Bird Snacks

In the winter time the wild life changes a lot in the highlands.  We see a lot less big animal, mostly just their tracks. The birds that stick around are always in luck, we have tons of native plants to provide snacks for them. But when the kids want a close up (or the cats need some entertainment) we head to the freezer for some yummy bird treats.

   

I usually make these about twice a winter and that will last me the entire snow season.  I use what ever left over fruit the kids had a lunch, as well as old freezer fruit,(this photo shows apples and cranberries); bird seed; peanut butter; and what ever fat I have rendered from a previous dinner(this part is totally optional, if you use enough PB it will hold together).  Mix it all together and spread it out on baking sheet, the kids and I cut out heart shapes, but any shape will work, the left overs are shoved into a wonder bread sandwich carrier, it fits perfect into my suet cage....

Note:  We hang this close to a glass window, and by spring there is quite a large amount of seeds and PB stuck to the window, for easier clean up hang it in a tree visible from you windows.

Waiting for winter?

So I cant believe I'm saying this, but I'm missing the snow....now maybe there have been a few times where it snowed, but nothing has stuck!  We've only been here 5 years, but there has always been some snow, at least enough for a sled ride and good size snowman.  The warmer weather has also brought a rise in the creek, normally in January it's frozen solid and covered with snow.  We don't usually see a rise until April(and then my favorite, a flood in May).  I'm not sure what this means for this spring and summer, but I know the goats are LOVING it!!

And maybe I'm a little excited to see how the plants will be behaving, maybe crocus in Feb?!!?

Halloween 2013

I can't tell you how much I love Pinterest.  I have always struggled with why dress up a toddler, you know they'll never remember.  So it's more for me, so this year I went with one of my favorites.....

Clark Kent...


The whole gang...


Rosey's First grade Halloween Party cupcakes


40 cupcakes later......I need  a break!

My secret to a stunning Dogwood

It was love at first sight when I saw my first dogwood in Yosemite valley 13 years ago.  It was late may and the Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) was covered in enormous white cream colored flowers.  The tree already had leaves, but the flowers were still the star of the show.  When we moved to Washington and I was told there was a dogwood on the property, I was ecstatic.  I could hardly wait all winter to see this amazing tree covered in gorgeous flowers.  Well along came spring and all I saw was tiny, very light pink flowers. Not at all stunning, well at first. After some searching I found I had a Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida).  I noticed my neighbor also had a dogwood, but hers had a gorgeous dark pink color.  
  She told me her secret was Epsom salt.  She said to put on two applications, one in early spring before the petal like bracts open, and a second in early fall when the next years bracts are forming.  And there you have it! After one year I had my own spectacular dogwood, super stunning!

After

   

Before

  

Dogwood anatomy:

Dogwood flowering head

*other plants with smilar petal like bracts are, poinsettia and Bougainvillea

Shallots

A new addition to the garden this year is shallots.  Planted the first of April, these photos show just over a month of growth.  Spacing was 6 inches apart, rows 12 inches apart.  They only need to be under 1/2 inch soil.  They can also be planted in the fall.  Yum!

Organic shallot sets purchased from Filaree Garlic Farm

You know it's finally spring when.....

Crocus inter-planted with tuplips

Winter 2012 cupcakes

Winter 2012 cupcakes.....