Should I buy a live Christmas tree?

I was trying to decide if I should buy a live christmas tree this year. I had bought one 10 years ago and it was a bust. Yet I still feel drawn to the idea. As I am getting ready for the holidays I ponder this question.

What birdseed to use in my wild birdfeeders or whether to clean out my birdhouses are questions i can readily answer with a little research and I clearly know what to do. Whether to have a live christmas tree or not is not straight forward.

I have not made a decsion yet, but this is what I have found:

Pros:

• A great family tradition, "You can look at it every year and think, "Remember when we did that christmas?"
  
• It is fresher, so it's more fragrant.
• It's not as tippy as a cut tree in a stand
  
• The planted tree can extend holiday cheer outdoors when strung with all-weather lights or edible garlands for birds to nibble.
  
• You can plant it in your backyard or donate it to a plant-a-tree organization
  
• Lessening of a fire hazard
  
• May be used more than one year as a living Christmas tree. Most trees can remain in container for up to two years. Moved to outdoor patio or porch will add greenery to that outdoor space.
  

Cons:

• According to Christmas tree farmers, only about half of live trees purchased survive the holidays.
  
• Difficult to move tree in and around the space you want to put the tree. The root ball and tree combined can be very heavy. A six foot tree with have 24"root ball could weigh up to 250lbs
• Cost twice as much as fresh cut trees
• Can only remain indoors from 7-10 days, so cannot be main feature of your holiday season
• Unless you have a large property, you may run out of space to plant the live christmas tree after several years. Also these trees tend
• Must be more particular in the christmas lights you use, must be low wattage.

The following is a list of a few of the most popular types of trees that are used as living Christmas trees.

NORWAY SPRUCE - One of the most popular living trees.

COLORADO BLUE-GREEN SPRUCE - Another very popular living Christmas tree.

ALBERTA SPRUCE - An excellent miniature living Christmas tree.

DOUGLAS FIR - An excellent tree for sunny or shady locations.

WHITE FIR - It makes a nice specimen tree, or is excellent for screening and hedging in the garden.

ALPINE FIR - Shape is generally irregular unless the trees are nursery grown locally.

NOBLE FIR - A symmetrical, pyramidal tree with darkest green foliage, bluish-gray on the tips and silvery-green underneath. One of the finest living trees for use during the holiday season.

SCOTCH PINE - One of the most popular pines for a living Christmas tree.

AUSTRIAN PINE -It is a bushy, sturdy pine.

JAPANESE BLACK or JAPANESE RED PINE - They make nice irregular shaped living Christmas trees.

Go here for more information on how to care for your live tree after christmas

I got most of my information from Garden Design, This Old House magazine, & Ed Hume Seeds

If you are looking for outdoor wooden furniture, wildbird birdfeeders, outdoor candle lanterns, decorative birdbaths, Poly recycled outdoor furniture, tuned wind chimes or other great stuff for your backyard...visit my website.

Some other posts that may interest you;

Care for your Poinsetta and it will bloom next year

Best Berry Plants for Birds

12 Winter Bird myths you may or may not know

Sign Burrowing Owl Preservation Petition

I received this email asking for support. I support this cause and encourage everyone to sign. You can you can easily electronically sign the petition in facebook.

Following is what i received:

Dear Leslee,

Just a short email to keep you up on my efforts for Burrowing Owl conservation out here in the West.

We have literally just launched a petition aimed at getting that elusive "Burrowing Owl Comprehensive Conservation Strategy" that California has promised us for the last 7 years and frankly is well over 15 years past due. We need as many people to sign our petition as possible and we will also be approaching conservation groups, institutes, etc. that would like to sign on to the official letter at an organizational level. The petition, signatures, and letter will be hand-delivered to numerous state officials in Sacramento.

All the details about the petition can be found at:

http://burrowingowlconservation.org/CAPetition.html

including multiple ways to sign as well as a form that you can download, sign, pass to friends/colleagues, and mail back to us.
If you have a Facebook account you can sign the petition and help promote the cause at:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/584?m

Thanks for supporting my local efforts in California over the last year and helping us make that transition to a California-wide (and beyond) movement for burrowing owl conservation. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or details about signing on as an organization or promoting the petition.

