Carol, it was so nice to meet you and I am glad you enjoyed your first swap. We had about 50 people which is good for our first one. But next year we want to get more of the locals to come out and join us. We don't have plant swaps as a rule around here so it was something new, but everyone enjoyed it. We will advertise more next year. The food, there is no words to describe the food, I just took a spoon full of each thing so I got a taste of everything, and desserts, there was no way I could taste everything and I wanted too. Joyce is a doll and you would enjoy the Blue Bird. But if you go you MUST make sure that you go into the toy museum, you don't want to miss it. Of course you must stop at Betty Kaye Bakery. In the fall The Perennial Place has a big sale and it is only a little way out of town, he has nice plants. I was so tired from the night before, I dug until 9:30 as I wanted the plants to be fresh. I took 75 things, some were for my son, he was the one who gave the beautiful bud vases of the girls head and the flower dog. I wanted to have a good selection of plants so everyone got something they wanted. Next year you can always get on here and tell people what you are bringing and what you would like to have. Sometimes there is someone out there who has extra and they are willing to share them. (I wanted to make sure there were plenty of plants for people who wanted extra. In the fall (spring too) they have one in Columbus, it is fun to go there. I took some pictures but they were not very good, I will try to get them posted this week. I am leaving for 9 days in the Outer Banks on Saturday. I must get these plants and in the ground before then. Out mike wasn't working and we have a few things we may change next year but overall I thought it was great. One of the young girl was so happy, she is a new gardener and she said she had the best pile there. I told her everyone thought they had the best pile, each one was unique. One of the children was so excited, he got a yucca and he was so happy he had the biggest plant there. Every plant ended up gone, and everyone helped cleanup, it was such a good day. Thank you and your sister for coming and helping to make it such a success. Twila

I am amazed at the variation of lilac performance in my yard. Some thrive with many blossums and others just die. I can not comment on the Miss Kim lilac. I am very impressed with the blooms on my Sensation (purple edged with white, Mrs. Edward A Harding (double magenta), and Michael Buchner (double lavender). I have these lilacs on top of ledge in lousy soil amended with lime and compost. You may want to replace Miss Kim with a more prolific bloomer for your location. Chervil2

Those bluebirds are stressed. They are far north of there wintering grounds many winter here (RI) from the far north then in march migrate north please the reason why that bluebird if holding on to the suet holder is they love suet and peanut butter. Please add some small cuts of suet nearby that way they can feed. If you have 1.5 acres of open space they will nest nearby. Slot box's are ok. But no box is sparrow free. The population of house sparrows in Maine is nothing like southern NE. If you live out in the country far from development dont worry about sparrows. They favor very developed area's and less comon in the country. If you place a bluebird now in the center of your yard and not near a tree they will roost at night in the box. The box should be on 1 inch conduit pipe that will keep down most predators in Maine. Just make sure dont place box on a tree. And center of the yard. Right now there food supplys are running low thats why they are at the feeder they like bittersweet,mulitiflora rose hips,winterberry,holly. To name a few. If you get ice please set out some food that is ice free that way they can feed. Its not worth it for them to migrate now. They are probably the oldest birds in the town and will try and over winter since they know there is a good supply of food nearby. If they fly south and we know they are local Maine birds they could fly into a area well south of them that is much worst and most if not all would perish if the area is ice cover and they have no idea of local food supply's the birds are now dependent on you! The bluebirds are probably very old and some may even have a mild injury thats why they have been left behind. MId february many of my birds start to return and by april 1 start to nest. Its much warmer here so things happen much sooner. If the weather stays snow and ice free in New England we could be looking at a great season for the birds since so many have done well here this winter. Hundeds more will start there trip north in late february. Sadly many are killed in late season snow storms since they have no clue where the food supply's are and the stress and cold kill many. Best of luck! --Ray

Wow ten pairs with eggs?! And I feel like I hit the lottery if I get one pair a year! Good job on your part, maybe you can help me to get more pairs to choose one of our nest boxes and have successful fledglings, which has been rather hard because of so many predators that threaten them and have killed newly hatched eggs or this years issue pulling out eggs and pecking them. Anyway, Im going to start a new thread asking for help once again from all the knowledgeable blue birders here like yourself to help me have more success in our nest boxes this year. Thank you for helping so many blues nest in your boxes, I would love to see that many blue birds in one area, accept in the winter when they are all flocked together in search of food. Good for you! Gina