BIRDS & BLOOMS Newsletter

Life in the Fast Lane

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, we moved our entire house to a new location about six blocks away. That must have been a shock to a pair of barn swallows that started building a mud nest on our front porch just before the move.

Surprisingly, as the house was being moved around the corner and up the street, the swallows continued working on the nest. And as we settled in at our new address, so did they. —Dave Buss, Reedsburg, Wisconsin

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Reach New Heights with Delphiniums

DELPHINIUMS are giants among garden plants. Just ask reader Marlene Spangler, who now looks up to these towering beauties. Marlene was traveling through Nipigon, Ontario when she saw a garden so striking she had to stop and photograph it. The back was lined with majestic blue blooms standing over 6 feet tall.

"The garden had bird feeders, but the flowers were so tall you could barely see them," Marlene says. The owner wasn't there, so when Marlene returned home to Green Bay, Wisconsin she wrote to the gardener to find out more. To her delight, Reynard Abrahamson promptly replied and filled her in on his garden secret: Giant Pacific delphiniums.

As Marlene discovered, delphiniums are a garden showstopper. Known as the "queen of garden plants," some varieties rise to towering heights of 7 feet, with spires of vibrant cup-shaped blooms. A member of the Ranunculaceae family, delphinium boasts about 250 species, mostly perennials, and is native to mountainous regions throughout the world.
Delphiniums are susceptible to a wide range of problems, from slugs, snails and mites to powdery mildew, blight, bacterial and fungal spots, gray mold and crown and root rot. Most of the tall cultivars need to be staked, too.

Proper care can head off many of these pitfalls. Choose a planting site with good drainage and air circulation, amend the soil with organic matter and add an inch or 2 of mulch around the base of each plant. Water and feed regularly, and watch for signs of insects or disease.

Delphiniums make a dramatic statement anywhere in the garden—at the back of a mixed border, as a vertical accent, a specimen plant or a container planting. They'll bloom from early through late summer, and deadheading encourages a second flush of blossoms that may last into autumn.

Go ahead and try these towering treasures in your garden—but don't be surprised if strangers show up for a few pictures

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Picture This

"MY FAMILY and I first noticed the brown female cardinal as she built her nest from leaves, twigs and straw in our crape myrtle," shares Gary Tidwell of Killen, Alabama. "It was only a couple of days later that we saw three remarkable brown-spotted, bluish-white eggs in there.

"The mother's devotion to her clutch was unwavering. She only left the nest when we mowed the lawn or watered nearby plants. Less than 2 weeks later, the eggs hatched, and we saw the tiny bald creatures. Soon they were lifting their heads with their mouths wide open. It seemed they were always begging for their next meal. A few days later, the male cardinal showed up and took up his duties as a food provider, too."

Click here to see the photo!

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Rehabbed Nest Box

By Jean Scopel, Evans, Colorado

BIRDS OFTEN seek shelter in our roofed patio, so last winter my husband, Earl, built a shelter box and hung it there. By early spring, a house sparrow couple claimed and filled it with lots of nesting material. We had a ringside seat to watch the babies grow.

One evening, they were hanging so far out of the hole that we knew they were ready to fly the coop. Sure enough, they left the next morning. Earl took down the box, cleaned it, subdivided it into three separate compartments, painted it and hung it back up.

The very same evening, one of the sparrows returned and landed on the perch below the hole it had left that morning. It stuck its head inside, then yanked it back.

It tried the next hole, and then the next one. Thoroughly confused, the bird fluttered to a nearby tree branch and gave a loud distressed, "Chirp!"

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Seedpods from Flag Irises

GIVING SEEDS is a great way to share your garden with others. With irises, you should pick the seedpods as soon as the ends start to split. Place the pods in a warm, dry location until they're completely dry.

Once dry, remove the seeds from the pods and store in a cool location. (For example, you can store them in plastic 35mm film canisters in the refrigerator.) To keep them organized, write the plant information on the container. You can also place the dried seeds in an envelope. Fold it, place it in a sealed jar and store in the refrigerator.

Plant the iris seeds directly outdoors in fall or early spring. It will take several years for the plants to reach maturity and begin to flower.

