A Hedge for the Children

Written by Janette Blackwell


"Isn't that beautiful corn in those people's front yard?" I asked.

"I will not have corn growing in my front yard," said my husband.

"Corn is a handsome plant. It gives a lush, tropical air."

"I will not have corn growing in my front yard."

So we didn't have cornrepparttar next year. Our back yard was shaded, except for one part, and I had decided to grow roses there instead of corn.

The year after that I returned torepparttar 148906 argument: "What if we planted corn inrepparttar 148907 side yard? It gets lots of sun."

"I will not have corn in my front yard."

"This wouldn't berepparttar 148908 front yard. It would berepparttar 148909 side yard. And you remember how delicious corn tastes when you pick it five minutes before you cook it?"

He thought about how delicious corn tastes. "I guessrepparttar 148910 side yard isn'trepparttar 148911 front yard," he said. "Okay. You can grow corn inrepparttar 148912 side yard."

"And I'll plant a hedge out front so people can't seerepparttar 148913 corn as they drive by."

"That's even better."

So I began to plan a hedge.

We had many children in our Virginia neighborhood. Why not plant a hedge they could enjoy?

Inrepparttar 148914 corner next to our neighbor's property, I beganrepparttar 148915 hedge with a serviceberry bush (an Amelanchier). Serviceberry bushes and trees vary in size. Mine ended up about eight feet tall, with feathery white blossoms in spring and brilliant orange leaves in fall. In summer it produced tiny black berries with one drawback: betweenrepparttar 148916 birds andrepparttar 148917 children, they zipped off that bush. I got exactly two berries one year and none thereafter. I can state, onrepparttar 148918 basis of those two berries, that they taste a good deal like huckleberries. They are good.

Atrepparttar 148919 other end ofrepparttar 148920 hedge, in a strip facingrepparttar 148921 driveway, I planted black raspberries -- which felt so peppy they hardly knew what to do with themselves. I didn't know they needed to be tied to supports, and they stuck ten-foot stalks in all directions. They looked awful. They tasted fantastic.

Hummingbirds

Written by Greg Pilson


Many individuals are fascinated by hummingbirds. So much so, that they will do anything in their power to attract these petite creatures to their yards. So what isrepparttar best way to attract these wee feathered friends?

Here are some tips to help make your home a hummingbird hot spot:

What Do Hummingbirds Eat?

Hummingbirds usually feed off flower nectar and sugar water that is left out for them in birdfeeders. They also feed off of small insects like ants, slugs and spiders. If you really want to attract hummingbirds to your yard, make sure your bird feeder is always filled with nectar and sugar water.

What Should My Hummingbird Feeder or House Look Like?

It is a well-known fact that hummingbirds are attracted torepparttar 148872 color red. That being said, ifrepparttar 148873 feeder you already have isn’t red get out your paint brush or stick a large red bow on it to get their attention. The best hummingbird feeders have perches forrepparttar 148874 birds to stand on while they feed. The holes in hummingbird feeders are just big enough forrepparttar 148875 little guys to fit their heads in, but they’re too small for squirrels and other larger animals so they can’t stealrepparttar 148876 food.

Refrain from painting your hummingbird feeder or house yellow because bees and wasps are attracted to these colors and also enjoyrepparttar 148877 taste of sweet nectar. You’ll want to keep insects as far away from your hummingbird feeders and houses as possible.

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