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Post by downylover on Jan 3, 2015 16:14:53 GMT -5
I'm not a gardener (at all!) but the birds in my yard seem to enjoy the white mulberry tree. Robins, cardinals and blue jays are the ones I see in there when the berries get ripe.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Jan 3, 2015 23:50:18 GMT -5
I think our biggest attractors are the Common evening-primroses when they set seed. The pods are pretty large and stuffed with seed--the winter finches spend a lot of time on them. I saw some siskins on the Hairy wood-mint seed heads today, too. In summer, the hummers go after a lot of the different nectar plants, both wild and cultivated--their faves this year were the Jewelweed, Hairy wood-mint, garden phlox and Figwort. Normally we'd see native sparrows, robins, waxwings, catbirds, rose-breasted grosbeaks, vireos, thrushes and warblers in the autumn berry bushes (dogwood, elderberry and raspberry thickets) but the fruit crop was a bust this year. Even the choke cherries were in short supply...
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peggy
Hatchling
Posts: 50 
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Post by peggy on Mar 5, 2015 17:04:50 GMT -5
I don't have much in the way of trees/shrub offering berries for the birds, but do plant flowers they like, such as Coneflowers, Zinnias, various hanging baskets (Calibrachoa is a favorite of the hummingbirds).
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Post by hazelrunmama on Mar 6, 2015 16:22:06 GMT -5
Is the Calibrachoa hard to grow in hanging baskets? I had to google it--I'd never heard of it, but I can see why they'd like it!
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peggy
Hatchling
Posts: 50
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Post by peggy on Mar 7, 2015 12:53:14 GMT -5
HRM, the Calibrachoa is easy...I buy a couple in May as soon as available at local garden stores, and as long as I keep watered, have blooms right up to frost! If it gets too dry, blooms can dry up and some of the stems turn brown, but most have turned out really well!
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Post by hazelrunmama on Mar 7, 2015 16:48:01 GMT -5
I may try some this summer if I can find it.
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Post by naturelover on May 2, 2015 12:54:52 GMT -5
Mockingbird loves the holly berries, hummers enjoy the coral honeysuckle, bee balm, columbine. Finches love when my plants go to seed, including liriope (monkey grass) and the tall ornamental grass we have. Many of my plants are not in view of my window, so I don't really know what birds visit them. Now that spring has arrived I'm getting some flowering perennials nearer the house for my personal enjoyment as well as for the birds and butterflies. 
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Post by luv2bird on May 2, 2015 22:02:49 GMT -5
Cherry Trees and Allegheny Serviceberry, I think the cold may destroyed the blossoms. Do have a young Eastern Redbud that is showing promise. Viburnums were planted last year, leafing out, but fruit is questionable. Going to plant some zinnias for the hummers this year, also, have two small blueberry bushes that had berries last year.
Bought an arbor for Grape plants, that might take years before any fruit is realized, Oh Well.
l2b
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Post by hazelrunmama on May 3, 2015 16:57:07 GMT -5
A friend down at the lake had some grape vines along her drive--they just twined around her split rail fence and looked really pretty. I think after about 3 years they finally took off and she got some really nice grape clusters! Of course, the birds always got to them first! LOL
I've been thinking about blueberries, but given the bears in the area, maybe that's not a good idea...
Do you always leave your summer stalks up all winter for the birds, Marilyn? I don't cut anything down till spring anymore now that I've seen the activity the seed heads bring to the garden in winter! And then in spring, all the birds stealing fibers from the stalks for nesting! Ha! The lazy gardener in me loves the excuse to do as little as possible in the gardens! LOL
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Post by naturelover on May 4, 2015 8:27:02 GMT -5
Do you always leave your summer stalks up all winter for the birds, Marilyn? I don't cut anything down till spring anymore now that I've seen the activity the seed heads bring to the garden in winter! And then in spring, all the birds stealing fibers from the stalks for nesting! Ha! The lazy gardener in me loves the excuse to do as little as possible in the gardens! LOL Same here Hazel; it may make for a somewhat less cared-for look over the winter, but "birds before beauty"! |
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Post by hazelrunmama on May 22, 2015 10:11:14 GMT -5
The Mama Baltimore orioles are really going after the Rosy milkweed stalks from last year. The stalk material is very 'stringy' and the birds peel off long thin strands to weave into their hanging nests. Lots of fun to watch--especially when the start working on the tougher ones that don't come off the stalk as easily. I can always tell when the orioles are around because I can see the milkweed stalks dancing in the corner of the garden! LOL
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