Feed the Birds

There are many tiny birds that scrounge for seed in the garden in the winter. Even when there is a skiff of snow, they are out there scratching like chickens looking for a meal. Tossing them some millet is nice, so they don't have to work so hard. A feeder with black sunflower seeds for the tiny birds, like the gold finches, the purple finch and the chickadee. And then there is the mix of grain, millet, sunflower seeds, etc. Suet will put a little fat on their bones. In Kingston, we had two bird feeders: black sunflower seed, and a millet mix. We also hung suet. Now we had a problem with raccoons climbing the tree and pulling down the feeders, so we tried those poles, and wires to hang feeders from the eves. The crows where a stitch, landing on the suet feeder, hanging upside down, getting a few pecks in then falling and flying off. Even the flickers would try this acrobatic feeding pose. If you have cats, put bells on their necks. You always loose a few birds, which is sad.

Now having piliated woodpeckers and downy woodpeckers around is great. Only the small wood peckers would ate at the suet, but the big ones seemed to come around when there was lots of activity. I didn't like it when the starlings came in—always such big flocks eating everything.

Now, I don't have a bird feeder, but planting sunflowers in the garden provides food for the birds. Just leave the stalks there and let the heads dry. The seed will dry and the birds will come. It's so sweet to see a chickadee on a big sunflower head picking out the seed. Other seed that's good in the garden is weed seed. Now you know I'm the bad gardener, although Mike is going to help me get the plot together, then there won't be so much seed for the birds. It will be pristine. Now the snow and ice is on the garden, but that's okay—it won't be here long. And very cold weather is supposed to kill certain bugs that can become pests. So a little good cold is fine for the garden. And you can sit inside and drink tea and watch the birds.

Okay, happy gardening and be sure to remember the birds. See A Guide to Pacific Northwest Birds for identification.

Flower

Plums

The plums are luscious. So many on the stem right now at the community garden that the branches are practically bending to the ground. I actually ate a few while there earlier. It will be only a matter of weeks before I can pick enough to dry. I had a neighbor in Yakima who made a sweet plum dessert. She was German and it was one of her family recipes. The plums were sliced in two and set on top of cake batter. I imagine brown sugar and cinnamon and butter crumbled over the plums. When the whole thing was done, powder sugar was sifted over the plum cake. Very good. Very much a fallish dessert. For more recipes see Peaches, Pears and Plums:40 Recipes for Fine Dining At Home

Also in the garden, the sunflowers are full of seeds and the birds are flocking to them. I grew the giant sunflowers in my Yakima garden and when the birds came in the fall, it felt good to see them there they, eating at their natural bird feeders. The birds are also gleaning seeds from cones now. In the fall they move through the trees, chattering away. So sweet and soothing, all those tiny birds eating and chattering away.

On the island, we had a herd of deer in the meadow beyond our cabin. They were gleaning from the apple trees. At the farmer's market, the smell of fruit and vegetables is sweet and tangy. Many baskets of blueberries and tomatoes. At my garden, I discovered something I haven't seen before. One of the stems of the tomato plant rooted where it touched down to the ground. I know you can plant a tomato deeply and it will root along the stem, but I'd never seen it happen on its own.

Okay, then. Tomorrow, try putting in a fall crop. For many of you, it's not too late. For others, you may be getting frosted soon. Then there will be other things to do in the garden, like pick all those pumpkins and squash.

Best in gardening,
Flower

Fall Weather Front

It's fall conditions, the meterologist said. This is the type of storm front we have when the weather turns. The rain is back and thunderstorms. And the cool weather front--the good thing about it--the windows will be closed up and the noise shut out. Yes, even though living in walking distance to food and medical supplies, gardens and restaurants, book stores and clothing boutiques, gifts and flowers is fabulous and walking the great trails, walking places more often than driving, in fact, is good for health and the environment, but the village is noisy. I know, I already said that. So the rain to me means that I'll have more peace and quiet. And it means it's fall.

In he garden there is peace and quiet unless someone is rototilling. It is just off the beaten path enough to make for a little retreat. I never got there yesterday and probably won't today--but tomorrow, yes, I can. I will plant the kale, hopefully I'm not too late.

Today is a writing day for me. I have to get myself organized around my writing schedule once again. Summer is fun, and the break is good, but it's time to go back to work. Another gift of the rain for a writer, to go back to work. So more later, more about the work.

Check out the pictures from the garden, more dahlias. Very pretty right now, and the sunflowers are tall and splendid.

Ciao!