Thanks Chris - most of the photos are right on the money except maybe the seedling stage. I don't recall them ever looking like that but always feathery. I'm going to keep them. They don't spread fast at all and the USDA site said they provide cover for small mammals and birds. Funny I have other Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) planted right behind them. Such diversity in form.

"Hardy" is such a relative term. To my knowledge, no Bird of Paradise comes anywhere near being hardy except in zones 8 or warmer which is completely out of our league in the frozen north. I once grew the regular old bird of paradise from seed without any problems. As I remember I just planted the things, kept them kind of warm and they germinated in a few weeks. Also, is there a particular variety of B of P which goes by the name 'Hardy Bird of Paradise'? I couldn't find anything when I Googled. Kevin

keep it watered, it will survive. If it came from a location with some shade, it will sunburn, but the new leaves will be ok. Strelizia is a very tough plant :-) Evelyn

Western towees love the shelter of a white spruce. Birds make a beeline for that tree when storms are in the area. (Yes, unfortunately, it is a large tree, and not something you plant in a backyard.) Smaller birds are always foraging in the branches. Birds search in any pines with seed cones or nuts. Lodgepole pine is a favorite. Birds also eat wild hazelnuts. In season (when there is fruit), birds can be found in red-twig dogwood shrubs, dogwood trees (for cedar waxwings and scrubjays), chokecherry, wild cherry, and blueberry shrubs. I would think crabapples would be essential fall-winter food in your area. Birds move very quickly from food source to food source. This is especially true during migration periods. You'll see them for a couple days as they use up the available seeds, nuts, and fruit, and then they move on. I'd say plant a variety of trees and shrubs with the objective of providing shelter and/or a food source. And one of the most critical items that people seldom think of ...clean water.