I know how busy you must be this time of year, with the holidays upon us and all the distractions in the news and politics of the world, but this situation with the Western Burrowing Owl is reaching a point where we must do something before it is too late.

Please take a few minutes to sign the petition to help prevent further decline in Burrowing Owl numbers.

Thank you again for your support,

Larry Jordan
The Backyard Birdman
PO Box 22
Oak Run, CA 96069

Holiday Decoration using Pine Cones & more..

Sometimes when I have extra time during the Christmas Season I decide to make some of my gifts. This does not happen every year, but when I do here are some ideas I have found:

Easy Pine Cone Ornaments: Add a little glitz for Christmas with shiny bows and a little gold paint. Go here for instructions

Pine Cone Christmas Trees: Cover a styrofoam tree form with pine cones, and embellish in a variety of ways to make this pine cone Christmas tree decoration. Go here for instructions

Single Pine Cone Christmas Trees: Turn fully opened pinecone into pretty miniature Christmas trees. Go here for instructions

Birch Branch Reindeer: The base of these cute little reindeer figures is two birch branches. Go here for instructions

Pine Cone Topiary: Turn a fully opened pine cone into a simple, elegant and festive topiary. Go here for instructions

Pine Cone Kissing Ball: Top a pine cone ball with a sprig of mistletoe to make this easy pine cone kissing ball. Go here for instructions

Pinecone Fire Starters: dip pine cones in melted wax recycled from old candles or crayons. Go here for instructions

Potpourri Pine Cone Angel Ornament: potpourri and a pine cone as the basis for a fragrant pinecone angel. Go here for instructions

Scented Pine Cones Centerpiece: This centerpiece is easy to make, & looks lovely. You can choose your favorite spices to add the scent and greenery from your backyard. Go here for instructions

It is important when using Pine Cones in craft projects that they are completely dry, here are instructions for drying them in a hour or so...

I got all these ideas from the awesome allfreecrafts.com website.

If you are looking for outdoor wooden furniture, wildbird birdfeeders, outdoor candle lanterns, decorative birdbaths, Poly recycled outdoor furniture, tuned wind chimes or other great stuff for your backyard...visit my website.

Some other posts that may interest you;

Care for your Poinsetta and it will bloom next year

Should I buy a Live Christmas Tree this year?

12 Winter Bird myths you may or may not know

Goldfinches Disappearing??

Goldfinches are year round residents in New Jersey so I did not understand why I was no longer seeing them at my wild bird feeders. The reasons are pretty simple and now I feel better informed.

• The truth is that goldfinches haven’t gone anywhere they just look completely different from their summer selves.
  
  The males have exchanged their bright yellow feathers and black head spot for a warm taupe-colored plumage, and now resemble summer females. Just about the only sign that these little brownish birds are goldfinches is the distinctive white striping on black wings.

• Also due to a shifting sort of migration. The adult goldfinches do head south, but they're replaced by adults from farther north that move southward.
  
  There may be short periods when a neighborhood lacks goldfinches, but it's a void quickly filled by new arrivals.

• Finally Goldfinches are fiends for wild seed. Unlike most other songbirds, which consume large numbers of insects, goldfinches live on an unvarying diet of seeds, seeds and more seeds.
  
  And fall is nature's seediest season, offering an abundant buffet in gardens, parks and some yards. But any day now, most of the flower stalks will be emptied of their seeds. That's when these small, light-brown birds will show up at feeders once again, snapping up nyger, sunflower or safflower seed.

So after taking a closer look at the visitors to my wild bird feeders I see goldfinches are there!! Just with different coloring. I must say I really am a novice when it comes to this backyard bird watching. But that's okay.

I haven't really noticed the migration issue but it is good to know. And at this point in November most seeds are gone so I really have noticed that impact either.

Got most of my information from St Paul Audobon Society.

If you are interested in buying a decorative birdfeeder, squirrel proof birdfeeders, birdhouses, birdbaths or many other things for your backyard visit YourGardenRetreat.com

Some other posts that may be of interest:

Birds Need your Bird feeders this Fall

Peanut Feeder for Birds

November Guide for Attracting Birds to your Backyard

Placement of Garden Wind Chimes

Wind chimes are a wonderful addition to any yard and can create a calming effect to be enjoyed by anyone who listens. Remember where you place your garden wind chime is as important as choosing the chimes themselves. Once you purchase a wind chime whose melodies you love, you will want to place them where you can easily and readily hear them.

