Birds & Blooms Newsletter - November 2002 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 ********** 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. ********** 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, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=113 ********** 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. ********** 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, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=114 ********** 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. ********** 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/rd.asp?id=117and 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! ********** Gertie Gosling Wears 12 Hats 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, visit http://www.countrystorecatalog.com/rd.asp?id=329 ********** Country Store Special Offer-- FREE Shipping and Handling on Any Order! Offer good through December 1, 2002. (Use Suite No. 5531) Visit: http://www.countrystorecatalog.com/rd.asp?id=330 ********** Special Introductory Offer for Birds & Blooms Subscribers-- Get 1 year of Reader's Digest for 44% OFF the cover price! Visit: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=121 ********** Lang At Home Holiday Special Save 25% OFF Primitive and Everyday Candles! This newsletter subscriber offer ends December 1, 2002. (Suite #L1069) Visit: http://www.langathome.com/rd.asp?id=61 ********** HAVE A FRIEND who enjoys bird-watching, bird feeding or backyard gardening? Feel free to forward this newsletter! 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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=116 ********** BYE for now from the Birds & Blooms staff...see you next month! ********** Copyright 2002 Reiman Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Birds & Blooms, P.O. Box 991, Greendale WI 53129-0991 THIS newsletter is now available in a graphical format (HTML) that includes photos with the stories. The computer code below is HTML. If your e-mail program does not support HTML, visit https://www.reimanpub.com/registration2/text.asp?email=$$email$$