Live in each season as it passes; breath air, drink the drink, taste the fruit and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet drink and botanical medicines.
– Henry David Thoreau
Week 12 start by cleaning up winter debris and preparing the soil for planting. Choose early bloomers like tulips and daffodils to add vibrant colors to your garden. Reflect on past gardening successes and set new goals to improve your green space.
For bird watching, keep feeders and bird baths to attract local species. Research and identify common birds in your area, and keep a journal of your sightings. Install nesting boxes to support bird populations and enhance your observation opportunities. This week is about embracing the renewal of spring, implementing fresh gardening ideas, and enjoying the calming hobby of bird watching. Engage in citizen science projects like the Big Garden Birdwatch and the Great Backyard Bird Count to contribute to bird conservation efforts.
Fall & winter gardening guidance
First and last frost dates by U.S. hardiness zone
Work with nature for gardening success. Hardiness zones in gardening are geographic regions that categorize the climate’s suitability for plant survival. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) devised this system based on…
Gardening around the world
Gardening online resources from around the world. When exploring these sites, I look for their specific sections or articles related to gardening in colder climates or northern regions. Additionally, forums and community sections…
Northern gardening
Take a look at some Minnesota online gardening resources for tailored northern gardening guidance. Gardening in Minnesota can be incredibly rewarding, though the climate poses unique challenges, especially with cold winters and short…
Gardening success through observation & monitoring
Boost garden health with observation and monitoring. Successful gardening involves careful monitoring and observation to ensure plants are thriving. To ensure gardening success, it’s important to adopt the right monitoring techniques, leverage available…
Dehydrator herb preservation
Preserve flavors and nutrients by dehydrating. Owning a food dehydrator offers a multitude of advantages for culinary enthusiasts. It facilitates preservation by removing moisture from fruits, vegetables, and herbs, extending their shelf life…
Food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in the garden & barn
Food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is a versatile, natural substance valued by gardeners for its pest control and soil enhancement benefits. Composed of fossilized algae, food grade DE acts as a mechanical insecticide…
Gardening science
Evidence-based approaches for improving plant growth and vitality. Innovative scientific discoveries are reshaping gardening practices. Advances in soil microbiology reveal the intricate relationships between plants and beneficial microbes, offering new insights into nutrient…
Gardening for bird conservation
Birds in the garden bring landscapes to life. Attracting birds to your garden enriches the outdoor experience with nature’s vibrant palette and cheerful melodies. Beyond the aesthetic delight, birds play a crucial role…
Gardening to improve outdoor air quality
Enhance outdoor air quality by naturally filtering pollutants. Planting your yard and garden with air-purifying plants enhances outdoor air quality by naturally filtering pollutants and releasing oxygen. Trees like oak and maple absorb…
Plants at their best
Pothos
Easy to take care of vining houseplant and versatile water plant for water features and ponds. The pothos plant, also known as Epipremnum aureum, is a popular houseplant admired for its heart-shaped leaves…
Spider Plant
Easy to care for houseplant with excellent air-purifying qualities. Spider plants, or Chlorophytum comosum, are popular houseplants known for their easy care and air-purifying qualities. They have long, arching leaves that are green…
Basil
Power Annual Herb. Love this little green flavor booster! Basil is my favorite herb to grow because of its versatility and vibrant flavor. I have come to love its aromatic leaves and continue…
Thyme
Perennial Herb. The blooming Thyme plant, an aromatic herb of the mint family, captivates with its petite yet vibrant flowers. As sunlight caresses its delicate leaves, clusters of tiny blooms emerge, creating a…
Mint
Perennial fast-growing herb with versatility and beauty. In the midst of late spring, the vibrancy of mint flowers brings a refreshing flush to gardens and meadows. Delicate clusters of tiny blossoms emerge atop…
Sage
Perennial Herb. Flowering sage, known for its vibrant blossoms, adds aesthetic charm to gardens while maintaining its culinary and medicinal value. The delicate, tubular flowers come in various hues, including shades of purple,…
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Birding & Butterflies
Northern Cardinal
A cherished backyard songbird. Updated since 11/2/2023. The presence of cardinal birds in my yard brings fresh fun. Their vibrant red plumage, a burst of color against the green backdrop, provides me a sense of natural beauty. Their…
White-breasted Nuthatch
Lively and bouncy tree creepers. The presence of nuthatches in my yard gets me to peering out the front window. These charismatic birds, with their distinctive upside-down climbing and head-first descents, inject a playful energy into the trees…
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagles mature to have a snowy white head and tail contrasted against a dark brown. Their commanding presence is an American symbol of strength and freedom. Spotting Bald Eagles in my neighborhood is an awe-inspiring experience that…
Purple Finch
Purple finches love sunflower seeds and have a very friendly, social behavior. Watching a purple finch at the bird feeder is truly a novel experience in my area. These vibrant songbirds, with their rosy-red plumage and cheerful chirping,…
Trumpeter Swan
The largest extant species of waterfowl. Seeing trumpeter swans in my neighborhood brings a sense of tranquility and wonder. Their majestic presence on ponds, gracefully gliding across the water, adds an elegant charm to the landscape. In fields,…
Turkey
Wild turkeys are native to North America, commonly found in forests, grasslands, and open woodlands across the U.S. and southern Canada. These large birds, known for their fan-shaped tails and wattled necks, have iridescent feathers that shimmer in…
Chipping Sparrow
Cheerful, agile, trilling, resilient, friendly, little sparrow. I enjoy seeing chipping sparrows at my bird feeders because they bring a bit of fun to my bird feeders. Their delicate, cheerful chirping is a delightful sound to hear in…
Gray Squirrel
Acrobatic, adaptable, intelligent little seed hoarders. Gray squirrels, agile acrobats of the suburban landscape, frolic in my yard with a boldness that borders on audacity. Their fluffy tails twitch with curiosity as they dart among the trees, pausing…
Ring-necked Pheasant
Colorful, adaptable, ground-foraging, game bird. The Ring-necked Pheasant, a strikingly colorful bird native to Asia, has become a captivating presence year-round in my Minnesota yard. With its iridescent plumage and distinct neck ring, this bird adds a touch…
Downy Woodpecker
Lively and rhymical woodpecker. Downy Woodpeckers bring enchantment to my yard with their lively antics and distinctive black-and-white plumage. Their petite stature, just 6-7 inches in length, adds charm as they flit gracefully among branches. The rhythmic drumming…
Hairy Woodpecker
Flashy movements, climbers, with rhythmic slower drumming. The Hairy Woodpecker’s rhythmic drumming and distinctive black-and-white plumage bring a unique rhythm to my yard, transforming it to include natural wonder. Their diligent foraging, tapping resonantly on our tree trunks,…
American Goldfinch
Sunlit yellow plumage, delicate black wings, and sweet cheep-cheeps. The American Goldfinch’s vibrant presence at my thistle birdfeeder transforms my yard into a living canvas of radiant yellow and black. Their sunlit yellow plumage, delicate black wings, and…
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