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Dear
$$firstname$$,
Happy Thanksgiving
from Birds & Blooms magazine! We hope you enjoy this
month's newsletter, which includes tips for overwintering
plants, a fired-up feeder, binocular basics and more. Read on
and you'll discover...
>Pamper Your
Plants During Winter
>Favorite Feeder Is Free
>Four Steps to Better Growing
>Look, Mom--One Foot!
>Binocular Basics
>Wildlife Guides Go On-Line
>Gertie Gosling Wears 12 Hats
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Pamper
Your Plants During Winter
 CONNIE
M. of Medway, Ohio has learned some hard lessons about
taking her favorite plants from the outdoors back into
her house to protect them from harsh northern winters.
"Overwintering
plants can be a big challenge," Connie says. "But my
experience has taught me how to keep plants healthy
until spring." She shares these hints:
>Remember that outdoor plants need strong light during
winter. "I've found that windows on the south side of
the house work best, but east and west windows are also
good," Connie says.
>Turn each pot weekly to expose all sides of the plant
to light.
>Besides watering, provide adequate humidity by misting
regularly or setting a bowl of water on or near a heat
register.
>Keep the plant clean of dead leaves, blooms and stems.
>Use a mild fertilizer no more than once each month. |
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Favorite
Feeder Is Free
FORGET
expensive bird feeders, says Myra U. of Tyrone,
Georgia. She found a simple piece of firewood is all
that's needed to bring feeding birds close to her
windows.
"I just
couldn't find a convenient place for a bird feeder that
I could easily refill during winter," she writes.
In
frustration, Myra turned a piece of firewood on end and
sat it right next to her living room window between the
house and shrubbery.
"It was
perfect. I removed the screen so I could just open the
window and pour a cup of birdseed on top of the stump
without leaving the house," Myra continues.
Then
she relaxed near the window with a cup of coffee and
enjoyed the show. Frequent visitors included tufted
titmice, black-capped chickadees, eastern towhees,
cardinals, goldfinches and, of course, squirrels!
Since
then, Myra has tried several "regular" bird feeders.
"But I've never had a feeder the birds enjoyed more than
that simple one," she says.
To view
a photo,
click
here.
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Four Steps to
Better Growing
 HERE'S
some green-thumb advice from Valerie M. of Winnipeg,
Manitoba. While it won't guarantee a larger harvest in
your garden next season, it may make a difference in how
you grow.
First,
plant four rows of peas--Presence, Promptness,
Preparation, Perseverance.
Next to
these plant three rows of squash--Squash gossip, Squash
indifference, Squash criticism.
Then
plant five rows of lettuce--Let us obey rules and
regulations, Let us be true to our obligations, Let us be
faithful to duty, Let us be loyal and unselfish, Let us
laugh more often.
And
finish your garden with three rows of turnips--Turn up
with a smile, Turn up with new ideas, Turn up with a
positive frame of mind. |
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Look,
Mom--One Foot!
By Marceil
D., Roanoke, Indiana
DURING a winter cold spell, I looked out our living
room window to see how the birds were doing. They
were all "puffed out" because of the cold.
Then I noticed one little tufted titmouse fluffed up
in a ball hanging upside down by one leg and eating
from our peanut feeder. I wondered if it was
injured.
As
I watched, the bird's other leg slowly emerged and
grabbed the feeder. Then the bird tucked the leg
that had been extended deep into its downy feathers
until it disappeared. Obviously, this was how the
bird was keeping its feet warm.
This went on for quite some time, and through it
all, the titmouse did not miss a crumb!
To view a photo,
click
here.
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Binocular
Basics
By B. R. H.,
Texarkana, Texas
 I'VE
FOUND the closer I can get to my feathered friends, the
more fun it is to watch them. That's why my binoculars are
rarely far from my side.
For
people who don't know a lot about optics, purchasing
binoculars that meet their needs can be confusing. Here
are some things to consider:
First,
look at the numbers used to describe binoculars. Let's use
7x35 binoculars as an example. The first number, 7,
represents the power of magnification. This means the
image you see will be 7 times larger than it appears to
your naked eye.
The
second number, 35, represents the diameter in millimeters
of the "objective" lenses--the lenses furthest from the
eyes. Larger objective lenses allow more light and create
a brighter image, but they also tend to make binoculars
heavier and bulkier.
Other
factors to consider include...
>Prism
Design--Roof-prism binoculars have straight barrels, and
Porro-prism binoculars have L-shaped barrels. Roof-prism
types tend to be lighter and more compact.
>Durability--Will you keep them beside your armchair or
carry them on hikes?
>Weight--Are they too heavy or too light to easily hold
steady? Can you wear them comfortably around your neck?
>Focus--Do the binoculars focus quickly and easily?
If you
think about these considerations while shopping, I believe
you'll select the right binoculars for you--ones that will
provide years of enjoyment. |
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Wildlife Guides Go On-Line
 Trying
to identify a bird, butterfly or plant from your
yard or neighborhood? Want to learn more about
local wildlife...or about the birds, plants and
animals in another part of the country?
Our
free on-line Wildlife Guides can help!
Visit the Birds & Blooms Web site at
http://www.birdsandblooms.com
and look for the Free Wildlife Guide link in the
right-hand column. Enter your zip code (or an
out-of-state zip code) to access hundreds of photos
and detailed information!
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Gertie Gosling
Wears 12 Hats |
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FANS of or popular decorative lawn Goose, "Lucy", will
love her new baby, "Gertie Gosling". At 7-1/2" tall, she
looks absolutely endearing standing next to her mother,
or by herself. Gertie comes with 12 different fun hats,
one for every month, including a Santa hat, Easter
bonnet and earmuffs. Brightly colored and detailed. Made
of durable poly resin.
To
order the Gertie Gosling from Country Store On-line,
click here. |
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HAVE
A FRIEND who enjoys bird-watching, bird feeding
or backyard gardening? Feel free to forward this newsletter!
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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
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**********
Copyright
2002 Reiman Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Birds & Blooms, P.O. Box 991, Greendale WI
53129-0991
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