Attention Bird Gardening Enthusiasts

self | February 12, 2005 | sweetliberty

[sweetliberty]

With Spring just around the corner, at least here in the southeast, it's time to think about spending more time outdoors and making our yards and porches more pleasant places to be. FReepers have such a wide variety of interests and talents, I thought it might be fun and educational to do a thread for bird and garden enthusiasts. I see a fair amount of discussion on some of the threads about gardening and landscaping, but not too much that is specific to gardening for the birds.

I've pretty much always had a bird feeder or two around, and that number has grown since I moved into a place last summer that has a big yard. I have a fair variety of birds and I have begun to think about developing it specifically to attract more species, not only for the enjoyment of watching the birds, but also to control natural pests that are prevalent in this part of the country, without resorting to pesticides. I know that the right combination of flora can discourage certain pests and also attract birds that will help keep the pest population down. I would love to hear from FReepers who are experienced at creating such a balance. I think it would also be fun to have a place to share our experiences as we develop them. I know there's lots of links out there with useful information and I make use of them from time to time, but it's just not the same as having discussions on a forum where we have experts on everything. And I don't know of any place else on the web so animated by wit, along with wisdom, on just about any topic.

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi
That sounds like a great idea and will look fantastic. My husband and I talked about getting those solar lights. What you said, about them not lighting was the concern. I'd love to see the garden at night.

[7.62 x 51mm]

I'm in York, PA. I used 100lbs of seed today, since we've got 3-6" of snow coming later today and tomorrow. TO, you should see all the birds feeding just outside my office windows, under the lath house. Awesome.

[MamaTexan]

that shine soft light out over the beds.

That's going to be SO pretty!

We've been busy the first couple of years here trying to fix up the house and grow vegetables, so I haven't had much time to plant flowers other than a few roses.

I am planning them though, and part of the plan is to have them lit up at night.

It wonderful to see their softly glowing petals in the middle of the darkness.

So warm, pretty, and ...I don't know, welcoming somehow.

[MamaTexan]

Perhaps a lattice work panel off the porch rail and some climbing roses would help there.

Unless you have your heart set on roses, you might want to plant one of the orange, red or yellow varieties of trumpet vine or honeysuckle.

The hummingbirds will buzz these types of flowers from dawn 'till dusk, and you never have to worry about messing with a feeder unless you want too!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

We have a street light a little ways out from our garden, that I thought would light the garden because it lighted the area good when it was all just patio. I've been surprised tho, that the fence and the small tree I planted casts a lot of shadow because of that light, so it actually seems very dark now because of that light. I couldn't figure out how to get light on them...Duh:). The light needs to come from the inside and above.

Becky

[MamaTexan]

I couldn't figure out how to get light on them...Duh:)

ROFL! That wouldn't be nearly so funny except I seem to have MORE than my share of 'Duh!' moments sometimes.

Talking about birds & flowers makes me want to be outside, but all we've had the last several days is the constant drip, drizzle, and muck of central Texas winter. I can't even take pictures.

HELP! I'm starting to feel like a mushroom!

(:-P)

[sweetliberty]

Hmmm....something to think about. I love honeysuckle anyway. The fragrance alone makes it worth dealing with the bees.

I have a strange phenomena, or so it seems. My pair of Red-wing Blackbirds went to 3 a few days ago. One, I'm assuming the male, has stunning feathers, and he is always fluffing them up to show them off. The other 2 I'm guessing are females. Their wings aren't as brightly colored and they don't exhibit any of the puffing and preening behaviors. It just seems odd to see them as a threesome. I've not seen any trace of another male bird.

[MamaTexan]

It just seems odd to see them as a threesome

Menage A Blackbird?? LOL!

Now that I think about it, red wings are a 'flocking' type of bird, so maybe a male will breed with more than one female during a season, while non-flocking birds like cardinals have single male/female pairings.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I know what you mean. We get a few good days, and I get excited thinking it's time for gardening and riding, then the weather turns bad again. I really don't like this time of year with the back and forth stuff. It's harder to deal with then if it would just stay cold and deary.

Becky

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi MamaTexan
I understand what you mean about reading the thread and wanting to go outside. I'm getting stir crazy not being outside. I just turned on the weather and were suppose to get 7 inches of snow. :( The last blizzard snow just melted. I was thrilled to see the ground! I keep telling myself it won't be long now.
My husband is going to Dallas this week. I'm packing for him. Frustrating with what to pack from the 10 day forecast. It looks like one day it's warm and then it's cold.

[sweetliberty]

Looking for some info on Red-wing Blackbirds I found a feeder cam. You can adjust the settings to view certain feeders up close.

Bird feeder cam

Bird ping!

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi sweetliberty
Are you a rose lover? I started my garden and got into roses and now I have too many roses and more to plant. Do you have any roses in mind?

For me the planning part, especially for privacy, can be difficult but challenging. The lattice idea sounds great. We had a house built next door to us. I'm glad we planted the screening before they moved in. It was our choice and grew a bit before they were here. You can have a lot of beautiful climbers, especial in a higher zone, that will be beautiful. Sometimes, for temporary screening I have used tall cannas and the Mandevilla vine.

[sweetliberty]

I think I figured out the Red-winged blackbirds. These are all males. I didn't realize that the females have different coloring. I found this interesting:

"The males arrive first with the females arriving several weeks later."

[MamaTexan]

I didn't realize that the females have different coloring.

I didn't either!

"The males arrive first with the females arriving several weeks later."

Smart birds! 'You guys get everything set up, and we'll be there later!' :)

[sweetliberty]

I love roses. I had a lot of success with them in Colorado; less when I lived in Georgia due to pests. I haven't tried them here yet. With flowers, as with birds, I love a great variety and am particularly attracted to the more unusual colors and to those with a sweet fragrance, especially roses and irises. This one was a stunning neon orange and very fragrant:

.

[sweetliberty]

"'You guys get everything set up, and we'll be there later!'"

....to complain about the arrangements.

[GodBlessUSA]

This looks like a great site! Thanks for posting it. I'm going to spend time there now. :)

[MamaTexan]

I really don't like this time of year with the back and forth stuff.

I think that's why everybody get so sick & puny this time of year. Our internal thermometers can't adjust fast enough.

Frustrating with what to pack from the 10 day forecast.

Whatever the weather says, make sure he has a coat. I've seen it drop from 75 degrees to 30 degrees in less than an hour when we have a blue norther come through!

[MamaTexan]

to complain about the arrangements

Oh, stop...now I've hurt myself laughing!

Nice rose pic! Isn't that a Tropicana?

[sweetliberty]

Actually, I believe it was called "Fragrant Cloud."