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Moving a Bird Feeder

IF YOU REPLACE a bird feeder and move the old feeder, it may take a while for the birds to return. Some reasons may be that the new feeder is scaring the birds, or that the food you're offering is wet, moldy or undesirable for some reason.

Birds do have preferences about food and the kinds of feeders they use. American goldfinches, for example, prefer sunflower seeds, thistle (nyger) and safflower seeds served in tube feeders with or without perches.

Northern cardinals, on the other hand, will not use a tube feeder unless it has a tray attached to the bottom so they can stand on a flat surface.
Natural cover is another consideration. If your feeders are now out in the open without natural cover around them, the birds fear they'll have no place to escape if threatened.

top

Save $50.00 on a 2007 Holiday Vacation!

Plan your winter vacation now!

We’ve got a great lineup of winter vacations for you, from relaxing pre-holiday getaways to Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day parades and a brand-new Alaskan Iditarod adventure. Book now and you’ll save $50.00 per person!

Click here to see all our 2007 Holiday Tours.

Use code BL37 when you reserve to claim your $50.00 per person savings. Don’t wait to book your trip! Offer expires June 29, 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

Flower-Vegetable Combinations

Some flowers can be planted near vegetables to deter unwanted insects. For example, nasturtiums and marigolds are traditional choices for insect control. Some gardeners believe these plants trap insects before they enter the garden. Others doubt their value, believing they actually attract insects.

Marigolds may help control some pests, such as nematodes—a microscopic worm-like parasite. But planting marigolds may not be a solution for broad insect control.

There are three more reliable ways to protect your garden from insects: Select hybrid vegetables that are pest resistant…stay on top of weeding duties (those unwanted plants often attract insects)…and remove pests as soon as you see them.

top

Squirrel Busters

SQUIRRELS DRIVING YOU NUTS? The reader ideas below may help keep these furry rascals from raiding backyard bird feeders.

Pole Position
SQUIRRELS just can't get the footing needed to ransack the bird feeders in Charles Benoit's backyard in Orangefield, Texas. That's because he puts a slippery barrier between the squirrels and the birdseed—a 6-inch diameter PVC pipe used for a pole.

"I've never seen a squirrel that can climb PVC yet," he says. "It's a simple and inexpensive solution to this problem."

Charles first sinks the PVC pole into the ground, then mounts feeders on top using a 12-inch-long tailpiece made from two back-to-back 2 x 4s. The tail slips into the pipe.

Editor's Note: As with all squirrel-proof feeders, we recommend mounting them at least 6 feet high and 10 feet from places where critters can jump to them.

Shell Game
HERE'S a surefire way to break the spirit of the squirrels in your backyard. Fill caged peanut feeders with peanuts in the shell, as John Jordan does in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

"The woodpeckers, nuthatches and blue jays have no problem breaking the shells and picking out the tasty meats, but the squirrels won't even waste their time or energy getting on the feeder," John says.

"I feed thistle and safflower seeds in my other feeders," he adds. "The squirrels don't seem to like that either."

Going Up…and Down
SQUIRRELS in Harold Kenow's St. Paul, Minnesota backyard must have the feeling they've been taken for a ride—literally.

Harold protects his feeders with an inexpensive Slinky toy he purchased at an area dollar store. "I just wound it onto the pole of my feeder and let the bottom hang free. The wind causes a visual disturbance that keeps most squirrels off. If they're brave enough to give it a try, they get a free ride up and back down again."

top

Where the Birds Are

Where can you find North America's most amazing birds? Look to Where the Birds Are, a vibrant, sweeping travel guide. This beautiful 288-page book contains all the information you need to venture beyond the backyard to enjoy birds. Organized by regions, the full-color book presents 35 driving tours to breathtaking birding and wildlife destinations. This stunning book is a great way to enjoy the view, whether from the seat of your vehicle or in your own living room. Order your copy of Where the Birds Are today from CountryStoreCatalog.com.

