Birdfeeders

It’s time to think about Spring planting, so let’s consider plants that birds love. We are working on getting rid of all the weeds that the rains have brought us, but want to start planning the new additions to our yard. Last year we didn’t plant giant sunflowers and I really missed them, so they are high on the list for this year. They add dramatic color and as the seeds develop, the birds love them. Other annuals to consider are amaranthus, cosmos, zinnia and marigolds. Fruiting trees and shrubs such as blueberry, cherry and crabapple are really favorites, but when planting these, know that you will be sharing the crop with the birds. Cherry trees are great for attracting all sorts of birds, but you may get very few cherries yourself! As the weather gets hotter, a bird bath will be a big draw for your yard as well. We have two, one hanging and one at ground level and on warm days both are visited regularly. I love watching various birds splashing away and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Ground feeders often approach the low bird bath and hanging bird bath is constantly busy with finches, jays, towhees, chickadees, etc.