Adding a Bird Feeder to your GardenWritten by Johann Erickson
If you are type of person who enjoys all aspects of nature, and loves to see it right at your door or outside window, consider hanging some bird feeders that are suitable to feathered population of your region.
A little research at library or over Internet, will tell you what type of birds are likely to frequent your area in various seasons. Once you know that, you can look up their dietary preferences, and from there you’ll be able to choose bird feeders that will deliver appropriate blend of foods, in an easily accessible way. Bear in mind that bird feeders which are filled with large size seeds, or fragments of corn and peanuts, must have an adequate opening to dispense contents, or birds will realize they can’t get at food, and will go elsewhere.
Another consideration, is where to place your feeder in terms of height, and location relative to house or “traffic” of humans or pets. Some birds that become accustomed to presence of humans, will feed regardless of your presence, but more easily startled species may refuse to come down out of trees if there is too much activity around feeding station.
There are all kinds of beautiful and decorative bird feeders for species that peck their food from ground. These include charming figures such as angels, fairies or cherubs, holding out bowls, or large blossom of a flower, which serves as dish for cracked corn, and other feeds.
Birds that prefer not to light while they dine, will appreciate one of hanging bird feeders that you can suspend from a tree branch, or a special upright bracket attached to a patio railing. You’ll find a wide variety of shapes and styles, in colorful stained glass, and shaped like gazebos, barns, or natural wood logs. But again, keep in mind type of seed you’ll be putting in it. There can be quite a difference in what is appropriate to species of birds in your area, ranging in size from very tiny thistle seed known as niger, which is fed to finches, and larger, black and white striped sunflower seeds favored by Blue Jays, and other big birds. If you want to avoid problems that seed size can cause, you might opt for open hanging dish, which come in charming designs like a large flower blossom, a lily pad with a frog, or a decorative arrangement of leaves, with a miniature gazing ball.
| | Garden Arrangements can make a huge difference in your yardWritten by Johann Erickson
Gardening is a very popular hobby, and one that can be enjoyed by young or old, whole families, someone employed outside home, and those who are self-employed or stay-at-home parents.
Getting outside into fresh air, and exercising your creativity on floral, herb and vegetable gardens is not only healthy, but will bring pleasure to your family and visitors. Whether you devote hours every day to your efforts, or concentrate all your talents on weekend binges of planting and weeding, it’s possible to create just look you want, from old English country gardens, to carefully organized “wild” look.
The first thing you’ll need to consider before starting on a grand plan for revamping your yard, is type of soil. If you don’t know what you have, for example level of acidity, check with your local garden center for test kits before investing in plants and bushes that won’t thrive in what you can offer them. Once you know what you’re working with, you can go ahead and decide what to plant, and how you want your gardens laid out.
No matter what topography of your yard, e.g. completely flat, dotted with trees, undulating, or sloped, you can find just right plants to brighten up a dark corner, or fill in a bare space.
Areas which get a lot of shade are often dark, but that doesn’t mean they have to be dull. This can be a great place to install an in-the-ground lined pond for goldfish. Or how about a rock garden, and let kids help you collect rocks that will elevate level of plants, and give it that “natural” look. For a touch of whimsical, place something like a bear figurine with a gazing ball, right in center, where it will be focus of attention.
Wide open spaces, such as along edge of a lawn or yard, are perfect place to plant a large, “graduated” garden in shape that fits surrounding area, including wedges, ovals, and long rectangles. Depending on shape, and amount of space, you’ll have lots of scope to create a multi-level riot of color. If garden faces house, you’ll want to plant your longer flowers to rear, and then “step down” in size to border plants. With ovals and circles that can be appreciated from all sides, taller plants should go in center, and work your way to shortest ones from center, outwards.
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