| Well, another week is passing us by. | | | | I like to have something a bit unique if possible. |
| I want to thank everyone who writes me back. | | | | You know, that one plant that no one else has. |
| Gardens and birds can bring total strangers | | | | In landscaping, plants are done up in odd numbers. |
| together. | | | | 1....... 3........5 etc. |
| ISN'T IT GREAT! | | | | One is an accent plant, something you want to |
| I feel as though I'm getting to know you and we | | | | show off or highlight acertain area. |
| are becoming neighbors. | | | | Groupings are attractors. |
| You may have fledglings by now. | | | | Groupings can brake up a mundane landscape. |
| None for me just yet. | | | | Highs and lows. |
| Even with Michigan weather, things are changing in | | | | Breaks in the landscape force the eyes to follow |
| the yard everyday now. | | | | more closely. |
| Birds come and go. | | | | If you noticed on our walk, your eyes followed |
| Plants seem to grow a foot some days. | | | | every up and down. |
| New blooms, new plantings. | | | | You were able to catch colors and wildlife you |
| Chipmunk is still on the loose. | | | | would've missedif you were watching and walking |
| Karen is in a battle with some rabbits munching | | | | a straight path. |
| down her pansies. | | | | So it goes in your yard. |
| Baby powder works wonderful until it rains. | | | | WHAT TO PLANT |
| Same with ammonia water. | | | | Some very common perennials are: |
| I may have to break down and get some liquid | | | | Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia). |
| fence. | | | | Goldfinches love the seeds from these late |
| Oh well......................... | | | | summer bloomers. |
| Last week I was pointing out ways to attract | | | | Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea). |
| more birds by building under the tree canopies. | | | | Finches and other small seed-eating birds are |
| There are birds that live in all levels of a forest | | | | attracted to the seedheads late into the fall. |
| and our yards. | | | | Did you know there are several other |
| By gardening with this in mind, attracting several | | | | seed-producing plants that you may have in your |
| birds will be easier for you. | | | | yard right now? |
| PERENNIAL GARDENING | | | | How about daylilies (Hemerocallis). |
| Perennial gardens can be a bit of a challenge, yet | | | | Yes, if let go, nice seeds can form on these |
| fun in many ways. | | | | perennial favorites. |
| Trees and shrubs become more permanent | | | | Blanket flower (Gailardia) |
| fixtures in out yards. | | | | Again, season long seed heads. |
| As with trees and shrubs, write in on your plans | | | | Crocosmia (Crocosmia 'Lucifer') |
| where and what you maywant to plant. | | | | Besides being great hummingbird attractors, |
| Consider bloom time, how tall your plant may get. | | | | Crocosmia have seed podssimilar to daylilies that |
| What kind of spread will your new plants have? | | | | open up to show their delights to the birds. |
| Will it be invasive? | | | | Perennial sunflowers (Helianthus multiflorus) |
| Do you want to color coordinate by planting | | | | In late summer into early fall this plant continues |
| several shades of pinks or yellows? | | | | to bloom and will fill up with goldfinches. |
| What about reds and blues? | | | | LOSE THE CLIPPERS |
| What will grow in shade and what requires sun? | | | | It is so tempting to want that nice groomed look |
| WHEW! ! ! | | | | in our yard. |
| So many questions I think I'm getting a headache. | | | | Yet, to make it bird friendly, you will need to |
| FEAR NOT MY FRIEND! | | | | lighten up on the clippers and pruning sheers. |
| One thing nice about gardening for birds....... | | | | Keep some of those old faded bloom stalks |
| IT'S YOUR YARD! | | | | standing. |
| You can do what you want and however you | | | | Don't be so quick to cut back that branch. |
| want to do it. | | | | Your work of art is on going and you will figure it |
| If you have enough of the attractors planted, | | | | out. |
| birds will come. | | | | It's fun when you can add a planting or move |
| Let's go ahead and get started. | | | | them around. |
| Now I know I said it's your yard, but I'm going to | | | | Birds will find your yard more friendly when they |
| help you spend some ofyour money. | | | | have a place to rest and feed. |
| You get the rest of the fun. | | | | Think of the nesting possibilities. |
| You get to plant and watch things grow. | | | | Another bonus is strangers that will stop just to |
| You get the rewards of watching nature come to | | | | peek at your masterpiece. |
| life in your yard. | | | | That will give you a warm fuzzy. |
| GETTING STARTED | | | | An important part to any yard is of course your |
| Once again, go to your zone maps and see what | | | | personality. |
| is hardy in your area. | | | | Be sure to put plenty of your personality into |
| Check out the local nurseries and garden centers. | | | | your yard.time to go. |
| Look in specialty catalogs. | | | | Until next time my friend. |