Archive for December, 2009
How To Make Hummingbird Food
Some of the most common flowers that will attract hummingbirds to your garden are bee balm, hollyhock, hibiscus, trumpet honeysuckle, clematis, impatiens, phlox and fuchsias. But hanging a hummingbird feeder where you can easily see it is probably the best way to observe the hummingbirds in action.
Why buy costly hummingbird nector when you can make it yourself. Making hummingbird food is as simple as boiling a pan of water.
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
Combine 1 part sugar to 4 parts water
Bring 1 cup of water to a boil
Add 1/4 cup of sugar
Stir until dissolved
Let cool, store in the refrigerator until ready to use
Do not add food coloring
Cleaning your hummingbird feeder is recommended on a weekly basis.
The Gift of Sound
Most people think about a garden as a visual feast, with plants, flowers, trees, and all manner of beautiful foliage. However, a garden can also be a feast for the other senses, including sound which most people disregard. Though it can be difficult to think of what a garden sounds like, there are a few unique features you can add which will provide an aural aesthetic to the outdoor space. Here are a few ideas:
~Water Fountains – the sound of rushing, moving, or dripping water has fascinated humans since the beginning of time; a fountain will provide intense relaxation and hours of auditory enjoyment.
~Wind Chimes – most every location has at least a little wind, and wind chimes can make several different sounds depending on their composition of wood and metal.
~Insects – honey bees buzzing around is a sound which promotes natural harmony; a bee house will encourage bees to frequent your garden.
What to feed birds during the cold season
When leaves change and fall from the trees we know winter is not to far away. During the winter months people expect all the birds to fly south for the winter but there are some species that can still be seen amongst the bare branches. Bird watching can still be enjoyed at this time of year. With the right bird food and a bird feeder, such as the Wood White Gazebo Birdfeeder, these little feathered friends can be enjoyed year round.
Black sunflower seeds are highly recommended for use in bird feeders because they attract a wide variety of birds, have a high ratio of meat to shell, and are high in fat content. Other common birdseeds include nyjer seed, or thistle seed, a favorite of goldfinches, millet for sparrows and juncos, and safflower for cardinals, among others. Not all birds eat seeds. Suet (beef or mutton fat) is recommended for insect-eating birds like nuthatches and woodpeckers. One word of caution. Place bird feeder a safe distance for the house to prevent the birds from flying into the windows.
Reference
Wikipedia®
1. ^ a b c d What to Feed Birds and Seeds and Grains for Birds. Project FeederWatch. Retrieved on August 23, 2006
2. ^ a b c Porter, Diane. Winter Bird Feeder: Keep Them Coming Back. Retrieved on August 23, 2006.
Holiday Gifts for Spring
Though the spring season is a while off, receiving a holiday gift with a winter theme doesn’t seem all that appropriate with winter half over. Here are a few fun gift ideas in preparation for spring.
~Bird Baths; great for attracting migrating birds to your yard, combined with a bird feeder and they just might build a nest.
~Garden Decor; stepping stones, statues, and garden fountains are all great ways to celebrate ways and add aesthetic flair to your yard.
~Kites; the spring is a great time for flying kites and getting outdoors.
~Wind chimes; have long been used in feng shui to round out a house and promote certain energies.
Feed the Birds
Bird watching and feeding go hand in hand and any outdoor living space becomes lively with the company of birds. Bird feeders attract birds and help bring them closer to enjoy and watch throughout the day. Bird feeder types can be very important in not only matching your outdoor garden decor, but also ensuring that you have an accessible birdfeeder for your birds, and one that can detract from your area’s predators or nuisances. As much as all nature enthusiasts enjoy the company of squirrels, they certainly can cause messes when gaining access to birdfeeders.
Window Birdfeeders:
Window birdfeeders are a great way to attract birds such as finches, chickadees, and sparrows close up but also should be cleaned regularly as the birdseed can become soiled.
Tube Feeder:
Tube birdfeeders attract birds but are dependent on the size of the perches and be designed with hanging birds such as goldfinches with perches above the feeding holes.
Hopper Birdfeeders:
These types of feeders, also referred to as house birdfeeders, are fairly well protected against weather and stay relatively cleaner then other types of feeders but few are weatherproof. They can be great overall birdfeeders for attracting a variety of birds and can hold a good amount of seed to limit refilling. Hopper birdfeeders can be mounted or hung and can add a unique look to the style of birdfeeders you have in your garden.
Fountains for Different Gardens
When considering what kind of fountain to add to your garden, think about both your style and the style of your garden. Garden fountains come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and are often specific to a theme. For a traditional garden with raised beds, consider a fountain with a stand and a raised bowl. For a rock garden, a fountain made to look like natural rock will compliment your existing aesthetic.
For a garden with a fair amount of wrought stonework, a fountain featuring a cherub or other mythological figure will flatter the other pieces and act as a focal point for both aural and visual attention. Of course the kind of fountain you buy also depends on your own tastes, after all, if you don’t enjoy it, who will?
