NOTE--To see an on-line version of this newsletter, copy this link and paste it into your web browser: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=316&firstname=$$firstname$$&emailaddress=$$email$$ ========== Birds & Blooms Newsletter - May 2004 Dear $$firstname$$, Greetings from Birds & Blooms magazine! We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter, which includes one really hungry hummingbird, some money-saving garden tips, a truly dandy spring salad and more. Read on and you'll discover... > Handout for a Hummer > Garden Grows Wildflowers and More > "Kid Binoculars" Help Budding Birders > Green Thumb Saves Green > Location Is Everything > Can't Beat 'Em? Eat 'Em! > What Was That Bird? ********** Handout for a Hummer SPRING was cold and wet in Ontario, putting Dorothy C. of Milton 2 or 3 weeks behind schedule on her gardening. "Feeling restless one day, I decided to try to plant my impatiens and petunias," she says. "I had just finished with one planter when I spotted something flying toward me. I stood absolutely still and watched in amazement as a hummingbird came right to the planter, went around to all the plants, then came to feed from a pot of impatiens I was still holding in my hand! "It was early May, and we didn't realize that the hummingbirds had already come this far north. They were obviously very hungry since the flowers were not yet blooming, so my husband, Dave, quickly got out the hummingbird feeder." Naturally, Dorothy was delighted...but clearly that hungry hummer was just as happy to see her! ********** Garden Grows Wildflowers and More A WILDFLOWER garden in her yard includes trilliums, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild columbine and more, says Coral B. of Portage, Michigan. "One May, a patch of trilliums began to disappear. At first, I thought they were being eaten by a woodchuck I'd spotted. But then I noticed dainty hoof prints--it had to be a small doe. A few more trilliums came up...but as soon as a blossom opened, it disappeared. Only telltale hoof marks nearby remained. "Hoping to save the remaining blooms, I put a small piece of fence around the cluster of plants and placed twigs across the top. A few days later, I discovered deer tracks and saw the twigs had been pushed aside. The doe had eaten all but three or four of the trilliums." One day a neighbor phoned Coral to say he'd spotted the doe in her garden and wanted to get a picture. With camera in hand, he got to within 10 feet of the whitetail before she spooked. "The neighbor motioned me to come over, and there, among our lilies of the valley, we found a fawn curled up. We were both overwhelmed by its gentle beauty--finding it there was like a wonderful gift. The neighbor quietly took a few pictures, then we left the fawn to its mother. Early the next morning, they were gone." Although the doe had eaten most of her trilliums, Coral didn't mind--seeing the fawn was a special sign of spring. To view a photo, visit: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=319 ********** Roy Reiman Wants to Welcome You to His Hometown This Summer WHEN was the last time you took in a concert at the village park on a warm summer evening? Or enjoyed a scrumptious country-style picnic followed by a stroll around the pond? If you miss the food, friends and fun of an old-fashioned summer, you're invited to join us this August for a "celebration tour" of Birds & Blooms  very own hometown of Greendale, Wisconsin. You'll get an exclusive "behind the scenes" tour of Reiman Publications, including our colorful gardens and scenic grounds. You'll also enjoy a special picnic--featuring a mouth-watering selection of dishes from Taste of Home-- and many other fun-filled events. Best of all, you'll get to personally meet Roy Reiman, founder of our magazine, and Ann Kaiser, editor of Country Woman. Both will share their fascinating stories and experiences with you as part of this old-fashioned summer weekend in Greendale. And as a Birds & Blooms newsletter subscriber, you'll SAVE $50 per person when you reserve your place. For complete tour details and an itinerary, visit: http://www.countrytours.com/rd.asp?id=533 ========== World Wide Country Tours Exclusive Tour Operator of Reiman Publications 1-800/344-6918 Visit: http://www.countrytours.com/rd.asp?id=534 ********** "Kid Binoculars" Help Budding Birders FINDING something while looking through a pair of binoculars is definitely a learned skill. It's even more difficult for children, who may get discouraged easily if they're unable to find a bird or other object. According to Gary D. of Nampa, Idaho, "kiddy binoculars" are easy and fun to make and can help kids learn how to use real binoculars. "My grandson Dillon loves them," he adds. All you need to make a pair is two toilet paper rolls, some string and duct tape or Con-Tact paper. Just wrap each roll with the tape or Con-Tact paper and tape them together. Punch a hole in the same end of each roll, cut a piece of string long enough to go over the child's head, then thread the ends through the hole in each roll and tie a big knot inside. That's all there is to it. "With these make-believe binoculars, kids can successfully learn how to spot an object through a narrower field of vision," Gary explains. "After they get the hang of it, they'll be ready to graduate to real binoculars." Kids are never too young to learn, he adds. Make these binoculars for them and give them a chance to acquire a skill while they play! ********** Green Thumb Saves Green WHEN Lauren P. of Bayport, New York says she has a "green thumb", she's not only talking about how she gets her beautiful garden to bloom. She's also referring to her knack for saving money at the same time. Here are some of Lauren's penny-pinching tips to help put a little more green in your garden and pocketbook: -> When you buy perennials like hostas and daylilies, divide them before planting. -> Swap plants with friends whenever possible. -> Keep your eyes open for people in the neighborhood who are updating their