Now is the time to…

• Put out and maintain heated birdbaths for at least 12 weeks
• Provide a variety of feeders and keep them filled and free of snow and ice
• Force spring-flowering bulbs to bloom (Place them in a cool area [35- 50 degrees]
• Place poinsettias in a cool, bright location (not in direct light) for a longer bloom time
• Build a snowman (Invite a child)

In winter, I look through magazines, books, and even flower catalogs to find new things or find new plants that may work in my garden. I also look for new ways to help protect my landscape from local wildlife—particularly groundhogs, squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks. I want to live peacefully with the wildlife, but I have to come up with solutions to keep them from destroying my plants. Many times, I just avoid planting things they can’t resist. For example, I love tulips, but I only plant them in a small area where I try to protect them each year. When tougher measures are needed, I rely on hoy Hungarian paprika. It is cheap, and I can get it in large quantities. The deer don’t like it, and it keeps the rabbits away from the small plants. I just have to remember to reapply it after it rains.

Don’t forget to recycle your Christmas tree… I tie mine to the bird feeder in the winter. It usually will stay green until April. Then you can chip it up and use it for mulch. Collect excess cooking grease in a tin can and put it in the freezer. You can even add eggshells, cornmeal, and seeds to the can as it is being filled. When it is full, use a can opener to remove the bottom. Then, punch two holes on the side of the can, near the top and the bottom rims. Insert a piece of wire through the holes, wrap them around the rims and hang the can horizontally from the tree or the bird feeder. It doesn’t take long for the birds to clean it out.

Here are some other winter ideas that I have tried to attract more birds and other critters to my yard. String popcorn, cranberries, and peanuts (in the shell) to make a garland that can be hung on a tree. Tie a string around a pinecone, smear on some peanut butter, and roll it in birdseed. Hang these edible decorations from trees. Many birds appreciate fresh fruit, so I leave it for them. I offer apples, oranges, grapes, cherries, bananas, and grapefruit—whatever is on sale at the grocery store. Cut larger fruit, like apples and oranges, into ½ to 1-inch thick disks. This keeps the fruit from rocking and being pushed around, making it easier for the birds to feed.