BIRDS & BLOOMS Newsletter

The Great Backyard Bird Count

WANT TO WATCH birds and help scientists at the same time? Just participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count! From Feb. 16 to 19, bird lovers across the United States and Canada will count the birds they see to help create a mid-winter "snapshot" of the birds’ locations.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society coordinate the annual count, using data from bird-watchers of all ages and abilities to track the well-being of North American birds. Last year’s participants counted more than 7.5 million birds representing 623 species.

To find out more about the count, log on to www.birdsandblooms.com or visit www.birdsource.org/gbbc.

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Join Our FREE Garden Club

Sign up for our new free Garden Club newsletter, delivered to green thumbs who want the most beautiful garden in the neighborhood. More plant tips and ideas, advice from the Plant Doctor and much more, delivered right to your E-mail in box. Includes flowers, vegetables and landscaping ideas to make your neighbors "green" with envy. And, as our Garden Club grows, so will the benefits for members. Sign up today!

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Going for the Heart

FOR GENERATIONS, bleeding heart has captivated the imagination of children and adults alike. With blooms that form perfect hearts, it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale.

Glenna Blair Rieppel of Mansfield, Pennsylvania still remembers the legend she heard as a youth. "My grandma used to tell me this cute little story of what everyone got for Christmas as she carefully pulled apart the blossom," Glenna explains. "Mother received two pretty pink shoes, Father got two fishing hooks, sister a pair of ballerina slippers and last but not least, brother found a baseball bat."

Some storytellers might discover pink rabbits instead of shoes, a sword instead of a bat or invent a different tale altogether. Just open a blossom and see what you find.

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Submit Your Stories

DO YOU have a gardening success story in which you overcame a natural disaster like flooding, a wildfire, a tornado or a hurricane? We want to hear from you. Send us your story and photos via e-mail to editors@birdsandblooms.com. We encourage you to send both before and after photos. Please put "Natural Disaster" in the subject line.

Contributor’s Guidelines

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Here’s a Sweetheart of a Travel Deal!

Save $50.00 per person and get FREE luggage!

Reserve any of World Wide Country Tours’ fun-filled 2007 tours and you’ll save $50.00 per person plus get a Wheeled Carry-on Bag—FREE! Now that’s a “Sweetheart of a Deal!”

Visit countrytours.com for complete itineraries of all our exciting 2007 vacations.

Use code BL33 when you reserve to claim your $50.00 per person savings and FREE Wheeled-Carry-on Bag. Don’t wait to book your trip! Offer expires February 28, 2007!

Offer cannot be combined with any other offers.

Exclusive Tour Operator of Reiman Publications

1-800/344-6918
5939 Country Lane, Greendale WI 53129-1429

Picture This

IS THIS egret taking a bow, waiting for another birdbrain to give him a "high 5" or something totally different? Click here to see for yourself!

Click here to see what she saw!

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A Welcome Sight

ONE FRIGID February morning, Linda Lacy Heighton of Versailles, Kentucky had a severe case of the winter doldrums. And a glance outside didn’t help—the sky was gloomy and the landscape barren. "I was just about to crawl back under the covers when I caught a glimpse of something yellow streaking past my window," shares Linda.

"The bird was too large to be a goldfinch, I thought. Besides, they were still wearing their drab winter colors. So I consulted my field guide. After flipping through the pages, I settled on the illustration of an evening grosbeak. It seemed the only possible answer, although Kentucky was out of the bird’s normal range.

"My curiosity piqued, I searched for another trace of yellow...no luck. Several minutes passed before a mass of grosbeaks descended from the sky! A couple dozen crowded around my bird feeder, displaying a ravenous appetite unlike any birds I’d ever seen before.

"When a passing car sent them scattering, it cued the return of the American goldfinches, mourning doves and house sparrows that normally frequent my feeder. Tufted titmice, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, northern cardinals and a solitary woodpecker soon joined the growing feeding frenzy.

The ground beneath the feeder now looked like a choppy sea of bobbing heads. Their chatter was almost deafening. The flurry of activity was just the jolt I needed to face the day—gray sky and all—with renewed spirit."

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Don’t Desert Hope!

ONE DESERT GARDENER was looking for flowers for two planters that are in full shade. Living in the desert means it’s hot during the day and cold at night. To get ideas for this environment or in one closer to your own zone, start by checking out what works for your neighbors. Good gardeners frequently borrow and share ideas. Then start experimenting. You can begin with the following:

Annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus) has continual blooms of white, pink, rose or purple flowers and glossy green foliage. For a bolder effect, plant Clivia, which has yellow or orange flowers and wide strap-like leaves that grow up to 1-1/2 feet long.
Cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) can give you a vertical accent with its upright green leaves. And the green- or yellow-leafed moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia) will hang over the edge of a planter while its yellow buttercup-like blossoms add color.
Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) and variegated yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon variegatum) also are good trailing plants. The leaves provide interest long after the flowers fade.

