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Dear $$firstname$$,

Every year at our offices in Greendale, Wisconsin, we hold a Breakfast with Santa event for our employees. For anyone with small children, it’s one of the highlights of the year. After all, it’s nice to come into work without actually having to work!

Santa may be the main event, but his “reindeer” often steal the show. Birds & Blooms Art Director, Sue Myers, is responsible for Santa’s helpers (aka her springer dogs, Tanner and Gamble). Since so many people get to enjoy these furry visitors first-hand, we thought we’d share them with you, too (below photo).

We hope this adds a little joy to your busy holiday season. And as our way to say “Happy Holidays”, we’ve packed this newsletter with more photos, stories and seasonal tips than ever before. In last month’s survey, that’s what you told us you wanted, so we listened. Enjoy!

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• READ ON TO DISCOVER...
• Bird of the Month
• Photo of the Month
• Plant of the Month
• Best of Glad You Asked
• Current Needs
• Best of Bird Tales
• FREE Wallpaper
• Our Neck of the Woods

Bird of the Month: Dark-Eyed Junco  

You can find this friendly winter flier throughout North America. If you have a feeder out with black-oil sunflower seeds, then there’s a good chance you’ll see these birds in your backyard.

Scientific Name:Junco hyemalis.
Family: Finch.
Length: 6-1/4 inches.
Wingspan: 9-1/4 inches.
Distinctive Markings: Coloration varies regionally. Common characteristics are dark eyes, white-edged tails and black, brown or gray hoods.
Nest: Cup-shaped, nests on ground. Lays 4 to 6 eggs.
Song: Trills vary in pitch and tempo, from dry notes to tingling sounds.
Habitat: Near feeders, forests and bogs.
Diet: Seeds, nuts and grains in winter; insects, berries and grass seeds in summer.
Backyard Favorites: Birdseed and cracked corn scattered on ground.

Listen to this bird’s song by visiting our 50 Most Wanted Birds section on the Web site.

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Photo of the Month

David Shaw captured this photo of a common redpoll near his home in chilly Fairbanks, Alaska. Even when temperatures dip below 40°, he loves going outside to watch the birds. From pine grosbeaks, chickadees, woodpeckers and redpolls, they help add life to cold days.

See more great photos in our online Photo Galleries.

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Plant of the Month: Celosia

We know it’s winter and our featured plant is a summer annual, but it’s not too early to start planning the seeds you’re going to start indoors this winter. This is the one of the most unique annuals around. Go ahead and give it a try.

Common Name: Celosia, cockscomb.
Botanical Name: Celosia cristata.
Hardiness: Annual.
Bloom Time: Summer through fall.
Size: 6 to 30 inches high, 12 to 20 inches wide.
Flowers: Red, yellow, orange, gold, copper, cream, pink; crested types resemble a rooster’s comb, while plumed varieties unfurl upright feathery flowers.
Light Needs: Full sun.
Growing Advice: After setting out the plumed varieties, pinch back tips to encourage branching and showier flowers.
Prize Picks: Outstanding plume-type selections are Fresh Look Red and Fresh Look Yellow. Prestige Scarlet grows 12 to 15 inches with red-crested flowers. Pink Castle has rose-pink spikes.

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Best of Glad You Asked

Every month, we feature some of the best questions that George and Melinda have tackled over the years.

What’s in a Name?
I have some Nigella damascena growing in my yard. The plant also is known as love in a mist or devil in a bush. Lots of plants have funny names like these. Where do they come from? –Aletta Blokland, Murrieta, California

Melinda: Common names often are based on the plant’s physical characteristics, uses or founder. Sometimes someone spots an interesting feature in a plant, shares it with others and over time, it becomes accepted. Common names can be nationally recognized or limited to a region or local area. That’s why horticulturalists use botanical (scientific) names, recognized by gardeners and professionals around the world.

Facts About Lard
I recently decided to replace the lard in my suet mixture with less-expensive shortening. The birds still devour it, but can you tell me if the shortening is safe for the birds? –Betty Reese, Campton, Kentucky

George: Beef suet and lard are animal fats, while shortening is vegetable fat. Because they are all fats, birds will consume them as needed in their diets. Although I haven’t seen any studies on how these fats might affect birds, I would assume shortening is just as safe—or perhaps even safer—for our feathered friends than lard, because it contains less cholesterol.

Subscribers can access our Glad You Asked database with hundreds of questions and answers from George and Melinda.

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Current Needs

Submissions slow down for us in winter. Don’t stop sending us your winter photos, tips and stories. From Kindergarden and Bird Tales to unique winter garden ideas, we want to hear from you! Use the Submit Your Story form on our Web site to send us your story and photo.

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Best of Bird Tales

Outside my trailer, 10 inches of snow blanketed the ground. Suddenly, the cries of a blue jay shattered the silence. I looked out my picture window and discovered a jay flopping around in the snow. My fear was that it was ill or injured. But as I watched, it hopped from one area to another, making clear and deliberate impressions of its wings in the snow. They reminded me of the snow angels children make. –Dawn Roberts, Ashland, Ohio

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Free Wallpaper

Have you changed your computer wallpaper lately? In just a few simple steps, you could download this northern cardinal photo by Michael Bell.

See more wallpaper

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Our Neck of the Woods

We’re hard at work on our spring issues, even though we have more than a foot of snow outside our offices. The berries add some color to the landscape, though. Here’s a photo we snapped of a tree loaded with berries. It won’t be long before the birds swoop in after these. It looks like there might be some other critters after the berries, too. Take a look at the ground beneath this tree and you’ll see some footprints in the snow. 

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Garden Club Newsletter

Now is the time to plant your amaryllis bulbs if you want it to bloom this winter. Want to know how? Find out in our free Garden Club Newsletter. This monthly E-mail newsletter has great seasonal gardening information.

Sign Up Now!

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