Create a Show Stopping Spring Display
One of the great things about spring is the early burst of color that we get from bulbs after the long days of winter. Sunny yellow daffodils, tulips in a rainbow of colors, fragrant hyacinths are all familiar spring flowers. By spending some time planning this fall, you can have a spectacular spring display to enjoy after the dreary days of winter. The following guidelines will help you with your planning.
1. Spring flowering bulbs must have a period of cool temperatures to bloom. The recommended growing zones are 3-7. If you live in a warmer zone, you will need to prechill the bulbs before planting. Place them in a refrigerator in October for 8-10 weeks before planting. If you live in the northern states, this is not necessary as our temperatures get cool enough.
2. Choose the site where you want to add spring blooming bulbs. Most bulbs need ample sunshine. However, if they are an early bloomer, you can plant them under deciduous trees and the bulbs will have saved enough energy before the trees leaf out. The other important consideration is drainage. Bulbs need good drainage. If the soil stays too wet, the bulbs will rot.
3. The bulbs can be planted two ways, by excavating the entire area (this works well if you are planting a large number of bulbs) or individually. Follow the recommended depth guidelines for the type of bulb you are planting. If the soil is dry, be sure to water well after planting. And don’t worry too much about which end of the bulb is up. The bulbs know to send shoots up and roots down so they will adjust.
4. Sit back and wait to enjoy the beauty next spring!
Having a bulb planter can make this fall task go much quicker. Click HERE to purchase one from Natural Havens.
Fairy Gardens
Some fairies are believed to be friendly and give luck and prosperity to humans who treat them respectfully. Invite these magical beings to visit your garden by creating a new sanctuary for them.
A fairy garden is a miniature garden that is said to be attractive to fairies. The plants used in the garden all stay small and resemble larger plants such as shrubs. Adding miniature furniture and accessories adds to the large garden feel, as well as being appealing to fairies and giving your garden a personal touch. You can choose to add a fairy figure or just leave the garden as is, for the real fairies to find. Use the following tips to create your own fairy garden.
1. Select a container. The best ones have a large open surface area for adding lots of plants and accessories.
2. Choose your accessories. Create a scene within your garden by choosing from a variety of furniture and structures including fairy houses and furniture. Structures, such as arbors and paths, help to define the garden space. The accessories you add will give your garden a personal touch.
3. Select your plants. Different plants can be used for different purposes, the important thing is that they stay small and won’t quickly outgrow the garden space. Remember to select plants that have the same water and light requirements. Some examples are:
Groundcovers (Lawn)
Scotch or Irish Moss
Creeping Thyme
Baby Tears
Cushion Pink
Corsican Mint
Trees
Lemon Cypress Cone
Euonymus variegatus
Shrubs
Hens & Chicks varieties
Blue Mouse Ears Hosta
Polka Dot plant
Zebra plant
Ageratum
Flowers
Variegated Dwarf Myrtle
Gold leaf sedum
Sedum “Fairy pink”
Dwarf Myrtle
Mexican Heather
Boxwood Honeysuckle
Angel Vine
Cigar Plant
Alyssum
4. Use a good quality potting soil.
5. Lay out your garden before you plant. Decide where you want paths, where you plan to place furniture and features, what direction the garden will be viewed from. Experiment with different arrangements until you find one you prefer.
6. Be sure to maintain your fairy garden as you would a larger one. Water when the soil has dried out, taking care not to over-water. Use pruners to trim plants so they don’t become too large. (Any plant that does out grow its environment should be removed). Pluck out any weeds that appear as well as remove any dead leaves or plants. Proper fertilization will help keep your garden looking lush and healthy.
Remember to be creative and have fun! The possibilities are unlimited and the gardens are enchanting.
Click HERE to find all the items you need to create your own personal fairy garden.
Butterfly Gardening
Butterflies are often referred to as “flying flowers” and it’s no wonder. They come in so many different sizes and colors. As the long, warm days of summer continue, I am always amazed at how many butterflies we start to see. By spending a little time planning a butterfly garden, it’s possible to have these beautiful insects visit your yard as well.
The most important requirement for a butterfly garden are plants that are attractive to them. Adults need nectar plants and prefer plants with large, flat flower heads that are fragrant. Also consider planting host plants for the larvae to encourage several generations of butterflies to stay within your garden.
