New Beginnings

The theme in this post is "new beginnings" and I have many new adventures ahead, plus old ones to resume this year.  January is a time to start new projects.  For gardeners, it is a time to plant seeds for vegetables, herbs and flowers that will be transplanted to the garden when it warms up.

Did you know that besides putting on a lovely show, after the roses have faded, that the rose hips contain the seeds of the rose? They are also filled with vitamin C and make a delicious tea.

Rose Hip by JAM_Design

Here in the south, nature lovers begin to search the landscape for new buds and signs of spring and photographers take pictures of the winter visitors among the budding trees.  The Taiwan Cherry tree flowers begin to show color in late January and by February are in full bloom. 

Winter Pine Warbler by naturegirl7

Those of us with bluebird trails are checking boxes for damage and cleaning out any debris from winter visitors. Some houses will need to be repaired and some may need to be replaced. The bluebirds have already been checking out some of our houses here in Louisiana.

Here are some products that gardeners and bird lovers may find useful.

Creating Backyard Bird Habitats

As we look out on an unseasonably cold winter day and see over one hundred American Goldfinches, two to three dozen Northern Cardinals and an assortment of Chipping Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice (to name a few), we revel at the beauty which they provide in our dull, drab winter yard. We also remember how scarce the birds were when we first bought our little piece of heaven. What has changed in the last 14 years that so drastically increased the number of birds, even after extreme natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina? The answer to this mystery is that we plant for the birds. We also feed them and provide water and nesting sites, but I think that planting native and old-fashioned, non-invasive flowering and fruiting plants really makes a difference. Anyone can do this, whether they live in a second story apartment or on acres in the country. Planting some nectar rich flowering or fruit bearing plants will bring birds to your doorstep. There are many benefits of gardening for birds. First, it’s helps the birds and other wildlife. And there's also the enjoyment of seeing lovely creatures on a daily basis that lifts your spirits and relaxes your mind. Lastly, it’s good for the environment and for you. Fruit trees and shrubs are not just for the birds. Humans can also enjoy and benefit from home grown produce.

There are a few Squidoo lensmasters who write about birds and we are one of them, but our meager collection of lenses pales in comparison to the Bird Lady of Squidoo, Elizabeth Jean Allen. If you are interested in learning more about a particular kind of bird, then check out her lenses because you’ll surely find one there. One of our favorites is Create a Backyard Bird Sanctuary which explains how to turn you backyard into a haven for birds.

Other good places to learn about welcoming birds into your yard are:
National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitats
Audubon at Home
Backyard Wildlife Habitat Info

We hope that you'll start creating your own bird sanctuary as soon as the soil can be worked this winter. Happy Gardening and Happy Birding.