The Birds!

[stroppy]

you could try planting lavender next to the pond shdwdrgn ... gnats dont like it might help keep them away

 

[addy1]

Didn't know that stroppy, have a lot of lavender planted on the slope. The butterflies love it.

 

[stroppy]

Didn't know that stroppy, have a lot of lavender planted on the slope. The butterflies love it.

and bees mine gets covered with them

 

[Shdwdrgn]

That's cool about the lavender... we had talked about planting some anyway. Now does anyone know of a trick to keep the wasps away? They come in droves, and my wife is deathly allergic to them. I'm not worried so much about bees, they are not aggressive, but the wasps certainly can be.

 

[sissy]

If you give them other places to get a drink most times they will go there instead .I have bird baths and bird bowls that they like to drink out of and take there daily splash .The butterflies love them also .Just make sure you freshen up the water in them and when it's really hot add some cold water .They will enjoy there own fresh water source better than your pond

 

[mouseams]

I have seen more species of birds due to having a pond. I used to feed the birds but since we live in bear country I have had to stop. The bear came around too many time and even bent the steel rod that was holding up the feeder. The best was watching a 400 pound bear sitting there licking the niger seeds out of the seed sock.

A pond is a very hormonius creature, inviting to all. It welcomes everything from the micro organism to the largest mammal without judgement. If humans could learn to be so open and peaceful the world would be a better place.

 

[addy1]

Totally agree mouseams, love seeing all the pond has brought into our life.

My pup and I were walking by the back field wildflower patch, around 60x60 feet. As we walked, by over 100 yellow finches took off, the previous flowers were seeding and they were eating away! All the seed I have planted has been bird, bee, butterfly friendly. Even planted some that has grasses the critters like to eat in a different area.

 

[JoaniePA]

I'm with you, Addy. We turned up the grass in our back yard and planted all native plants last year. There are paths through them, and they look natural and beautiful, and best of all they are bird friendly. We planted cone flowers a few years back, so we get the goldfinches too and they always take dips in the waterfall. There are a lot of bushes that berry too, so am looking forward to the autumn to see what comes around! Surprisingly, most are deer resistant. They still come through for a taste, but they don't destroy our gardens like they used to.

 

[taherrmann4]

We have a lot of birds as well, lots of birdhouses and my wife feeds them daily, she also feeds the squirels and now we have about 6 squirrels that come and visit us, they had kids this year and the small ones are fun to watch as they are not quite as fast at climbing around the arbor yet. I also have a hawk that swoops through every few days and picks up a meal.

 

[addy1]

I'm with you, Addy. We turned up the grass in our back yard and planted all native plants last year. There are paths through them, and they look natural and beautiful, and best of all they are bird friendly. We planted cone flowers a few years back, so we get the goldfinches too and they always take dips in the waterfall. There are a lot of bushes that berry too, so am looking forward to the autumn to see what comes around! Surprisingly, most are deer resistant. They still come through for a taste, but they don't destroy our gardens like they used to.

Most of mine are deer resistant. I have read once you plant deer resistant, the deer tend to bypass your yard. They did not even taste the tulips, lilies which they love. They still come and eat the fallen apples, even the ones that are falling now, the little green ones.

The grass near the house is slowly, ummmmmmm rapidly disappearing. Most likely will leave the back field alone, well sort of. Some has already been changed to wild flowers, corn field, and seeded grasses and flowers wild life likes.

I am thinking of getting a salt block and putting it in the far back field. Honey said I should get some feed corn also. Love to watch them.

The finches love the cone flowers, also have planted a ton of sun flowers, they love them. And of course the ones that the birds miss are coming up.

Feed the squirrels too.........

taherrmann we have hawks that hang around waiting for a meal, every now and then they get one. We do have some ferile critters that attack the birds, I discourage them from hanging around.

 

[j.w]

I love when the birds come to my pond. They eat the seeds off a couple of trees right next to it and take baths in the plant ring edges. These little ones visited just a short time ago and I was able to grab a few pix of them before they moved.

 

[sissy]

multi color birds great pics

 

[fishin4cars]

What kind are they? Never seen those here. Neat pics!

 

[sissy]

they look like the finches I have here .I have yellow ones with black wings a peach ones also

 

[j.w]

Yep I believe they are finches. You can always tell by there little curved beaks. We've also got goldfinches around (Washington state bird) and the males are a bright yellow w/ blk on the wings. I guess some places around the state are starting to see parakeets making it through the winters outside here now.