Tips to keep in mind when hanging your garden wind chime:

• You can hang wind chimes anywhere and on any type of hook - hooks sold for bird feeders work pretty good. Just make sure whatever hook you choose can support the weight of your chime.
• Make sure you do not hang it too close to any structure as you want it to be free to flow in the wind. Or you can use a fancy hanger to add more interest.
• When hanging your chime, remember to pick a spot that is protected from strong gusts of wind to avoid damage to your chime.

Various places you can hang your garden wind chime:

• Hang it near your hammock and take a soothing nap to the melodic tones of your chime.
• Set your chimes up in your bedroom window so that you can hear them on a hot summers evening.
• Put some chimes in your office and to help release the stress of the workday.
• Hang your wind chime by your door so that you can hear it first thing upon arriving home.
• Hang it out on your deck or patio to enjoy while eating dinner
• Have several small ones in your garden that you can enjoy when planting flowers

The placement of wind chimes can be as important as the type of chime you get

• You do not want to place them so far away that you can hardly hear them, and you do not want them right in your ear either.
• You can place the wind chimes on poles spread evenly through your garden to give a more surround sound but not overwhelming.
• A chime can create interest by adding a decorative touch to a lack luster area of a yard.
• When placed in the correct positions you can create an area to sit back and relax to the hypnotic tones of the outdoor wind chimes.
• Placed near a hammock, bench or comfortable patio chair, chimes can reduce stress and create the feeling of an oasis.
• They can (with their musical notes) help take the focus away from the sounds of traffic which are common in urban and suburban living.

Guidelines for best feng shui placement that enhances the chi of your home:

• Feng Shui will help enhance the positive energy of good sounds, while blocking out the negative energy that we allow in due to bad sounds.
• Thus, place wind chimes in areas of wind, but not in direct wind.
• Putting a wind chime in the middle of one's yard will often result in discordance when there is heavy wind and create a dissonant noise. But if you hang a wind chime under your porch, the tones are melodic and smooth, enhancing positive 'chi.'
• A metal wind chime can be placed in the West, Northwest and North
• A wood/bamboo chime can be placed in the East, Southeast, and South bagua areas

Whether it be your front porch, herb garden or back yard, a finely tuned musical wind chimes will set a tone of soothing tranquility throughout your natural environment. With just the slightest breeze, wind chimes will sing beautiful music to you. The soothing sounds can come from a Grace Note wind chime.

Garden windchimes from Grace Notes in addition to many other great items for your backyard can be found on my website. Wooden Outdoor furniture, Decorative Birdhouses, Squirrel proof birdfeeders, birdbaths, tuned windchimes, Poly Recyled Furniture, Outdoor Candle Lanterns, Garden Fountains, and much more.

Some other postings that may be of interest:
8 Reasons to buy a Wind Chime this Fall
6 Reasons Personalized Wind Chimes Make a Great Gift
Discovering Feng Shui: an enhancement to any garden

Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs

Taking break from fall chores. Leaves me some time for planning for next spring. I would love to buy outdoor wooden furniture or a new decorative birdhouses. But before I get to spending money on that I must get some bulbs in the ground.

Some after doing some research on the web I found some helpful information from Better Homes and Gardens and Do it Yourself websites.

1) Select Quality Bulbs

• Look for those that are plump and firm and avoid bulbs that are soft and mushy or have mold growing on them.
• Also look for big bulbs; the bigger they are, the more they apt they are to bloom compared to smaller bulbs of the same variety
  
  

Keep in mind smaller bulbs varieties produce flowers that bloom earlier in the spring, and the flowers are small, like snow-on-the-mountain or crocus. The larger bulbs, such as tulips, bloom later and produce larger blooms. Make sure the bulbs are firm, clean, and free of mold.

2) Pick the Right Spot
Even healthy bulbs will not bloom if they're planted in the wrong spot.