Try a few new plants every year until you find what works. Make sure to record both your successes and failures.

top

To Clean or Not to Clean

YOU MAY WONDER when to clean out and repair your nesting boxes. If you plan to leave the houses up all winter, then it’s best to clean them in spring, when you can remove insects and old nesting materials from both birds and mice.

Mice tend to use birdhouses in winter and supplement the birds’ nesting materials with their own. Birds also welcome the old nesting materials, as they may roost in the houses on cold winter nights.

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Coming Soon: Budget Backyard Makeovers

THINK YOU CAN'T afford a "dream backyard?" Think again! Budget Backyard Makeovers is a special edition publication from the editors of Backyard Living and Birds & Blooms. It’s crammed with ideas for turning your yard into a showplace—without breaking the bank. Watch for your copy of Budget Backyard Makeovers in stores and on newsstands beginning February 27!

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Baffle Some Squirrels

KEEP squirrels from raiding your seed with weight-activated baffles using the Birdseed Vault Feeder! Birds have no trouble getting their meal, but a squirrel's weight on the perch closes the baffles and keeps seed safe. Three adjustable settings keep out larger birds, and the locking lid helps keep seed thieves out. Order your Birdseed Vault Feeder today from Country Store.

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To learn more about Reiman Media Group’s use of personal information, please read our Privacy Policy.

