We like to feed our humming birds. I’ve always just put some sugar and water into our hummingbird feeder and shook it up until it dissolved and they seem to like it. HOWEVER, recently the boss ( who is kinda getting into cooking lately) decided to try a hummingbird food recipe. He cooked it up and the birds have been flocking to the feeders! I could only capture 1 or two in the frame of the picture, but there are now usually 4 or 5 hummingbirds at any given time.
Try this recipe. It’s easy!
Nectar for the Birds 1 part sugar to 4 parts water Place the water in a sauce pan. Stir the sugar into the water while bringing the mixture to a boil. Apparently the boiling removes any chlorine and kills mold or yeast spores that might be in the sugar.
Boil for two minutes, no more. More will change the dilution ratio and won’t be as attractive to the birds. No need to add the food coloring. It is not necessary to add the food coloring and it may even be harmful to the birds. Cool the solution to room temperature and fill your feeder only part way so it wont spoil before they finish it. Store extra nectar in your fridge. Try it your birds will LOVE it.
Today has been a lot warmer than last few weeks. Even though at home, the pond started to freeze again when I left for work this morning, when I got to Oak Hills at the job, I was working in a t-shirt! unlike the previous days when I was bundled up with several layers! Today, my hubby put out a new LARGE bird seed block on the ground and a large hanging bird seed brick. Both just outside our bedroom window. A cat TV special for our kitties, Rocky and Romeo. They love to hang out on the hope chest by the window and watch all the birds. And there were LOTS of birds. I never counted less than 12 each time I looked. There were at least 4 different kinds as well. I need to get out my bird ID book and learn exactly who is hanging out there. Make sure you feed your birds. They will love you for it.
It’s finally getting colder out and we are thinking about hiding indooors for a few months. No one wants to go outside when it is wet, cold and windy. Check out our December newsletter below to get the latest tips on garden prep, winter watering, special gift suggestions and our fabulous cookie recipie!!
Click the link fo our newsletter here: December 2012 Newsletter
Look Hard for the mighty Sequoias!
A while back, I got an immortality kit from a client with a request to plant some Giant Sequoia seeds. “Well, I planted several in the ground in her back fourty and got Zip! Sigh. So I started over again in one gallon nursery cans at my place. I put lots of very dark and organic soil in three nursery cans. I planted about 8 seeds per nursery can just below the surface (about an 1/2 inch to an inch) and watered them thouroghly so the soil would be moist and then have kept the top soil moist with a watering from a sprinkling can three times daily. After about thirty days, was rewarded with a couple of little green sprouts that kinda look like grass. Not ever being there for the birth of a Giant Sequoia, I was not sure as what to expect.
After about a week or so, the “grass” got taller and 5 “spokes” popped out of each little “grass blade”, and that is the way it has been for the last two weeks. I had two plants germinate in each pot. The Third (top ) pot had plants come up near the side wall of the pot and apparently got too hot and wilted when they didnt get watered fast enough one hot day. The plants are about two inches tall at present. Isn’t this exciting? Seing immortality ( or as close as we will all get) created. I will keep you updated on their progress. Lets’s hope I don’t kill the litte guys! Perhaps I should plant some more just to be safe.
(Click on the photo to enlarge the picture Even at this stage, their little trunks are red!)
Little Giants!
Perfection Landscape’s September 2012 Newsletter Get started on your fall garden tasks. Lots of tips to get you through. AND, did you ever have problem with Ants? Get our tips on controlling ants in and around your home.
- My Favorite Recipes-Fall 2014 October 30, 2014Fall is for FOOTBALL! Football season means Sundays are casual. Have some soup and some chips and dip. Get your onion fix. Homemade Onion Dip ( no comparison to store bought) 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 ½ cups diced yellow onions ¼ tsp kosher salt 1 ½ cups sour cream ¾ cup […]
- The Drought is No Joke October 27, 2014The last few years have been crazy dry ones. California is solidly into drought territory now. Oh, I know, we toy with it every year. We hear the same old stuff like “fix leaks” (duh) , Take shorter showers” (awww) and ”Make every drop count” (YES!), and my favorite “If it is yellow, let it […]
- Trees are Valuable September 8, 2014Did you know that studies of comparable houses with and without trees place a markedly higher value on the homes whose yards are sheltered by trees? Trees help clean our air. Trees provide shade that can reduce air conditioning costs as much as 15%. So get planting! Fall is the best time.
- Fall is Coming Up, Just not yet. August 25, 2014By Cindy Poore Where did the time go? It is almost fall. I long for fall the way a kid longs for Christmas. (that’s just around the corner too!) Fall is my time. The time for shorter, hopefully cooler days. Time to regroup and plan that last frenzy of activity you just HAVE to […]
- Life Transistions and the Summer Garden July 7, 2014By Cindy Poore Yes, I know. You all have been wondering what has happened to our newsletter. No, you aren’t unsubscribed, as if that could happen. We have been wrapped up in a bittersweet time. Some of you may not know that Darrell and I have been helping a good friend who has […]
The P.L. Newsletter