• Most bulbs do best in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun a day) and well-drained soil.
• In choosing the spot for planting bulbs, take into account the spring sun; in spring, the sun won't be obscured by the leaves of your trees, but it will be weaker than in the summer and lower to the horizon.
• Also consider the proximity to buildings and plant the bulbs at least 5 feet from foundations, as heat from the buildings can damage bulbs.

Check out Better Homes and Garden’s Plant Encyclopedia for more specific conditions on bulbs your planting.

3) Get the Timing Right

Spring-blooming bulbs-are best planted in the Fall, when the soil temperatures have cooled.

• The best time to plant is after the first frost, so the bulbs will stay cool throughout the fall and winter.
• What this means in terms of the calendar depends in large part on where you live. Go here for frost chart by state

Summer-blooming bulbs- are best planted in the spring, after danger of frost has passed.

4)Plant in groups

Most bulbs look best when planted in big, irregular groupings (the more bulbs, the bigger the impact) instead of straight rows.

5) Plant Them Deep Enough

• Generally, dig a hole two to three times deeper than the bulb is tall. So if you have a 3-inch-tall bulb, dig a hole 6 to 9 inches deep.
• There are always exceptions, so check the planting directions that come with the bulbs for more information.

6) Place Them Pointy Side up

If bulb has a pointed end, that's usually the side that faces up. If you don't see a pointy side, look for where the roots come out -- that end goes down.

7) Give Them Good Soil

• bulbs appreciate well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
• mix compost into your bulbs' planting holes to ensure good blooming. Especially important if you have heavy clay soil or ground that stays wet
• add fertilizer before replacing soil

8) Water Well

• Bulbs are plants, too, so they need a good watering after you plant them. This will encourage them to send out roots and become established.
• A good watering will eliminate air pockets in the soil that could cause your bulbs to dry out.

9)Protect your bulbs from squirrels

• Spread mulch over your newly planted bulbs to discourage critters from digging them up
• If that doesn't help, weigh down a piece of mesh or chicken wire over the soil

10)Design idea: Try them in containers

• Create pots of spring joy with your favorite tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths by sinking them in the ground so they get winter cold
• or storing the containers in a cold garage or storage shed.

Bulbs that do better in containers are:

Anemone blanda (windflower): whites, pinks, purples, magentas 

Chionodoxa (glory of the snow): blues, pinks 

Crocus (all species and Dutch crocus cultivars): purples, blues, whites, yellows, two tones

Galanthus (snowdrop): white 

Hyacinthus (hyacinth): whites, purples, blues, pinks, salmon, yellows 

Iris danfordiae , Iris reticulata (miniature irises): purples, blues
Muscari (grape hyacinth): purples, blues, whites, two-tones

Narcissus (daffodil): whites, yellows, salmon, orange, as well as combinations of these

Puschkinia (puschkinia): whites, light blue 

Tulipa (tulip): endless color choices – from white to nearly black

More info here on planting in containers

Buy something new for your backyard today!! Check out my website for lots of cool stuff. Wooden Outdoor furniture, Decorative Birdhouses, Squirrel proof birdfeeders, birdbaths, tuned windchimes, Poly Recyled Furniture, Outdoor Candle Lanterns, Garden Fountains, and much more.

Some other postings that may be of interest:
Overseeding in the Fall for a better lawn
Great Plants for your Fall Containers & Planters
Why you Need to Plant a Tree this Fall

Discovering Feng Shui: an Enhancement to Any Garden

Let me start by saying.. I know very little about feng shui. But have always wanted to learn more. It is very interesting but can also become very complicated. So for me i keep it in mind but don't get obsessive about it.

For example when thinking about the best place for my garden outdoor fountain, outdoor wooden furniture, garden bird bath or a tuned wind chimes I consider the Bangua chart. Yet I still trust my intuition ultimately.

The garden should be balanced in two ways: within itself, and with the home (the garden being yin/calm and the house being yang/active).

Basic principles to keep in mind when making changes or adding to your garden.

• Use curves to enhance tranquility.
  For example, curved flower beds and paths can balance the straight lines of the house. Also, use curved lines (e.g. hedges) to mark property boundaries. If you already have a fence, you can create a sense of curvature by growing ivy on it.
• Add items that have personal meaning to you (e.g. gifts, stones, statues).
• Use a variety of colors when choosing plants, and arrange them in bright/high energy patches and pale/tranquil patches based on the bagua chart
• Keep simplicity of design that requires little maintenance
• Do not clutter the garden. Leave extra space when planting
  

Treating your garden patio area as if it was another room of your home. Use the same tools you use in creating a good feng shui home. Below is an example of a Bagua, or energy map of your garden.

