Birds & Blooms Newsletter - July 2001 Dear $$firstname$$, Greetings from Birds & Blooms magazine! We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter, which includes a colorful recollection, a high-stepping planter, some practical advice on birdbaths and more. Read on and you'll discover... >Take Your Pick >Grow Up, Not Out >Ten Tips for Birdbaths >Plants Do Double Duty >Thanks on Bended Knee! ********** Take Your Pick THE INNOCENCE of childhood saves a lot of embarrassment. Janie B. of Tutwiler, Mississippi had one of those innocent experiences at age 7. Her mother had an abundance of flowers blooming, and one day, Janie wanted to take a bouquet to her second-grade teacher. "Mama and I picked a large selection of pink roses, blue and pink larkspur, daisies and several other kinds of flowers," she recalls. "We added a few blades of variegated cane leaves." It wasn't very long before the school bus came by, loaded with other students. "Naturally, everybody wanted a flower," Janie says, "and I was eager to share with them. "The problem was, by the time I got to school to present the flowers to my teacher, the only things left were the leaves! "As I got older, I realized how embarrassing that should have been. But my dear, sweet teacher appeared just as excited over those few blades of grass as if they were the whole bouquet of flowers. "And to this day, it still makes me feel good all over for making her happy." ********** Grow Up, Not Out DO YOU HAVE limited space for flowers on your patio or deck? Diana S. of Manitowoc, Wisconsin offers a solution: Try growing up instead of out. And you don't need a trellis--she uses a common wooden handyman's ladder. "I rescued an old ladder that was about to take up residence at the dump," Diana says. "It's now in my yard drawing many compliments as my 'petunia ladder'. "I had my son attach some wide shelves to the steps; then I painted the ladder a cream color and loaded it with pots of petunias. It works like a charm!" To view a photo, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=4 ********** Ten Tips for Birdbaths WHETHER you already have a birdbath or are considering making or buying one, here's some advice: 1. Remember that all birds need water for both bathing and drinking. 2. Place the birdbath near a feeder and natural cover. 3. The bath should be shallow--no more than 3 inches deep. 4. It should have a gradual slope, creating different water depths for different birds. 5. Its surface should not be slippery. 6. Concrete works well for building a birdbath because it can be shaped easily. 7. Avoid ceramic birdbaths if the water will freeze in winter--the ceramic is likely to crack. 8. The sound of running or dripping water is attractive to birds. 9. Make sure to keep baths full and clean. 10. Birds need water during the winter as well--inexpensive electric water heaters are available. To view a photo, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=5 ********** Plants Do Double Duty SANDRA M. of Braham, Minnesota is crazy about growing flowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables. Having learned a lot over the years working with this combination of plants, she shares these tips: "The flowers in my garden do double duty--they're beautiful to look at and also help reduce the insect population. I scatter petunias, zinnias, marigolds, nasturtiums and chives in the vegetable garden to confuse the pests and protect my food crops. "I plant chives and petunias around the apple trees to deter crawling pests. I also put a few locks of my husband's hair in one of his old unwashed socks and hang it on a stake to keep the deer from nibbling my apples. "Mosquito plants (also known as citronella) not only repel mosquitoes but also seem to repel cats, woodchucks and other garden nuisances. These plants have a strong odor and apparently a strong flavor." ********** HAVE A FRIEND who enjoys bird-watching, bird feeding or backyard gardening? Feel free to forward this newsletter! If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can sign up for yourself at http://www.birdsandblooms.com ********** Thanks on Bended Knee EVERY GARDENER on your gift list will love our sturdy, easy-to-carry kneeler seat. It enables you to spend more time in your garden--in greater comfort! When the blue, non-absorbent foam cushion is up, it's a sturdy seat, just the right height for tending plants. Upside down, it turns into a padded kneeler. Strong steel hand rails make getting up and down from the kneeling position a breeze. Also great for scrubbing, waxing or painting floors, the Kneeler/Seat folds flat to carry or store. To order the Folding Garden Kneeler/Seat visit Country Store Online at http://www.countrystorecatalog.com/rd.asp?id=6 ********** TO CANCEL your newsletter at any time, visit http://www.reimanpub.com/rd.asp?id=2 TO UPDATE your e-mail address and other information, please visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com and click on the "Personal Preferences" link near the "Free Newsletters" link. You'll need your current e-mail address and password to log in. If you've forgotten your password or never selected one, there is a link to have it e-mailed to you. HAVING PROBLEMS linking to our Web site? If clicking a link doesn't work, you can simply highlight and copy the link, then paste it into your browser's target address field. ********** Birds & Blooms magazine brings beautiful backyards from across America into your living room--through vivid, full-color photos. It's like a friendly "chat" over the back fence with your bird-and flower-loving neighbors. To subscribe on-line, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=1 ********** BYE for now from the Birds & Blooms staff...see you next month! ********** Copyright 2001 Reiman Publications. All rights reserved.