I'm sure you can get lots of tree advice on the 'tree' forum but since we are in similar growing zones I can give you my 2 cents on the subject. Keeping in mind that you would like trees that have an earlier leaf drop and are flexible rather than brittle - I have two suggestions for you. Service berry - Amelanchier species - one of the first trees in my yard to drop their leaves. It is a really lovely small tree that can be bought as a single trunk tree or a multiple stemmed tree. Gives a nice dappled shade that you can grow plants under (important) and the roots are fairly deep. I grow bulbs, a large patch of fall-blooming japanese anemones & several oak-leaved hydrangeas under a grouping of four of these trees Ostrya virginiana - American Hophornbeam Native mid-sized tree, lovely shaggy bark, beautiful shape. Not often grown as an 'open' yard tree but those I have seen are gorgeous. One of those 'WHAT IS THAT???!!' kinds of tree. :o) Dirr, my tree guru, says that the fall colour is yellow but, seldom effective _because the leaves drop so early_ ~ just what you want. Good luck with your yard. Trees are always the hardest things to loose. BUT, such is the life of a gardener we all have to be optimists cause mother nature is a tough gal to work with. A.

I also have a tube feeder. I notice other birds and critters (chipmunks, etc.) eat the leftovers that fall to the ground. I would think it's a combo of hulls and seeds, unless the hulls are yummy for the other birds. I did put a tray on the feeder, and that was a disaster. I had a chipmunk who made himself at home in the tray, and once I saw the HOSPs in the tray, I took it down. Squirrels also tried to get in, but it wasn't big enough for them. So, I'm thinking it's more than just hulls dropping into the tray, but I could be wrong.

Yes, but it's only one Junco that do that. Usually in the winter, they run out of food on the ground and try to adapt. I have seen one or two try for the tube feeder. Notice the tree sparrows flying around the sock in the picture, they're suppose to scratch and feed on the ground but now hang from the sock. This is a problem because they compete with a flock of gold finches for space, resulting in a mob scene around the sock. I added a plate of seed on the ground but they still feed from the sock. The Junco immediately went for it, but the tree sparrow still hangs on the sock. Paul

Hi Patti! Long time no see.LOL No never fed them regular bird seed but I might try it.That Niger seed is expensive,but last time I bought it I got it at the feed store and it was a little cheaper.I never had any luck with the socks.The finches here seem to prefer the plastic tube thingies with the holes in the sides.All my socks hung out until the seeds molded and I threw them away and got the other kind.Maybe the finches here are just too lazy to work for food!LOL I didn't even put the feeders out last year because we were gone a lot and there wasn't anyone around to keep them filled,but I plan to put them out this year. P.S.I'm still enjoying the rooster stuff!