Suggested Nectar Plants
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Daylillies (Hemerocallis sp.)
Viburnums (Viburnum sp.)
Marigolds
Petunias
Provide an alternative food source such as a butterfly feeder. If you make your own butterfly nectar, 8 parts of water to one part of sugar is the recommended solution. Clean and refill your butterfly feeder every 5 to 6 days, more often in hot weather. Some butterflies are attracted to over-ripe fruit, such as bananas, plums, pears and watermelon.
Sunshine is essential to butterflies as they need it to warm themselves. Place several large, flat rocks in a sunny part of your garden. Butterflies will use them for basking.
Consider adding a shallow birdbath to your garden. Place a few rocks in the bottom so the butterflies have a place to perch while they take a sip of water.
Certain kinds of butterflies, like the Sulfur butterflies in the photo, will congregate in mud puddles. To attract them, provide a damp area in the garden or form a shallow mud puddle. The butterflies extract minerals from these areas so add salt from time to time. Another option is to fill a bird bath or shallow pan with sand, keep it damp and add salt occasionally.
Shelter is another requirement. Consider allowing a corner of your yard to become overgrown or start a wildflower planting. Log piles and butterfly houses can both be used to provide shelter. Mount your butterfly house 3-4 feet off the ground near flowers that butterflies are attracted to and in the shade to keep the butterflies from overheating. Be sure to add bark strips to the house so the butterflies have something to cling to. Hibernating butterflies may also use the house. Ten species of butterflies in the 48 contiguous states hibernate including Mourning cloak, Compton Tortoise Shell, Millbert’s Tortoise Shell, California Tortoise Shell, Hoary Coma(Zephyr), Question Mark, Angel Wing-Satyr, Green Comma, Gray Comma and the Red Admiral.
By taking the time to add these elements to your garden or by creating a new garden just for the butterflies, you will be rewarded with the sight of these lovely “flying flowers” floating through your garden on warm summer days.
To help you get started with your butterfly garden, click HERE to purchase butterfly products.
Attracting Hummingbirds
With the start of spring also comes the spring migration for birds. One of the most popular birds for gardeners are hummingbirds. Click HERE to track the migration of hummingbirds so you know when to expect them in your area and can have your feeder prepared.
Ruby throated hummingbirds will usually return to Wisconsin around Mother’s Day. The following information has some helpful tips about how to attract in the hummingbirds, especially if you have a feeder but have not had much luck getting the hummingbirds to continue visiting your garden.
Hummingbirds are often referred to as “flying jewels” and it is no wonder with their beautiful iridescence. Approximately 20 species can be found throughout North America with only one species (the Ruby Throated hummingbird) commonly found east of the Rocky Mountains. Attracting hummingbirds is easy and will provide both beauty and grace to your garden.
Hummingbirds feed on both tiny insects as well as nectar. They prefer plants with tubular flowers for their nectar source. Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red and the saying “the redder, the better” applies to most hummingbird favorites. Below is a list of selected plants.
American Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
Coralbells (Heuchera sanguinea)
Annual flowers such as Fuschias, Salvias, Petunias
The natural nectar source can also be supplemented with a hummingbird feeder providing sugar water. The standard solution is 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water. Bring the solution to a boil over low heat and boil 2 minutes. Allow to cool and fill feeders. Refrigerate any remaining solution for up to one week. Do NOT use honey, brown sugar or molasses in place of the white sugar as these are harmful to the hummingbirds. Also, it is NOT necessary to add red dye. Some studies show this is harmful and since most hummingbird feeders are red, it is not needed.
Hummingbirds just returning from migration need a quick source of energy. Place feeders near red flowers to help attract in the hummingbirds. Keep the feeders available through the fall for the fall migration. Leaving your feeder out will not keep the hummingbirds from migrating. Remove the feeders after all the hummingbirds have migrated and you do not see any hummingbirds for more than a week. Some hummingbirds, like the Ruby-throated hummingbird, can be very aggressive and territorial so placing several small feeders around your yard will attract more hummingbirds than one large one.
