now is the time to fill the birdfeeders in the garden if you have any and the time to buy at least one if you haven’t had the pleasure of feeding wild birds during the winter months.

It is work, of course. And a commitment. Once you start, you have to keep up. But the rewards are many. Even having one feeder, keeping it filled with nyger seed or other small variety for finches or small birds can be very filling for the birds and quite entertaining for you. Have a suet cake holder for easy-to-use suet cakes for larger birds.

When buying seeds such as sunflower for larger birds, it is worth the extra cost to purchase the hulled seeds, that way there will very little seed cases scattered all over the ground, slowly building into an unwelcome heap.

You can find a good selection of wild bird food in chain stores, some specialty shops and also online, at www.petfooddirect.com, which often has specials that translate into having virtually no shipping costs.

Give it a try. You will be helping the birds—who in turn help you in the summer by eating harmful insects and weed seeds--- and helping yourself as well.

Garden withdrawal

It is nearly November and if you haven't already dismantled your vegetable garden, now is the time. Don't worry about garden withdrawal. Think of the removal of the spent and dried or wilted stems and branches as reminders of the future; what you will plant and care for and watch over come next Spring. Let the Winter blanket the plot with restful frost or snow. Planting a winter rye grass may help nourish the soil for your next planting.

Plan and the Plant. But that is several months (at least) away. Given the state of the economy, you may want to devote more space to a vegetable garden next year.