We had a little cold snap last week and the water in our main birdbath froze solid, as we had yet to install a deicer. With my wife’s urging, I took a 2 quart container of fresh water, removed the ice and filled the birdbath. Before I could get back inside there were two bluebirds and a chickadee drinking water. As every birder knows, if you really want to attract birds, provide them with a … [Read more...]

For an entire year they have entertained us and brought immense beauty to our yards. I speak of the birds, our back yard companions. So maybe now is the time to give back to our fine-feathered friends with a Christmas gift they will enjoy. Actually, one of us humans really needs to give this gift to another human so we can hang it in the yard or on the porch. The gifts I suggest are birdseed … [Read more...]

We snatched him up just before the frost, a plump, green tomato, the last one from our vines. Our little friend sat comfortably in the windowsill, soaking up what little light and heat there was as he gradually turned light pink, then dark pink, then red. He was nearly perfect, just one small blemish, and last night we ate him. He was very good, as are most homegrown tomatoes. Now we have to … [Read more...]

“How would you like a load of horse manure for your Christmas present this year?” stated the email from my close friend, Tim Tigner. Not many would think of a load of horse s…. as a particularly great gift, but I did. My garden desperately needed it, and a few weeks ago, Tim brought me a pickup load of composted horse manure. Cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, green beans, beets – get ready to … [Read more...]

It’s time. They’re out there, you know. Leaves. Thousands of leaves! But this year, leave the rake in the shed and crank up the mower. Your lawn will thank you for it come spring. Matted leaves aren’t good for grass. They will smother and kill it, but finely mulched leaves add vital nutrients to the soil and also help the lawn retain moisture so the grass doesn’t become overly dry in … [Read more...]

Each fall and spring, the robins hold their Semi-Annual National Robins’ Convention in the Brewer’s backyard – or so it seems. They come in huge numbers and show up at almost exactly the same time. The reason I know they are having a convention is that they wear funny little hats and have name tags on their otherwise “red breasts.” Well, not really, but we had a gang of robins in our yard last … [Read more...]

I know my backyard birds - the regular visitors, the bluebirds, finches, chickadees, cardinals and other year round residents - but I am always excited to see newcomers and visitors. On several occasions, always in the spring, I have had a flock of cedar waxwings clinging to the branches high in the trees in the back yard. I wish they would visit more often. They are spectacular birds, but … [Read more...]

They are pretty little birds with gray suits and dark black eyes and a black face. They are tufted titmice and we have a family in our yard each year. The year-round residents visit our feeders regularly and they absolutely love peanuts. I don’t spread peanuts in my yard as much as I once did because that encourages the squirrels – destructive varmints that they are! The squirrels actually … [Read more...]

I love sitting in my back yard. A lot goes on that I would miss if I wasn’t sitting still, being quiet and paying attention. A good cigar helps in the sitting and watching process, by the way. This past week I lit up a stogie and proceeded to thumb through my latest Golf Digest, hoping to glean enough information to knock a few strokes off my game. Actually, a few wouldn’t make a dent, I need … [Read more...]

My yard is a Mecca for woodpeckers. From the little Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, through the Red-Bellied and the Red-Headed woodpeckers, we have them all. We also have a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers regularly inspecting our tree trunks for juicy insects. Our house is about 50 years old, and many of the white maples in our yard were planted when the house was being built. Those trees are now in … [Read more...]