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

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Flutterby Butterfly Feeder 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! Kick off summer with great ideas from this month's newsletter. You'll find ways to beat squirrels at their own game, select flowers that help deter insects and more. Don't forget to check out our websites at www.birdsandblooms.com and www.backyardlivingmagazine.com. You can also get more practical gardening ideas by signing up for the NEW monthly Garden Club newsletter. Photo: Jo Ann Phillips READ ON TO DISCOVER... Life in the Fast Lane Reach New Heights with Delphiniums Picture This Rehabbed Nest Box Seedpods from Flag Irises Moving a Bird Feeder Flower-Vegetable Combinations Squirrel Busters Where the Birds Are Life in the Fast Lane SEVERAL YEARS AGO, we moved our entire house to a new location about six blocks away. That must have been a shock to a pair of barn swallows that started building a mud nest on our front porch just before the move. Surprisingly, as the house was being moved around the corner and up the street, the swallows continued working on the nest. And as we settled in at our new address, so did they. —Dave Buss, Reedsburg, Wisconsin top Reach New Heights with Delphiniums DELPHINIUMS are giants among garden plants. Just ask reader Marlene Spangler, who now looks up to these towering beauties. Marlene was traveling through Nipigon, Ontario when she saw a garden so striking she had to stop and photograph it. The back was lined with majestic blue blooms standing over 6 feet tall. "The garden had bird feeders, but the flowers were so tall you could barely see them," Marlene says. The owner wasn't there, so when Marlene returned home to Green Bay, Wisconsin she wrote to the gardener to find out more. To her delight, Reynard Abrahamson promptly replied and filled her in on his garden secret: Giant Pacific delphiniums. As Marlene discovered, delphiniums are a garden showstopper. Known as the "queen of garden plants," some varieties rise to towering heights of 7 feet, with spires of vibrant cup-shaped blooms. A member of the Ranunculaceae family, delphinium boasts about 250 species, mostly perennials, and is native to mountainous regions throughout the world. Delphiniums are susceptible to a wide range of problems, from slugs, snails and mites to powdery mildew, blight, bacterial and fungal spots, gray mold and crown and root rot. Most of the tall cultivars need to be staked, too. Proper care can head off many of these pitfalls. Choose a planting site with good drainage and air circulation, amend the soil with organic matter and add an inch or 2 of mulch around the base of each plant. Water and feed regularly, and watch for signs of insects or disease. Delphiniums make a dramatic statement anywhere in the garden—at the back of a mixed border, as a vertical accent, a specimen plant or a container planting. They'll bloom from early through late summer, and deadheading encourages a second flush of blossoms that may last into autumn. Go ahead and try these towering treasures in your garden—but don't be surprised if strangers show up for a few pictures top Picture This "MY FAMILY and I first noticed the brown female cardinal as she built her nest from leaves, twigs and straw in our crape myrtle," shares Gary Tidwell of Killen, Alabama. "It was only a couple of days later that we saw three remarkable brown-spotted, bluish-white eggs in there. "The mother's devotion to her clutch was unwavering. She only left the nest when we mowed the lawn or watered nearby plants. Less than 2 weeks later, the eggs hatched, and we saw the tiny bald creatures. Soon they were lifting their heads with their mouths wide open. It seemed they were always begging for their next meal. A few days later, the male cardinal showed up and took up his duties as a food provider, too." Click here to see the photo! top Rehabbed Nest Box By Jean Scopel, Evans, Colorado BIRDS OFTEN seek shelter in our roofed patio, so last winter my husband, Earl, built a shelter box and hung it there. By early spring, a house sparrow couple claimed and filled it with lots of nesting material. We had a ringside seat to watch the babies grow. One evening, they were hanging so far out of the hole that we knew they were ready to fly the coop. Sure enough, they left the next morning. Earl took down the box, cleaned it, subdivided it into three separate compartments, painted it and hung it back up. The very same evening, one of the sparrows returned and landed on the perch below the hole it had left that morning. It stuck its head inside, then yanked it back. It tried the next hole, and then the next one. Thoroughly confused, the bird fluttered to a nearby tree branch and gave a loud distressed, "Chirp!" top Seedpods from Flag Irises GIVING SEEDS is a great way to share your garden with others. With irises, you should pick the seedpods as soon as the ends start to split. Place the pods in a warm, dry location until they're completely dry. Once