[sweetliberty]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't have nearly the time I would like to devote to my yard, or to researching this topic, but no matter how busy I am, I do seem to need to spend some time here, whether to catch up on the news, get a good laugh or do some venting. If there is enough interest, we could make this an ongoing thread with pictures or whatever and do a ping list.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Hey, I think this will be a great thread. I've been having a flower garden for the last two years. Already starting to plan some new stuff for this year. I put out hummingbird feeders in the summer. I love watching them in the morning with my coffee. They will come pretty close.

I got a bird house this christmas that I plan on putting out this year. I'd also like to get a martin house. They are good to keep mosquitoes away.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Some of my garden from last year:

Becky

[I_saw_the_light]

What a great idea! Please add me to your ping list. here is a pic of a lovely flower I grew this summer, a Penta. it was right under my hummer feeder, and they preferred this to the feeder!

[Dysart]

Thanks for the thread.

Good luck with the gardening. BTW, I have tons of Cedar Waxwings presently and not a single berry bearing tree in my yard. Go figure. I think they're beautiful birds and look forward to them every winter. They'll be heading northwestward in a few weeks to the mountain states to breed.

[Snoopers-868th]

Please add me to your ping list. I love watching the birds. Great idea, thanks.

[Lazamataz]

I have a bird feeder right above a remotely-activated woodchipper.

The feed is laced with knockout drops.

I have very strange and bloody hobbies.

[dog breath]

I love to garden and think that it would make a interesting thread. I have planted many shrubs and small trees in my yard which attracts lots of birds. The elderberry, plum, cherry, honeysuckle, hackberry and apple seem to attract them through the summer. Since I have a butterfly garden also, I do not use very many chemicals and they come for the bugs. I have few problem with insects since I have so many birds and insect predators in the yard. I have read some idealistic books which promote zero use of chemicals, but I have found a little chemical warfare helps on occasion.

[MamaTexan]

A Valentine's Day, Cedar Waxwing PING!

[Quester]

See the following sites for bird gardening or other gardening info ...

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/wildlife/ ... for attracting and supporting garden wildlife.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/hummingbird/ ... for attracting hummingbirds, specifically.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/ ... for other gardening/landscaping info and discussion.

[A Cyrenian]

birding ping for later

[Pietro]

I think this thread is a great idea too.

We live in rural W. PA, close to WVA and we get a wide variety of birds including: Hummingbirds, hawks, herons, bluebirds, cardinals, gold finches, bluejays, woodpeckers, sparrows (and all manner of little brown and grey birds), geese, ducks, robins, doves, little blue herons, crows (of course), ring-necked pheasants, turkeys, and the occaisional egret. We once had a scarlet tanager that was so red it hurt your eyes to look at it.

I love sitting on the porch and watching the hawks and the crows fight it out over territory. When a hawk shows up the crows will initiate a "come to Jesus meeting" and soon the trees are full of cackling black birds and the dogfight is off and running.

Our dogs take care of the squirrels, rabbits and gophers pretty well and even keep the deer at a respectable distance. my border collie loves rabbit marinated in its own juices for about a week before she eats it, we pretty much keep her outside all summer because she tends to carry a funk about w/ her.

I can't wait for the weather to break so I can get out in the yard, start turning over dirt, and planting stuff. I've been planting fruit trees and want to put some berries in this year also to try and attract some more birds.

thanks for starting this thread! I hope it keeps going.

[cyborg]

I have a tremendous compost hole in the corner ready for my tomatoes, okras, cucumbers, bell peppers... I took a look at my frozen pond and see only one fish went belly up woo hoo!

[SweetCaroline]

BUMP

[Petronski]

Last spring I planted two rows of birds, but nothing grew. Maybe it's the fertilizer....

[proudofthesouth]

This may be a stupid question but how to birds find birdfeeders? I put one out a couple of days ago. It has seed as well as suet in it but so far no birds have found it yet. Any ideas on how I can attract the birds to it?

[onyx]

I ordered a window bird feeder here:
http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/window_bird_feeders.asp

which allows me to watch the birds up close.

The other two large feeders are on high poles.

I also have 2 feeders for squirrels mounted on the fence.

I love watching the birds and squirrels.

[Vicki]

I have suet out for the birds as well as seed. I enjoy seeing the different birds, especially the woodpeckers.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

If you start a ping list, please add me.

[mickie]

This is a neat thread!

I haven't read the whole thread yet, but wanted to mention a magazine I enjoy so much. It is BIRDS and BLOOMS.

My grandson asked me to buy some magazines for his School, so I ordered this for my sister and a friend.

Anyone want to order to help the school, just freepmail me, as you can order on line and its cheap for the best issues around.