Northwest	North	Northeast
(metal) arbor, tuned wind chimes, chairs	(water) pond, outdoor garden fountain, birdbath	(earth) clay pots, rocks, soil
West	Center	East
(metal) arbor, tuned wind chimes, chairs	open area for free flow of chi	(wood)outdoor wooden bench, planting boxes
Southwest	South	Southeast
(earth) clay pots, rocks, soil	(fire) lights, grill, chimenea (free-standing fireplace)	(wood) outdoor wooden bench, planting boxes

HTML Tables

Here is the color correspondence of each of the five feng shui elements:

WOOD: HEALTH AND VITALITY

• Green
• Brown
  

FIRE: PASSION AND HIGH ENERGY

• Red
• Strong Yellow
• Orange
• Purple
• Pink

EARTH: NOURISHMENT AND STABILITY

• Light Yellow
• Sandy/Earthy
• Light Brown

METAL: CLARITY AND PRECISENESS

• White
• Gray

WATER: EASE, FRESHNESS AND ABUNDANCE

• Blue
• Black

Obviously I used information from various sources when doing this post..Feng Shui Your Garden, Feng Shui Five Elements: How to Use the Feng Shui Five Elements with Colors & Feng Shui Color Guide - How To Use Colors in Feng Shui

This was fun to research. Hope you enjoy what I have written.
Don't forget to check out my website for many things for your backyard. Summer is here and it is time to truly enjoy your outdoor space! Outdoor Garden furniture, Outdoor garden bench, Decorative Birdhouses, Wild bird feeders, garden birdbaths, tuned wind chimes, Poly Recycled Furniture, Outdoor Candle Lanterns, Garden Water Fountains, and much more.

Other posts that may be of interest to you:
Plant some Fall Bulbs for Added Color in Your Garden
View these Garden Paths
16 bugs gardeners should love..

Great Outdoor Decorating Ideas on a Budget

Even though the end of summer is quickly (much too quickly by the way) approaching, that doesn't mean there still aren't a few good months left of outdoor entertaining. Whether it is a new outdoor candle lanterns or a make your own Planter umbrella stand, there are many great decorating ideas you can do with out spending a lot of money.

1)Add a new intimate corner to your Living Space

• group together two outdoor wooden chairs
  
• add some cushions for some color
• in a shaded area put a table between
  
• in a sunny location make a planter umbrella stand and place umbrella in it for great shade
  
• since it is late in the summer season umbrellas, planters and even outdoor cushions are going on sale. You can get these at a fraction of what it cost earlier in the year
  

2)A fire pit is a fun focal piece to add to your outdoor living space

• can create a central point for a seating area perfect for early or late night conversations
• is great for one of the classic summer activity of roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.
  

3) Add some Outdoor Decorative Lighting so you can enjoy your space day or night:

• simple twinkling lights for about $4 a strand or decorative lantern string lights for around $10
• landscape lighting for under $80 is a great way to feature stand out items in your yard from a great tree to an arbor or a seating area.
  
• outdoor candle lanterns add a nice glow to your patio or other sitting areas. Lanterns come in all kinds of styles to match your particular decor
  

4) Add a weather-friendly outdoor rug

• will give a sophisticated yet comfortable look to your outdoor living space
• can create a seating or dining area in an open yard if you don’t have a deck or patio
• one with neutral colors can be accessorized with vibrant flowers
  
• can update a cheaper indoor/outdoor rug by painting a design with an indoor/outdoor paint. Home improvement stores sell these cheaper rugs and instructions for painting are here
  

5)Replace that old Grill

• often you invest money in nice outdoor garden furniture but never replace your old rickety grill
• end of season sales on grills are prominent this time of year
• adds a splash of vibrant color to your outdoor space with a colored grill like kenmore's 3 burner, which comes in red, green and blue.

There are so many ways to update your outdoor space this time of year by going to home improvement centers, garden centers and any location that sells outdoor living products where you will find things on sale.

