FINALLY! Rain!! And we actually got some of it! I didn't mention it yesterday because all we got here in Edmond was a bare sprinkling. The cloud cover did help with the sandblast heat, but the sprinkle was barely enough to wet my porch boards once it had set a while. But last night we got some real rain. Not sure just how much, but enough so that i can tell we actually got more than a sprinkle. It's still cloudy, so hopefully we'll get some more today. And perhaps that was enough, with the cloud cover cooling things down, for me to be able to get my 15 new daylilies,3 new Iris, 2 new lilies, seedlings sheltering in my gazebo and some cuttings I was rooting planted! It has been looking like winter sow time around here! DH will be happy to help plant the new DLs and lilies so he doesn't have to keep scooting them around on the kitchen counter in their bowl of water! Ya know, I was really amazed, and now firmly believe that DLs and Iris can grow under any conditions. A friend sent me a jam packed box of them (there's more than one fan of several)that she'd thinned from her own gardens just before we had this horrible heat snap. They arrived the day before we started the 100+ temps here and I wasn't able to plant them the next day due to other obligations. I'd tucked them into a large bowl with enough water to cover the roots because they'd gotten a little toasty on their trip. They perked up well from the soaking and with changing the water to keep it from getting icky, I've actually got brighter green on the truncated fans. And I believe there's been some little amount of growth as well. DH is off tomorrow, so we'll finally get them into their beds and tucked up :) And those poor seedlings that should have been out of their confining pots a week ago! And I finally have tomatoes to speak of growing. I took advice that someone gave about shaking their cages to help the pollen dislodge and spread as well as cooling them several times a day with a water mist from the hose. Finally they now have several fruits each and more coming if the swelling of fading blooms are any indication. It has really been a learning year for me here in Edmond. I lived in Texas until 5 years ago, and honestly I have to say that Oklahoma has the most diverse land and growing conditions across the state! I moved from Chickasha to Edmond a year ago and am amazed at the difference that 60 miles made to what to grow and how. However, school is just about out for this reasonably seasoned gardener (I've been gardening since I could toddle) and now have a notebook compiled on what I need to do differently here in Edmond. Just needs notes to be made this fall and winter (didn't have time to garden much here last year with the move and getting my kids settled in) and it will provide many reminders of things to handle differently than I have in the past. But I guess that's the amazing part about gardening, you NEVER really stop learning! But back on topic, I am thrilled to finally get some rain! I'm hoping everyone has shared in the bounty and is cooling down a little. Dawn, bless you and your fire department! I know this is the beginning of a really rough time of year for ya'll. Kathy

I second all Jane's thoughts. If you can be prepared, bluebirding is an extremely rewarding experience. Many of us(correction: MOST of us) have had to deal with house sparrows. I can't tell you how many people I've known who, in the first year hosting bluebirds they have success, and for some reason, the house sparrows become a bigger problem in the second year, and people are taken by surprise (or shock) when the house sparrows kill the male in the box, or the female as she incubates eggs, or they smash unattended eggs, or toss the eggs out. In my first experience, a male house sparrow killed 6 newborn hatchlings by pecking them on the head. So if you decide to proceed, just be prepared. Bet's web site, www.sialis.org is a wonderful resource, and we will be here if you need us. Another option is to add hole reducers and host chickadees, if they are in your area. The proper hole reducer will prevent house sparrows from entering. You might want to read up on that at the website linked below. P.S. The little round wooden thing that many bluebird nestboxes come with (some people call them "predator guards") which extends the entrance does not protect anything from predators. BlueBars Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org/

Hi Luke, I am in south east Ohio and we've had bluebirds here. I have several bluebird houses around the yard and I saw 5 bluebirds in a tree near one of the houses. It was getting dark and one by one they landed on the board fence where the birdhouse was and all five went into the house. I've never seen that before and was suprised since I've heard how territorial they are. Hopefully someone will answer your question about helping them through the winter. What are bluebird feeding pellets. I've never ran across those when I've been buying bird feed. Debby

Large numbers of bluebirds from northern NE and Canada spend there winter here in Southern NE. My local birds winter here in Northern RI. Buy many northern birds are seen moving south well into Feb. Snow pack will force them south the birds that choose to stay local perish in major snow storms. Yearly my nest box's are in crusted with bluebird mess. And some times dead bluebirds. A snow free winter will create a surplus of bluebirds A harsh winter will thin there numbers out. We have had some of the worst weather here in the northeast. And there population is a very low level (the lowest since 1990) They need a mild winter to re-populate many area's lost by this harsh weather. If you live in the north feed mealworms and you will be the talk of your community with bluebirds all year! They have winter as far north as Maine! (with a good berry supply) Ray