5400 S. 60th St., P.O. Box 991, Greendale WI 53129-0991
1-800/344-6913

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1,029 Backyard Birding Secrets Visit The Country Store For More Information SEARCH one of our web sites: THIS NEWSLETTER is from the editors of some of your favorite magazines, including… FREE ISSUE! Claim Your FREE issue of the only magazine for bird and flower lovers! Click here for details FREE ISSUE! Claim Your FREE issue of America’s Favorite Backyard “How-To” Magazine! Click here for details FREE ISSUE! Treat yourself to a FREE issue of our newest backyard birding and gardening magazine! Click here for details	Dear $$firstname$$, Greetings from Birds & Blooms magazine! If you're thinking ahead, you’ll appreciate the garden suggestions included in this month’s newsletter. You’ll also find stories and tips from readers who are trying to "green up" their thumbs for spring. Photo: Pam Law READ ON TO DISCOVER... The Great Backyard Bird Count Going for the Heart Submit Your Stories Picture This A Welcome Sight Don’t Desert Hope! To Clean or Not to Clean Coming Soon: Budget Backyard Makeovers Baffle Some Squirrels The Great Backyard Bird Count WANT TO WATCH birds and help scientists at the same time? Just participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count! From Feb. 16 to 19, bird lovers across the United States and Canada will count the birds they see to help create a mid-winter "snapshot" of the birds’ locations. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society coordinate the annual count, using data from bird-watchers of all ages and abilities to track the well-being of North American birds. Last year’s participants counted more than 7.5 million birds representing 623 species. To find out more about the count, log on to www.birdsandblooms.com or visit www.birdsource.org/gbbc. top Join Our FREE Garden Club Sign up for our new free Garden Club newsletter, delivered to green thumbs who want the most beautiful garden in the neighborhood. More plant tips and ideas, advice from the Plant Doctor and much more, delivered right to your E-mail in box. Includes flowers, vegetables and landscaping ideas to make your neighbors "green" with envy. And, as our Garden Club grows, so will the benefits for members. Sign up today! top Going for the Heart FOR GENERATIONS, bleeding heart has captivated the imagination of children and adults alike. With blooms that form perfect hearts, it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. Glenna Blair Rieppel of Mansfield, Pennsylvania still remembers the legend she heard as a youth. "My grandma used to tell me this cute little story of what everyone got for Christmas as she carefully pulled apart the blossom," Glenna explains. "Mother received two pretty pink shoes, Father got two fishing hooks, sister a pair of ballerina slippers and last but not least, brother found a baseball bat." Some storytellers might discover pink rabbits instead of shoes, a sword instead of a bat or invent a different tale altogether. Just open a blossom and see what you find. top Submit Your Stories DO YOU have a gardening success story in which you overcame a natural disaster like flooding, a wildfire, a tornado or a hurricane? We want to hear from you. Send us your story and photos via e-mail to editors@birdsandblooms.com. We encourage you to send both before and after photos. Please put "Natural Disaster" in the subject line. Contributor’s Guidelines top Here’s a Sweetheart of a Travel Deal! Save $50.00 per person and get FREE luggage! Reserve any of World Wide Country Tours’ fun-filled 2007 tours and you’ll save $50.00 per person plus get a Wheeled Carry-on Bag—FREE! Now that’s a “Sweetheart of a Deal!” Visit countrytours.com for complete itineraries of all our exciting 2007 vacations. Use code BL33 when you reserve to claim your $50.00 per person savings and FREE Wheeled-Carry-on Bag. Don’t wait to book your trip! Offer expires February 28, 2007! Offer cannot be combined with any other offers. Exclusive Tour Operator of Reiman Publications 1-800/344-6918 5939 Country Lane, Greendale WI 53129-1429 Picture This IS THIS egret taking a bow, waiting for another birdbrain to give him a "high 5" or something totally different? Click here to see for yourself! Click here to see what she saw! top A Welcome Sight ONE FRIGID February morning, Linda Lacy Heighton of Versailles, Kentucky had a severe case of the winter doldrums. And a glance outside didn’t help—the sky was gloomy and the landscape barren. "I was just about to crawl back under the covers when I caught a glimpse of something yellow streaking past my window," shares Linda. "The bird was too large to be a goldfinch, I thought. Besides, they were still wearing their drab winter colors. So I consulted my field guide. After flipping through the pages, I settled on the illustration of an evening grosbeak. It seemed the only possible answer, although Kentucky was out of the bird’s normal range. "My curiosity piqued, I searched for another trace of yellow...no luck. Several minutes passed before a mass of grosbeaks descended from the sky! A couple dozen crowded around my bird feeder, displaying a ravenous appetite unlike any birds I’d ever seen before. "When a passing car sent them scattering, it cued the return of the American goldfinches, mourning doves and house sparrows that normally frequent my feeder. Tufted titmice, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, northern cardinals and a solitary woodpecker soon joined the growing feeding frenzy. The ground beneath the feeder now looked like a choppy sea of bobbing heads. Their chatter was almost deafening. The flurry of activity was just the jolt I needed to face the day—gray sky and all—with renewed spirit." top Don’t Desert Hope! ONE DESERT GARDENER was looking for flowers for two planters that are in full shade. Living in the desert means it’s hot during the day and cold at night. To get ideas for this environment or in one closer to your own zone, start by checking out what works for your neighbors. Good gardeners frequently borrow and share ideas. Then start experimenting. You can begin with the following: Annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus) has continual blooms of white, pink, rose or purple flowers and glossy green foliage. For a bolder effect, plant Clivia, which has yellow or orange flowers and wide strap-like leaves that grow up to 1-1/2 feet long. Cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) can give you a vertical accent with its upright green leaves. And the green- or yellow-leafed moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia) will hang over the edge of a planter while its yellow buttercup-like blossoms add color. Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) and variegated yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon variegatum) also are good trailing plants. The leaves provide interest long after the flowers fade. Try a few new plants every year until you find what works. Make sure to record both your successes and failures. top To Clean or Not to Clean YOU MAY WONDER when to clean out and repair your nesting boxes. If you plan to leave the houses up all winter, then it’s best to clean them in spring, when you can remove insects and old nesting materials from both birds and mice. Mice tend to use birdhouses in winter and supplement the birds’ nesting materials with their own. Birds also welcome the old nesting materials, as they may roost in the houses on cold winter nights. top Coming Soon: Budget Backyard Makeovers THINK YOU CAN'T afford a "dream backyard?" Think again! Budget Backyard Makeovers is a special edition publication from the editors of Backyard Living and Birds & Blooms. It’s crammed with ideas for turning your yard into a showplace—without breaking the bank. Watch for your copy of Budget Backyard Makeovers in stores and on newsstands beginning February 27! top Baffle Some Squirrels KEEP squirrels from raiding your seed with weight-activated baffles using the Birdseed Vault Feeder! Birds have no trouble getting their meal, but a squirrel's weight on the perch closes the baffles and keeps seed safe. Three adjustable settings keep out larger birds, and the locking lid helps keep seed thieves out. Order your Birdseed Vault Feeder today from Country Store. top This email was sent to: $$email$$ HAVE A FRIEND who enjoys bird-watching, bird feeding or backyard gardening? Feel free to forward this newsletter! If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please use this link to sign up for yourself. If you do not want to receive further editions of this newsletter, please use this link to unsubscribe. If you would like to change or edit your email preferences, please visit your Personal Preferences page. To learn more about Reiman Media Group’s use of personal information, please read our Privacy Policy. Copyright 2007 Reiman Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. 5400 S. 60th St., P.O. Box 991, Greendale WI 53129-0991 1-800/344-6913
© Copyright 2007 Reiman Media Group, Inc.

1,029 Backyard Birding Secrets