Over the years, there has been people feeding birds.
In our hurried lives, there are few other activities that
bring us such beauty, entertainment, and sense of
closeness to nature. Feeding birds has a strong, positive
effect on the bird population. There has been a remarkable increase in the
overall number of birds and bird varieties seen in our yards over the years.
Although birds can be fed year-round, most bird feeding is done in winter.
Insects, seed and water are more difficult to find at these times. Deciding
what to feed birds can be a big decision, since there
are so many types of
feed available. Choosing a mixture of feeds will attract a variety of birds.
Commercially available foods are seeds, fats or nuts. You can also
supplement this selection with fruits and baked goods.
Seed Mix: a combination of millet, sunflower and
other grains suited to a wide variety of birds Black Sunflower: also called ‘oil seed’, popular
with many birds, high in calories Sunflower Hearts: hulled grey sunflower seed Millet: a grain popular with many small seed-eaters and ground-feeding birds Peanut Picks or ‘ pick-outs ‘: broken peanut pieces, high in calories Peanut Hearts: shelled peanuts Peanut Butter: can be mixed with suet or grains, appeals to many birds Safflower: high in calories, sometimes ignored by squirrels Whole Corn: usually suited only to larger birds Crack Corn: medium in calories, liked by many common birds such as Sparrows Suet: usually beet suet, great for insect eaters and others in winter for high calorie content Wheat: enjoyed by larger birds and ground feeders Nectar: good calorie source for fruit eaters, the only food for Hummingbirds Fruit: valuable vitamin source in cold weather, liked by many birds Thistle: Niger thistle seed, a favorite of small seed-eaters like Chickadees and
Finches Baked Goods: popular with ducks and geese, and many more ‘domestic’ birds Raisins: especially good in the winter as a source of calories for many birds
Holiday Cactus
Holiday cacti are triggered into bloom by a combination of
temperatures and day length. Buds are set following
several weeks of cool nighttime temperatures and short
days. When you buy a blooming holiday cactus, it has
already received the proper treatment. To encourage
your plant to re-bloom again, expose it to 3-4 weeks of
temperatures between 40º and 60º, especially at night.
If outdoor temperatures fall to low bring the plant into the house - frost or freezing temperatures can kill the plant. At the same time, the nights need to be about 12-14
hours long. After this special treatment, keep the plant where it receives cool indoor temperatures with bright light; it should set buds and
bloom in a few weeks
Growing Paperwhite Narcissus
Easy as a dish of stones, paperwhites will bloom in just a
short time in almost anything that will hold water.
Pebbles help anchor the bulbs, and that’s all there is to
it! Start batches at two-week intervals to keep blooms
going from now until March. Don’t give them too much
water- the water level should be just below the basal
plate of the bulb. Keep the growing bulbs cool and well
lit for shorter, stronger plants. Another tip to keeping
paperwhites short is to give them a little
alcohol. If you
use liquor with 40% alcohol, mix 1 part alcohol to 9 parts
water
. Use Gin, Vodka, Whiskey or Schnapps. Don’t use
beer or wine (it will not work and could kill your bulbs). Look for the traditional white or try the butter yellow or yellow and white. They all grow the same way.
TIPS
The University of Minnesota recommends two applications of fertilizer for the lawn in the fall – one in the middle of September, and another the end of
October. If you didn’t fertilize in September don’t miss your chance to
fertilize in October.
Don’t fertilize trees, shrubs, evergreens or perennial plants this time of year.
If you need to prune it’s best to wait until the leaves are off the plants. Prune
in November otherwise wait until March. Evergreens should be pruned
when they are growing in the spring.
Don’t prune just to prune. Ask yourself why are you pruning. Plants don’t need pruning every year. Is the plant too tall? Too wide? Hanging over other plants or blocking the sidewalk? If you have a good reason, it’s OK to prune.
Need a quick centerpiece?
Larry Pfarr, Director of Marketing and Visual Merchandising,
and KSTP TV Home & Garden Expert
Set a wreath on your table and place a low glass bowl in the middle of the wreath. Fill the bowl with fresh fruit (apples, pears, stem-on grapes, etc…). Tuck some of the fruit in and around the wreath. Finish the look with a light dusting of powder sugar. It’s stylish, decorative and edible too!
Flowers and gifts from Bachman’s make any day a special one. When you order your flowers or gifts online, you know you’ll be getting a beautiful fresh floral arrangement from a trusted florist known for outstanding floral design, plus quality and service.
If you’re sending flowers or gifts out of town, you can rely on us to choose the best florist from either the FTD or Teleflora nationwide flower network. Florists who can be counted on to deliver the best fresh floral arrangements and gifts, even when doing a same day delivery.