It is essential to keep hummingbird feeders clean. They need to be cleaned two to three times a week in warm weather. Empty the old solution and rinse with water. Add a few grains of uncooked rice and a little vinegar. Swish these around to help clean the inside. A small brush is helpful to clean out any mold that may have started. Discard the rice and vinegar and rinse thoroughly. Add fresh sugar solution and hang back outside.
Whether you attract hummingbirds by providing natural nectar sources through flowers or by supplementing with a feeder, getting the chance to observe these beautiful jewels up close is a wonderful experience.
To help you get started creating a hummingbird haven, click HERE to purchase the hummingbird package at a special price.
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Enjoying Eastern Bluebirds
While most people consider the Robin to be the first bird of spring, for me it is the Red-winged blackbird. And with the return of the blackbirds, I know the bluebirds will be returning soon as well. Here in the upper Midwest, Eastern bluebirds start to return in early March and begin searching for nest sites. Now is the time to prepare for their return.
The eastern bluebird is generally found east of the Rocky Mountains to the Eastern seaboard, from southern Canada down to the Caribbean. The Western bluebird is found west of the Rocky Mountains. Their cousin, the Mountain bluebird, is found in some areas of South Dakota.
Less than 30 years ago, the eastern bluebird was considered a rare species in the upper Midwest. Their decline was due to loss of potential nesting sites as well as the widespread use of pesticides. Thanks to the help provided by concerned people, bluebird numbers have increased. By providing nest boxes, you can help the bluebird’s recovery while learning about and enjoying these beautiful birds.
The most important aspect of attracting bluebirds into your garden is being committed to properly maintaining your nest boxes. If you are not committed, you will cause more harm than good. The second consideration is whether you have the right habitat. Bluebirds prefer to breed in wide open areas with scattered trees. However, as their numbers increase, bluebirds have now been found breeding not only in rural areas but also in semi-urban areas as well as in small towns. For best predator protection, the nest boxes should be mounted on 6 to 8 foot pieces of conduit that are set 2 feet into the ground. Bluebirds prefer nest boxes that face east but will nest in boxes facing any direction. Bluebirds are territorial and recommended spacing is 300 feet apart. However, if your space is limited, placing 2 nest boxes 15 to 25 feet apart is the best way to start with attracting bluebirds. Generally, one box will be taken over by a tree swallow pair and one by a bluebird pair. The swallows are very aggressive at defending their nest against predators and in turn, the bluebirds benefit.
The nesting boxes themselves need to be properly designed. BRAW (Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin) recommends using nest boxes that have proven to be highly attractive to bluebirds. These boxes are shallow (4-5” from bottom of hole to nesting platform), narrow (4” x 4” nesting platforms), have an oval opening (1 3/8” x 2 ¼”) and are unvented (vents can be opened after June 1 in areas where black flies are not prevalent). There should be no perches outside of the opening as they are attractive to House Sparrows. Another feature to look for is a convenient way to open the box so that nests can be monitored, without disturbance, and the box can be easliy cleaned.
Once you have nesting boxes in place, you need to monitor them at least once a week. Chickadees, wrens, titmice, swallows and House sparrows will all nest in the boxes. A good guide will help you to recognize the different types of nests. While it is okay leave the nests of other birds, it is critical to discourage House sparrows from nesting. House sparrows are predators of bluebirds and will destroy eggs, as well as killing bluebird nestlings and adults. House sparrows are not protected and their nests and eggs can be destroyed and the adults killed without any legal issues. If bluebirds do nest in your boxes, the nest can be monitored weekly until the eggs have hatched and the nestlings are 14 days old. At this time, the nestlings have become aware of the outside world and could be startled by your presence, causing them to fledge prematurely. Once you are certain the nestlings have fledged on their own, the nest box can be cleaned and prepared for a second or third brood.
Providing a birdbath and offering mealworms will help to entice the bluebirds to your yard. Planting Serviceberries, various fruiting cherries or elderberries will also provide food and cover for both fledgling and adult birds.
Creating even a small bluebird “trail” can be a fun and rewarding way to bring the whole family closer to nature. It does not have to be a large endeavor; even one house will be beneficial to both you and the birds. So, build or buy a house, do a little research and start your own Bluebird recovery program. You’ll be glad you did, as will the birds.
Click HERE to view all the great bluebird products that Natural Havens carries.
