Birds & Blooms Newsletter - November 2001

Dear $$firstname$$,

Greetings from Birds & Blooms magazine! We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter, which includes some turkey tales, a landscaping tip, seasonal bird feeding advice and more. Read on and you'll discover...

> Doin' the Turkey Trot
> Dogs Get the Point
> Can't Beat 'Em? Feed 'Em!
> Door-Way Works for Her
> From Flowers to Feathers
> Make a Date With Birds & Blooms

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Doin' the Turkey Trot
TURKEYS AREN'T your normal backyard bird visitors, but two readers had some recent experiences with them.
"I was really surprised when several big tom turkeys came into our yard," says Merry B. of Yellville, Arkansas. "We live in the Ozark Mountains and our yard is surrounded by many acres of woods, but I never saw turkeys before."
Merry notes that although the turkeys checked out her bird feeders, they actually went after the corn that was put out for the deer.
Meanwhile, in Waterloo, Illinois, Carol M. reports a friendly relationship with a turkey her family calls "Dutch".
"When we'd take our walks in the woods, he would follow us like one of the family, and he loved to be petted."
And every once in a while, Carol says, Dutch also wanted to lead the parade.

To view photos, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=20

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Dogs Get the Point
By Leah K. of Mason City, Iowa

FEW PLANTS are tougher than desert natives, so they were the plants of our choice when landscaping around our dog kennels.
We added yucca, prickly pear cactus and hen and chickens, all long-lived perennials with the ability to survive in poor soil.
These plants can withstand an occasional trespassing pet, survive under piles of snow and need little watering with the exception of a few splashes from kennel washings and normal rainfall.
As for our pet Labrador retrievers, they seem to instinctively keep their distance from the desert gardens. After all, sore feet and legs would not be comfortable during demanding field trial competition.

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Can't Beat 'Em? Feed 'Em!
By Mary W. of Hayward, Wisconsin

WE'VE been bothered by woodpeckers pecking holes and defacing our cedar-log home.
We tried everything--sealing holes, using an expensive additive in the stain and even spraying the logs with Tabasco sauce. We have hung inflatable owls, pie tins and brightly colored flags. (Our house started to look like a car dealership!)
In addition, we tried yelling and banging on the windows whenever we heard the woodpeckers at work. But nothing succeeded.
So bribery became the next option: We decided to give the birds something better than what they might find on our house, with less effort for us and the birds.
Now we hang suet balls covered with seed or just plain suet from the grocery store. We put the suet in net bags (the kind onions, oranges, etc. come in) and hang them all around the house from the eaves.
Now we not only enjoy the antics of the woodpeckers as they hang from the suet, but other birds are also attracted to it.
There are some disadvantages. In hot weather, the suet melts and creates a mess. And where we live, it also attracts bears in winter when berries and other foods are not readily available.
But the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages (like having our house destroyed!). The birds are now a joy instead of a terror.

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Door-Way Works for Her
HER NEWEST treasure, says Sandra B. of Brighton, Illinois, is a house made completely of doors--discarded patio doors to be specific.
Sandra credits a young neighbor couple who volunteered to build her a small greenhouse. The walls and roof are made from old doors that will never open again, with the entrance through an old screen/storm door.
The handy hothouse has been overflowing with green and leafy "tenants" ever since, thanks to neighbors, relatives and a few garage sales.

To view a photo, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=21

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From Flowers to Feathers
By Linda M. of Boise, Idaho

HERE'S AN IDEA for those who want to get more enjoyment out of feeding and watching the birds during snowy winter months.
We live in the mountains, where the depth of snow really limits the places we can put bird feeders and still have access to them for refilling.
Our solution? We keep some of the nearby hanging feeders full, but we also convert our window flower boxes into feeding stations for the winter.
In autumn after the frost withers the flowers, we replace them with sprigs of pine needles and a few pinecones and sprinkle birdseed all over them. We also add fresh slices of apple or orange from time to time.
It's so enjoyable to watch the winter feeding right next to my kitchen window. Little red-breasted nuthatches are particularly attracted to this arrangement.

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Make a Date With Birds & Blooms
EVERY DAY is bright and cheery when it starts with a glimpse of the popular Birds & Blooms wall calendar. Outdoor enthusiasts will love its colorful country gardens, amazing bird closeups and dozens of gardening and bird-attracting tips.
This big full-color calendar opens to 13 by 21-3/4 inches and is printed on heavy, glossy paper. It makes a great holiday gift!
To order the 2002 Birds & Blooms Wall Calendar from Country Store On-line, visit http://www.countrystorecatalog.com/rd.asp?id=14

Country Store also has a great selection of feeders, houses and other items sure to please our feathered friends!
For information, visit http://www.countrystorecatalog.com/rd.asp?id=22

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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

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BYE for now from the Birds & Blooms staff...see you next month!

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Copyright 2001 Reiman Publications. All rights reserved.

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