Part of the information in this post came from Decorating Tips for Outdoor Spaces From Leslie Segrete, Sunrise, and Curbly.

Don't forget to check out my website for many things for your backyard. Summer is here and it is time to truly enjoy your outdoor space! Outdoor Garden furniture, Outdoor garden bench, Decorative Birdhouses, Wild bird feeders, garden birdbaths, tuned wind chimes, Poly Recycled Furniture, Outdoor Candle Lanterns, Garden Water Fountains, and much more.

Other posts that may be of interest to you:
8 Tips for Choosing Outdoor Furniture
7 Ways to Transform Your Outdoor Space
13 Ways to be Creative with a Bench in your backyard

Birds Need Your Backyard Birdfeeders this Fall !!!

Many backyard birders are misinformed...

Often people have a misconception about bird feeding in the Fall. People are worried that if they keep their wild bird feeders filled with bird seed, birds will not migrate when they should.

Fall is the time of year when wild birds are preparing for their long journey to the south. They will be trying to stock up on body fat. The natural sources they have dined on during the summer may have depleted. So birds will frequent wild bird feeders more often and stay longer to make sure they build up enough reserves for the migration.

Natural instinct is a very dominating factor in bird wildlife behavior. There is no need to worry about preventing the birds from going south.

Birds not going South are looking for the backyards to visit....

For Birds that are not migrating, Fall is the time that they establish their winter feeding territory. Birds are already making decisions about which back yards they will visit this winter. Therefore do not wait for extreme weather to begin feeding because you might miss out.

What you do this Fall as the days grow shorter lets the birds know that you will be there when the serious winter comes. Cold will increase their calorie requirements. So they need to be ready. That's why they're studying their resources in advance. Noting where food is available.

On the other hand, if you wait until hard weather arrives,the birds may not ever realize what you have to offer. Under the stress of freezing weather, they can't afford the luxury of exploring. They must go where they know there will be a payoff.

8 ways to help birds prepare for cold weather....

• Provide rich foods such as black oil sunflower, niger, & safflower in your wild bird feeders.

• Presence of native migrant sparrows and juncos in fall requires white proso millet & millet mixes scattered on ground-feeding sites. Red proso millet and milo (grain sorghum) are generally unnecessary as an ingredient of fall bird seed mixes.
  

• Invest in a few low-height feeding trays and fill them with cracked corn for doves and other ground feeding birds

• Peanuts, peanut pick-outs, peanut butter, commercial suet cakes, and suet from the meat market are all great high-energy food sources that chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and jays love

• Hummingbirds may visit feeders up to times of hard frosts, so keep their feeders filled.

• Shallow trays stocked with mealworms can be used to attract a wide variety of birds, ranging from Carolina Wrens to Northern Cardinals and American Robins.

• Make efforts to provide fresh water for birds as you move into winter

• Providing thick trees such as evergreens for shelter in your yard is appreciated by chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and woodpeckers. If you do not have them Fall is a great time for planting some.

If you are not going to continue feeding the birds through the winter then....

Leave all seed and suet feeders out until there haven’t been any birds at them for at least two weeks. This also applies to syrup feeders for Hummingbirds and Orioles.
Birds migrating south will stop and "refuel the tank" so to speak. Often you will see the same birds stopping at your wild bird feeders in the spring and fall but never see them in the summer months. They will usually stay for two to four days and then be off to their summer or winter homes.


Wild bird feeding in the Fall provides very important opportunities for bird wildlife; a vital food source for those backyard birds who have been accustomed to using your feeders and a valuable resource for migrant birds.

I got much of my information for this post from Bird Feeding in Fall, Feeding Birds in the Fall, Wild Bird Feeding int the Autumn, and Fall bird feeding tips

Don't forget to check out my website for many things for your backyard. Wooden Outdoor furniture, Outdoor bench, Decorative Birdhouses, Wild bird feeders, garden birdbaths, tuned wind chimes, Poly Recycled Furniture, Outdoor Lanterns, Garden Water Fountains, and much more.

Other posts that may be of interest to you:
Preventing bird disease at your bird feeders
Most Common Birds to Feed or Nest in your Backyard
Big Problems with Invasive House Sparrows and European Starlings