Author: wgcblogger

“Marvel Meal,” a mixture of peanut butter and other items, is fun to make and is a favorite of chickadees, titmice, wrens, and even bluebirds. It can be pressed into the holes of a log feeder or smeared directly onto the bark of trees. It also can be frozen into blocks and put in a suet feeder or sliced into chunks and placed on a feeder tray.
Recipe for Marvel Meal
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup vegetable shortening
• 4 cups cornmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1 handful of sunflower seeds (optional)

February is National Bird Feeding Month
On February 23, 1994, Congressman John Porter from Illinois, read the following resolution into the Congressional Record proclaiming February as National Bird Feeding Month:
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize February, one of the most difficult months in the United States for wild birds, as National Bird-Feeding Month. During this month, individuals are encouraged to provide food, water, and shelter to help wild birds survive. Continue reading “Horticulture Report – January 2016”

Outdoor Plant Guide – Mulch perennial beds once the ground has frozen hard. Apply 2 to 4 inches of shredded bark, composted manure or garden compost, if not done already. Evergreen boughs from seasonal wreaths or small sections of Christmas tree branches may also be used as winter protection on garden beds. Continue reading “Horticulture Report – December 2015”

See how well Cheryl’s Paperwhites are doing! Continue reading “Paperwhite Update”

At our November meeting, Cheryl, our Horticulture Chair, demonstrated how to easily and inexpensively grow Paperwhite flowers in our own home. All you need are Paperwhite bulbs, pebbles and a container.   Continue reading “Horticulture Tip for November”

Add 2 to 4 inches of shredded leaves, composted manure, or garden compost to perennial borders and garden beds once the ground has frozen completely.
Continue to feed the compost pile with grass clippings and dried plant material removed from garden beds. Avoid adding diseased plants to the pile. Turn the pile regularly to speed decomposition. Continue reading “Horticulture Report – November 2015”

Annual and Perennial Care

After a killing frost, remove annual plant material from your garden and add it to your compost heap. Any soilless mix from window boxes or containers can be discarded or kept aside for one more year. If used for a second year, mix equal parts old mix with fresh soilless mix. Clean and sterilize containers before storing over winter. Do not mulch your perennial garden area until the ground has frozen hard later in November. Continue reading “Horticulture Report – October 2015”