Andrew and I worked outside around the house this weekend because it was just so darn nice (and by Andrew and I worked, I mean Andrew worked and I sat in the shade, kept him company, and sneezed). He planted several flowers that we bought at the Horticulture plant sale and found places for a few hanging baskets.
Dusty Miller along the front and edges, Petunias right behind them, a row of bulbs planted that have yet to come up next, and Marigolds along the back with red Geraniums in the handing basket. I think I'm in love with the Dusty Miller - it's really neat looking!
We've got more Petunias in the little planter on the table with some sort of pink flower in the hanging basket (not sure exactly what it is).
Last summer, I fed the birds. Rather, I provided the squirrels with an all you can eat buffet. I went through a huge bag of birdseed every week. And it was expensive! I stopped towards the end of summer and decided that I wouldn't do it again. However, I caved and bought a 20 lb of birdseed this weekend and asked Andrew to fix the feeder (which was barely hanging on to an old rotten piece of wood). I can't help it, it's such a good spot for a bird feeder - easy to see from the kitchen window. Already, we've had several birds including a beautiful blue jay who was camera shy.
Woodpecker! Though he was more interested in the spilled birdseed between the cracks in the railing than the free flowing birdseed in the feeder.
I let this guy stay long enough to take the picture and then promptly chased him off. I like squirrels just fine, but they can clean out my feeder in a heartbeat!
This cardinal hung around for quite a while but liked foraging for the birdseed that I dropped on the ground rather than that in the feeder.
EDIT - Aanndd this is why I decided to stop feeding the birds last summer. This picture was taken.. oh, about 48 hours after the full bird feeder was set up. I would really like to continue feeding the birds but this is ridiculous. Any advice?
3 comments:
I love you guys :) I can't wait to get a house and ask yall (Andrew) about landscaping advice!
And about the squirrels... maybe attach the birdfeeder somehow that they would have a harder time reaching? In its current position it's just too easily attainable for them as well as birds.
We love you too! Having a house is fantastic - even if it's only a rental house. I seriously would like to buy this house and transplant it to D.C. (or where ever we end up). I'm going to be heartbroken when we have to leave it. It really means a lot to Andrew and I.
But yeah.. that's what I'm thinking. I'm going to scout out the backyard when I get a chance for any possible alternate locations. However, squirrels are quite creative when it comes to getting to bird feeders and I'm afraid that there is no way/place to set it up that will out of their reach (unless I spend a ton of money on one of those squirrel resistance pressure rigs or something). At one time, there were a group of researchers on Auburn's campus testing out squirrel-resistant bird seed. I may have to see if I can find them and be a test subject >.>
I think I may be reduced to just rationing out my bird feed and only fill it up once a week or something like that, even if it's empty. Then at least I'll prolong the life of my giant 20 lb bag of feed and feel better about the cost, haha.
If you hang the feeder of shepherd's pole and grease the pole with Vaseline the squirrels can't get to it. You have to make sure you put the pole in the ground away from anything they can use to jump from. Good luck!!!
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