I think the mix sounds good for your purposes. Just remember, winterberries are male and female, so if you want berries on both the bushes next to the tree, a male pollinator needs to be in the mix somewhere.However, if one of your neighbors has a male, you may be okay. As for Confers' suggestions: I have found blueberries don't tend to do very well in our clay soil, however if you plan to amend, they might be okay. Barberries are not allowed to be purchased in NH (invasive) and the same with most honeysuckle. Gooseberries are also prohibited in NH as they affect the white pine population by hosting white pine blister rust.

The yellow tulip with red streaks looks amazing! We missed out our first spring in Utah when we realized, as everyone else had flowers coming up, that planting time was fall the year before. Well, I take that back, we did have some crocus that had been planted (prior owner surprise) within our front lawn! This year, we got the bulbs in, but our red bulbs came in mixed red, yellow, and red/yellow. Is that partially determined by the type of soil? Also, the northwest facing bed in the front yard is barely in full bloom (everyone south facing was blooming weeks before us in Highland)and the north facing clusters are just starting to send up the flower. My apples haven't yet started to blossom, but your Granny Smith looks amazing. What type of camera do you have, if I may ask, what resolution? You mentioned it was a hobby of yours, so I don't have hopes of taking similar pictures, but wow! I thought I came across your explanation of how to post pictures before, but a reminder would be great. The instructions on the site didn't help me much. I've got the linking down (except how to add multiple links) but I'm still at a loss for pictures in the thread. Thanks!

Annette, are you noticing other birds on the hummingbird feeders or just a reduced number of hummingbirds. Orioles, some woodpeckers, finches may try to feed from hummingbird feeders and having the larger birds there could discourage your hummers. If you have birds there but they are not on the feeders you put out for the hummingbirds, it may just be coincidence. Most song birds will eat seed and insects larger than what interests the hummingbirds, and they wouldn't compete for same type nesting spots either. We don't feed other birds but have many here. I noticed a grosbeak land on the feeder outside my kitchen a couple of times this spring, but all it accomplished was a swinging carnival ride at it's weight. None of the others show any interest at all. We do have jays and crows that will raid the nests but then, they raid the nests when they see an opportunity of any of the birds. And not something within my control.

I know that the original article was a perspective and not fact, and thanks for the second article because it's great to have two perspectives. I still appreciate that people are trying to look outside the box and find how all the facets of nature work together. I would imagine if we had more predators of the hosts mammals around that would be a great thing to get rid of deer ticks, but that' won't happen anytime soon in our populated areas! Many many variables to consider for all issues. I'm just glad we're learning that some of our "simple fixes" in nature aren't that simple, like culling all the wolves from the Rockies, or pesticides to kill bugs on crops. It seems like we're starting to learn that as soon as we figure something out, something else surprises us. But, as you all said, that certainly does mean too many myths and assumptions pop up. Sped, that run-down Boston apartment thing cracked me up. Yes, they do live in the north when they find buildings old enough in the city. The stereotype my northern parents had when we moved to the south was that roaches were ONLY an indication that you lived in the city in less-than-ideal conditions. In the south, roaches are an indication that you live in the south, and that's that. The first time my very clean mother saw a roach in our house, she climbed onto a chair and called my father at work, sobbing. He actually drove home from work and they killed the roach together. Fast forward several years to where she could practically smack them with her hand. She was ultra clean (but not to the point that we weren't comfortable living in our own home) and has a bug man every month without fail come, but they're a permanent resident of every southern home.