landscape. Many are more than happy to give you their unwanted plants. ("One neighbor offered me more than 100 hostas--I took every one of them," Lauren says.) -> Use wood chips for mulch. Many tree removal companies will gladly dump them in your driveway for free. -> Buy smaller, cheaper plants and wait for them to grow. ("I have more time than money," Lauren explains.) -> Buy plants from nurseries with guarantees and save your receipts. If a plant dies, you can get it replaced. -> Buy bulbs through mail-order sources. You get more for your money. -> Plant daffodils and crocuses--critters such as squirrels and moles don't bother them. -> Come harvesttime, trade vegetables with your neighbors. -> Plant asparagus in your vegetable garden. It comes back year after year. -> Visit your local nursery late in the growing season for the best bargains. -> Buy annuals that reseed themselves; or, as an alternative, collect their seeds for next season. ********** Location Is Everything TWO SUMMERS AGO, a young nephew made a birdhouse for Debra S. of North Collins, New York. "I was especially proud of it, and so was he," Debra recalls. "We found the perfect place to hang it--a small clearing that's visible from our home. "We really didn't expect any birds to nest in the birdhouse, because it was painted blue and the opening was rather large. But one morning, my husband spotted an unusual yellow-breasted bird flying in and out of the clearing. We looked in our bird book and learned it was a great crested flycatcher. We were thrilled at this discovery, and even more so when we saw a female also flying around the clearing. We soon realized that they'd built a nest in the birdhouse! "Trying not to disturb the pair, we monitored them regularly through binoculars and took photos from a distance. Before we knew it, there were two babies in the nest. My nephew was proud as a peacock and very excited to watch them and listen to the babies chirp." To view a photo, visit: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/rd.asp?id=320 ********** Can't Beat 'Em? Eat 'Em! THERE'S no surer sign of spring than a yard full of bright yellow dandelions. And there's no dandier place to appreciate this worthy weed than in your kitchen. "I think of dandelions as nature's 'good-deed weeds' because they're remarkably nutritious," reports Frances G. of Weston, Connecticut, who shares her recipe for Dandelion Salad below. "This refreshing dish can be served for brunch, lunch or even breakfast," Frances adds. "Dandelions give you more vitamin C than tomatoes, more vitamin A than carrots and just as much iron as spinach." Dandelion leaves are most tender and flavorful in early spring, before the first flower buds appear. The blossoms also have their sweetest flavor when picked early in the season. Young buds can be boiled and buttered, pickled or even sauteed. If your yard is dandelion-free, consider cultivating horticultural varieties that are even more tender, leafy and mildly flavored. Here are some other dandy hints: -> Wash dandelion greens carefully to remove insects and soil from the undersides of the leaves. -> Dandelion leaves may be used as a substitute in recipes calling for chicory, arugula, escarole or curly endive. -> Lemon helps mellow the hint of bitterness common in dandelion greens. -> Use dandelion blossoms immediately after picking because the flowers will close quickly. -> When harvesting dandelion leaves, buds or blossoms, be sure the dandelions have not been treated with pesticides. When using any wild ingredients in recipes, be sure you know what you are picking. DANDELION SALAD 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 teaspoon cider vinegar or lemon juice 2 cups young dandelion leaves 1/4 cup sliced green onions or leeks 2 hard-cooked eggs, sliced 1/2 cup grapefruit or tangerine sections or mandarin oranges Dandelion blossoms, optional  In a small bowl, whisk oil and vinegar. Combine dandelion leaves and onions; add dressing and toss to coat. Arrange on two salad plates; top with eggs and fruit. Garnish with dandelion blossoms if desired. Yield: 2 servings. ********** What Was That Bird? NEARLY 650 species of North American birds are depicted in detailed full-color illustrations in North American Wildlife: Birds. This book from the folks at Reader's Digest includes lots of authoritative, easy-to-scan information on "telltale" identification features, behavior patterns, habitat, range and more. Double-indexed (common and scientific names) for easy lookup. Soft cover, 216 pages. Measures 5-1/4" x 7-1/4". To order North American Wildlife: Birds from Country Store On-line, visit: http://www.countrystorecatalog.com/rd.asp?id=925 ********** -Country Store- Featured Item The Weekend Gardener Book Visit: http://www.countrystorecatalog.com/RD.asp?ID=924 ********** HAVE A FRIEND who enjoys bird-watching, bird feeding or backyard gardening? Feel free to forward this newsletter! This email was sent to: $$email$$ If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can sign up for yourself. Visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/RD.asp?ID=321 TO CANCEL your newsletter at any time, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/RD.asp?ID=322 TO UPDATE your e-mail address and other information, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/RD.asp?ID=323 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=317 ========== Backyard Living is the all-new, one-of-a-kind magazine that's guaranteed to help you improve and enjoy your backyard like never before. Each issue is packed with easy projects, great gardening hints, luscious recipes for backyard entertaining, and more! To subscribe or give a gift on-line, visit http://www.backyardlivingmagazine.com/RD.asp?ID=56 ********** BYE for now from the Birds & Blooms staff...see you next month! ********** Copyright 2004 Reiman Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Birds & Blooms, P.O. Box 991, Greendale WI 53129-0991 1-800/344-6913 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=$$email$$