Choose Smooth or Chunky

READERS keep coming up with peanutty ways to feed their feathered friends. Linda H. of Hudson, New Hampshire smears peanut butter on the end pieces from a loaf of bread. “Then I sprinkle birdseed on them and put them in a plastic berry basket—the kind you get when you buy strawberries at the grocery store. I use yarn or string to hang these little feeders from a tree branch, then watch my feathered friends enjoy their treat.”

In Jefferson City, Missouri, Barbara B. noticed a blue jay pecking away at an ear of corn she’d put in her squirrel feeder. “The jay was obviously enjoying the corn, but by the next day, squirrels had stripped the ear, leaving just the cob. I spread some peanut butter on the cob, then rolled it in birdseed. I put the cob back on the feeder and watched as both the birds and squirrels enjoyed the treat. After all, it’s only fair that the birds enjoy the squirrel feeder as much as the squirrels enjoy the bird feeders!”

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Flowerpot Didn’t Break in Vane

“WASTE NOT, want not.” That old saying has long been a gardening motto for Paul and Rebecca S. of Conroe, Texas. So when the bottom of a large clay flowerpot broke, they saw an opportunity in the making. “We placed the flowerpot over an unsightly stump in our backyard,” Paul explains. “Then we drilled a hole in the stump and fit a nice-looking weather vane into it. After that, we filled the pot with potting soil and planted periwinkles and petunias. Because the pot sits at an angle, it looks like it’s spilling flowers onto the ground. Overall, it makes for a great conversation piece and hides an ugly stump. Plus, it looks pretty from our back porch!”

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She Hails Kale for Late-Summer Color

“AFTER we had a new driveway put in last July, I decided to plant something on each side where the ground was dug up,” relates Sharon E. of Fenton, Michigan. “We have a short growing season in this area, so I wondered what I could find that would provide color in a short time. In fact, I questioned whether I’d even be able to find anything decent at the nursery so late in the summer.

“Well, I lucked out. The nursery had one flat left full of kale. It was on sale for only $3. At that reasonable price, I couldn’t resist buying the whole thing—even if only half of the plants grew, it was still a bargain.

“To my amazement, all the plants grew, and they were absolutely gorgeous! Did I ever get compliments from friends and neighbors. We had an unusually warm fall, and the kale was still lovely at Thanksgiving. I gave all my friends and relatives a ‘head’ of the kale so they could use it as a dinnertable centerpiece.

“The plants that were left outdoors lasted until the snow started piling up around Christmas, and even then they still looked pretty. They sure provided a lot of enjoyment. I bet you can guess what my friends and I have planted this year!”

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Backyard Pond Became a Heron Hotel

LAST SUMMER, four unusual birds “hung out” by a pond he’d built in his backyard, reports Chris P. of Fircrest, Washington. “They’d snap at bugs, nap in the sun, bathe and stretch themselves. Sometimes they’d even walk up the stairs to my deck and jump up on the edge of the hot tub. After consulting all of my bird books, I thought they might be green herons. But everything I read said they were elusive and shy.”

A birder friend contacted the Audubon Society, and a member came out and confirmed his suspicion—they were juvenile green herons. Chris enjoyed observing their behavior. One of them acted as a “lookout,” usually standing on a high rock while the others continued their daily routines.

“One day, the three largest birds were sitting and napping on a lawn chair. When the smallest one struggled to hop up and join them, it looked like the others were encouraging it. One bird jumped down and prodded the smallest one with its beak and wing. When the little one finally made it to the chair, it settled down and napped with the others.

“After a week, three were gone. The littlest was the last to leave. Before it left, the bird walked up the steps to the deck where I was sitting quietly. We stared at each other for a few seconds as if to say good-bye. Then the heron turned and flew off. I knew it was resuming its journey south, and I hoped it hadn’t stayed too long and would soon find the others.”

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Old Blooms Are Part Of the Family Tree

WE ASKED readers to share stories about plants that have been in the family for a long time, and we weren’t disappointed! Top honors go to three readers with plants over a century old.

William J. of Des Moines, Iowa has a rosebush that belonged to his mother’s grandfather. “He gave it to Mother in the spring of 1926, telling her it had been in the family for 56 years,” William writes. “That would make it at least 135 years old! I’ve shared cuttings from this rose with other family members. I love older roses because their fragrance is much stronger and sweeter than modern tea roses.” In addition, William has a climbing rosebush that was planted by his grandfather in 1901.

In Grand Terrace, California, Carol R. also has a centurion rosebush. “The beautiful pink roses in our backyard came from the Stacy, Minnesota farm where my father-in-law, John, was born and raised,” Carol writes. “When he married and moved to Minneapolis, he took some cuttings from the bush with him. John has since passed away, but the new owners of the old home were kind enough to give us a cutting from his bush. Now it adds beauty and special meaning to our own garden.”

Mary J. of Greeneville, Tennessee has a clematis vine she estimates is more than 100 years old. “Grandmother had this vine at her place, where I also lived,” Mary notes. “When we moved, we took the vine with us. Sixty-five years later, I moved again and took the clematis vine along, too. After I’m gone, I hope someone from my family will take care of it. I love that vine dearly.”

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‘Bird Dog Feeder’ Works While They’re Away

SOMETIMES, J.C. and Cathy M. of Winnemucca, Nevada leave home for extended periods of time. “The birds in our yard can empty a small feeder in one day, and we wanted a larger one so they wouldn’t go hungry while we travel,” says Cathy. “After quite a bit of searching, we found the perfect solution—an automatic dog food dispenser!

With its large inverted holding jug and feeding tray, the dog feeder looked just like a gigantic bird feeder. “We had to customize it a bit because the large opening dispensed too much seed at one time. We restricted the flow by fitting a portion of a plastic milk jug over the opening. We also drilled a small hole in the dish portion of the feeder to allow moisture to drain. It’s not fancy, but like a good dog, it does the trick!”

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