dry, remove the seeds from the pods and store in a cool location. (For example, you can store them in plastic 35mm film canisters in the refrigerator.) To keep them organized, write the plant information on the container. You can also place the dried seeds in an envelope. Fold it, place it in a sealed jar and store in the refrigerator. Plant the iris seeds directly outdoors in fall or early spring. It will take several years for the plants to reach maturity and begin to flower. top Moving a Bird Feeder IF YOU REPLACE a bird feeder and move the old feeder, it may take a while for the birds to return. Some reasons may be that the new feeder is scaring the birds, or that the food you're offering is wet, moldy or undesirable for some reason. Birds do have preferences about food and the kinds of feeders they use. American goldfinches, for example, prefer sunflower seeds, thistle (nyger) and safflower seeds served in tube feeders with or without perches. Northern cardinals, on the other hand, will not use a tube feeder unless it has a tray attached to the bottom so they can stand on a flat surface. Natural cover is another consideration. If your feeders are now out in the open without natural cover around them, the birds fear they'll have no place to escape if threatened. top Save $50.00 on a 2007 Holiday Vacation! Plan your winter vacation now! We’ve got a great lineup of winter vacations for you, from relaxing pre-holiday getaways to Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day parades and a brand-new Alaskan Iditarod adventure. Book now and you’ll save $50.00 per person! Click here to see all our 2007 Holiday Tours. Use code BL37 when you reserve to claim your $50.00 per person savings. Don’t wait to book your trip! Offer expires June 29, 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 Flower-Vegetable Combinations Some flowers can be planted near vegetables to deter unwanted insects. For example, nasturtiums and marigolds are traditional choices for insect control. Some gardeners believe these plants trap insects before they enter the garden. Others doubt their value, believing they actually attract insects. Marigolds may help control some pests, such as nematodes—a microscopic worm-like parasite. But planting marigolds may not be a solution for broad insect control. There are three more reliable ways to protect your garden from insects: Select hybrid vegetables that are pest resistant…stay on top of weeding duties (those unwanted plants often attract insects)…and remove pests as soon as you see them. top Squirrel Busters SQUIRRELS DRIVING YOU NUTS? The reader ideas below may help keep these furry rascals from raiding backyard bird feeders. Pole Position SQUIRRELS just can't get the footing needed to ransack the bird feeders in Charles Benoit's backyard in Orangefield, Texas. That's because he puts a slippery barrier between the squirrels and the birdseed—a 6-inch diameter PVC pipe used for a pole. "I've never seen a squirrel that can climb PVC yet," he says. "It's a simple and inexpensive solution to this problem." Charles first sinks the PVC pole into the ground, then mounts feeders on top using a 12-inch-long tailpiece made from two back-to-back 2 x 4s. The tail slips into the pipe. Editor's Note: As with all squirrel-proof feeders, we recommend mounting them at least 6 feet high and 10 feet from places where critters can jump to them. Shell Game HERE'S a surefire way to break the spirit of the squirrels in your backyard. Fill caged peanut feeders with peanuts in the shell, as John Jordan does in East Brunswick, New Jersey. "The woodpeckers, nuthatches and blue jays have no problem breaking the shells and picking out the tasty meats, but the squirrels won't even waste their time or energy getting on the feeder," John says. "I feed thistle and safflower seeds in my other feeders," he adds. "The squirrels don't seem to like that either." Going Up…and Down SQUIRRELS in Harold Kenow's St. Paul, Minnesota backyard must have the feeling they've been taken for a ride—literally. Harold protects his feeders with an inexpensive Slinky toy he purchased at an area dollar store. "I just wound it onto the pole of my feeder and let the bottom hang free. The wind causes a visual disturbance that keeps most squirrels off. If they're brave enough to give it a try, they get a free ride up and back down again." top Where the Birds Are Where can you find North America's most amazing birds? Look to Where the Birds Are, a vibrant, sweeping travel guide. This beautiful 288-page book contains all the information you need to venture beyond the backyard to enjoy birds. Organized by regions, the full-color book presents 35 driving tours to breathtaking birding and wildlife destinations. This stunning book is a great way to enjoy the view, whether from the seat of your vehicle or in your own living room. Order your copy of Where the Birds Are today from CountryStoreCatalog.com. 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.

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