Birds & Blooms Newsletter - August 2001 Dear $$firstname$$, Greetings from Birds & Blooms magazine! We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter, which includes a story about a friendly crow, some tasty advice on garden herbs, a butterfly update and more. Read on and you'll discover... >Birds & Blooms Now Has a Bulletin Board! >Something to Crow About >Now He's Really Retired! >Savor Summer's Herbs Year-Round >Seen the King of Butterflies? >Squirrels Hate this Bird Feeder ********** Birds & Blooms Now Has a Bulletin Board! HERE'S exciting news--a FREE on-line bulletin board has been added to the Birds & Blooms Web site so that readers can share information and ask advice. Interested in backyard birds? Really "dig" gardening? Fond of flowers? Big on butterflies? Share your experiences with other Birds & Blooms readers on the bulletin board! You'll need a nickname and a password to post messages on the bulletin board. If you selected a nickname and password when you registered for this newsletter, you can use those. Otherwise, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com and click on the "Maintain Your Personal Preferences" link next to the "Free Newsletters" link to register a nickname. You'll be asked for your e-mail address and password to access your personal preferences. If you've forgotten your password or never selected one, there is a link to have one e-mailed to you. You can also sign up at the bulletin board home page: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=8 ********** Something to Crow About By Joanne J. of Carson City, Nevada I WAS hungry and tired. I made a tuna fish sandwich and planned to relax in the yard a bit. I soon realized that I'd forgotten something to drink, so I put the sandwich on the table outside and went into the house. When I got back, I saw that a crow had my sandwich at the top of a tree! In between bites, it screamed "Caw, caw, caw!" at me. Naturally, I couldn't resist screaming the same thing back, and we kept this up for a few minutes. Each day that summer, the crow and I continued this screaming ritual several times. It was fun. But in early autumn, my world caved in--I was suddenly alone after 34 years of marriage. I sold the house and bought another place on the other side of town. Spring arrived with a big surprise: I came home one day to find a crow sitting at the edge of my carport. When I got out of the car, it started screaming at me, just like the old days. I'm sure that it was the same crow that had been my friend before. I rushed in and made a tuna fish sandwich and took it outside. The bird ate it on top of my car--screaming at me between bites. I haven't seen that crow for a long time. But I'll never forget how it was there when I really needed a boost. ********** Now He's Really Retired! AFTER 38 years working for the Timken Roller Bearing Co., Don P. of Bucyrus, Ohio decided to retire. His wife, Charlotte, was happy with that decision. "Nothing pleased me more than NOT having to pack that darn lunch bucket again," she says. To celebrate, Charlotte planted flowers in the bucket and hung it next to the garage door as a constant NO MORE WORK reminder. Now instead of holding sandwiches and sweets, the lunch bucket has beautiful pansies in spring and summer and artificial poinsettias during the colder months. And Charlotte didn't stop with the lunch bucket. Another constant that Don took to the job with him were his heavy work shoes. They were old and worn out, but still symbols of his productive career. Charlotte decided to put her hen and chickens plants in the shoes. This unusual plant forms rosettes that produce small colonies of flowers around the main, or mother, flower. The plants are growing well and have become quite a conversation piece. But it sure wasn't easy cutting the steel toes out of those shoes! To view photos, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=6 ********** Savor Summer's Herbs Year-Round By Mary J. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin AT LAST! My herb garden is at its seasonal peak. With everything lush and ready to harvest, it's time to think about preserving these summer-fresh flavors for the winter ahead. One of my "perennial" methods is mixing up my own herb vinegar. Nothing compares to zesty salad dressing prepared from homemade vinegars flavored with oregano, basil or tarragon. Drying is also a traditional technique for herb preservation. "Bushy" herbs like thyme, oregano, sage and rosemary are best for drying. Simply tie the herbs in bundles and hang them in the kitchen to air dry. Be sure to store dried herbs in a dark place to preserve color and flavor. Basil and cilantro lose their distinctive flavor when dried, so I preserve their "punch" by blending up a pesto. Pesto is a concentrated herb paste that can be tossed with pasta or spaghetti or spread on bread. Store it in small jars in the freezer all winter long. Another way to preserve herbs is in a seasoned butter mixture. Herb butters keep well in the freezer for several months. Try the recipes below and you'll savor the tastes of summertime while your herb garden's in hibernation. HERB VINEGAR 1 garlic clove, optional 12 to 18 inches fresh oregano, basil or tarragon sprigs 1-1/4 cups white vinegar or white wine vinegar If desired, cut garlic in half and skewer with a toothpick. Place in a glass jar or bottle. Add oregano; set aside. In a saucepan, bring vinegar to a simmer (do not boil). Carefully pour into container. Let cool to room temperature. Remove garlic after 24 hours. Cover and store in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year. Yield: 1-1/4 cups. TARRAGON BUTTER 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/4 cup fresh tarragon leaves, chopped 1/8 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Dash salt and pepper In a small bowl, beat all ingredients with a fork or whisk until well blended. Shape into a log; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a week or freeze for several months. Use on fish, poultry, vegetables, pasta and bread. Yield: 1/2 cup. PESTO 1 cup tightly packed fresh basil or cilantro leaves 1 cup tightly packed fresh parsley leaves 1 to 2 garlic cloves 1/2 cup olive or vegetable oil 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 teaspoon salt In a food processor, puree all ingredients. Refrigerate for several weeks or freeze in a tightly covered container. Toss a few tablespoons pesto with hot cooked pasta. Yield: 3/4 cup. To view a photo, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=7 ********** Seen the King of Butterflies? NOW is a great time for monarch butterfly watching. You'll find the monarch almost everywhere in the country, especially in late summer and fall. When the temperature gets consistently below 60 degrees, they migrate to the South and Southwest and heavily into the mountains of Mexico. During this southern migration, you may see them by the thousands roosting in certain trees along the way. It's been reported that one site in Mexico attracts some 13 million monarchs over just a 3- to 4-acre area. Most monarchs mate just before they start their journey back north, laying eggs as the migration proceeds. But the ones that over-winter in the tropics never reach their original summer home. The monarchs that reach the North are the ones hatched along the migration route. To attract these flying flowers to your yard, plant milkweed and other similar flowers in masses. Also, you can buy feeders similar to those used for hummingbirds. You'll find that monarchs' long gliding flight patterns are fun to watch, and they allow you to get quite close to them. But when it comes time for them to fly, they'll be gone in a flash. ********** Squirrels Hate this Bird Feeder IF attracting colorful birds to your backyard is a passion, you'll enjoy years of pleasure with a top-quality, powder-coated steel feeder from Birds & Blooms. Our exclusive Birds & Blooms squirrel-proof bird feeder closes its seed guard at the touch of a squirrel's paw and reveals this humorous message: "Sorry, Squirrel, No Free Lunch." To order the Birds & Blooms squirrel-proof bird feeder plus an optional pole kit, visit Country Store Online at http://www.countrystorecatalog.com/rd.asp?id=11 ********** 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 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 in this newsletter 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.