Spring is on the way! Really!! Hard to believe, but true. I’ve seen the evidence. Sunny yellow Daffodils are popping up their heads everywhere. They take me back to our years in Arkansas and remind me of the abundance of them that would spring up along the road up to our log house. That makes me smile. Birds that made themselves scarce during the freezing cold like Robins and Yellow Finches are coming around again. That makes me smile.
Then there’s the not so common evidence that marks the arrival- the toys that begin to emerge from deep winter storage like the beautiful deep blue classic Chevy Chevelle SS rumbling along side of me as I made my way to work. That too made me smile. Or the large banner outside a local Irish Pub that read, “ Shake your Shamrocks”. That one made me laugh. No matter what the signs, it’s time to get our backyards ready.
Anytime of year it’s important to care for our feathered friends. While the temperature still dips below freezing I make sure the birds have a fresh supply of water in a clean birdbath because water may be hard to find. I also keep a variety of bird feeders filled with different types of seed. Using the appropriate style of feeder for the seed you want to put out not only helps keep the seed fresh and dry put can also keep other critters from invading your supply.
There are thistle feeders for Nyjer seed, hopper or tube feeders work for Sunflower or mixed seed and mesh or wire cages for Suet. Birdbaths can also work as feeders. Save seeds from apples and melons or cut up a fresh orange. Offer these along with peanut hearts and grapes on a shallow birdbath. Fill a hanging birdbath with sand, small pebbles, ground eggshells, and ground oyster shells to provide grit. Ground oyster & eggshells are a good source of calcium needed during the egg-laying season. Birds have excellent color perception and it’s believed that different species are attracted to bird feeders of particular colors so vary the color of you feeders and baths around your yard and see what birds prefer which color!
Having flowering vegetation around will also attract birds. I’ve been thinking of adding some container gardening this year to our deck. Our deck is relatively high off the ground so if we’re going to enjoy the benefit of flowers in our yard I will need to bring them up to our level. Container gardening is a great option for small areas. It also makes it possible to move plants as the sun moves on your deck or patio. This year I plan to use trellises in my planters.
This will add visual interest as well as a place to anchor trailing plants such as Jasmine, Clematis and other flowering vines to attract hummingbirds and other nectar drinkers like Orioles. I also plan to stagger the height of my planters for visual interest as well as efficiency in a small space. Utilize a fence or part of your house exterior for hanging planters and flower boxes. Smaller planters can be set on plant stands or on strategically placed tables that will pull double duty for entertaining.
No matter the size of your yard, deck, patio or balcony you can find a way to brighten up the space this spring by adding a wrought iron trellis, wrought iron arbor, angled rail mount pole, hanging plant, planter or birdbath. And by all means get out there and relish the season!