Tony, I'm with you. I have never had any luck with suet of any type or recipe in Florida. I DO think you are more likely to succeed with it in cooler weather because the birds need a much higher energy type food then. And also because many types of suet cakes and mixtures spoil quickly in the heat. But even in winter, my woodpeckers prefer to eat sunflower seeds directly from the tray feeder, and they ALL ignore the suet. I do buy the big SEED cakes (BirdOla, etc) that just look like lots of seeds, peanuts and fruit somehow molded into a large square. You probably know what I mean...there's no suet that you can see, just the seeds & fruit bits. I put that in a wire holder designed just for it, and the goldfinches will eat from that, until it gets too small for their short beaks to reach it through the wire. They still drop shells and a little bit of seed under the feeder, but they can't fling it all over while looking for something they like, so it's much less messy. My goldfinches finally showed up about 3 weeks ago, and I've had as many as 30 in the yard at once. There are at least 4 that are almost completely yellow and black now. Just gorgeous. I haven't seen any buntings or grosbeaks this year, though. And the chipping sparrows left right when the goldfinches showed up. But I'm happy...I have my cardinals back, my white-winged doves are here, and my goldfinches. My seed-eating catbird and my seed-eating Myrtle warbler both left, after stuffing themselves for several weeks. (They obviously didn't get the memo telling them they prefer insects and fruit.) I'm really happy now that the squirrels can't seem to reach the feeders any more. (Still knocking wood, though.) Try one of the big seed cakes and see if you like it! Marcia

Glad it worked. Yes, knock wood, every one in my care survived, quantity of 20-something. Know a lady, a retired science teacher, who raises them every summer. She ties a string to the green chrysalis's silk and loops it around a little wooden tree on her kitchen table. That way, because this goes on for several months, when she has coffee in the morning, she can see who turned clear over night. Some hatch in her kitchen and she guides them gently to the outside. Her success rate is very, very high and she does a hundred or more every year. If a chrysalis is damaged, things may not go well. If the proboscis doesn't unfurl, life is short. Mine always turned clear with a sunrise. If it was too windy or raining, it stayed on my porch till the weather was just right. If I recall correctly, they don't eat for many hours after hatching and live for about 4 weeks - mating about one week after birth. Wilbur would have mated here and his offspring is the group that would have migrated. Not having an abundant supply of milkweed is changing everything. Picture is Moses on his first flower (artifcial because that is what his chrysalis was attached to) Ok. TMI, probably, but it is fascinating to me. Yes, they were all named and recorded. 100% success rate is lucky! 0% success with raising milkweed isn't. Jane

Very nice slideshow Tammy, I especially like the New Dawn on the Arbor, that was awesome and the birds were so pretty, I just discovered a Gold Finch the other day in my yard. They are so beautiful.

"No grass at all, just desert plants which needed no water. Is that the kind of yard you will have too?" yes, that's what I have even now. no grass. most everything was here when I bought it. desert plants that survived yrs and yrs with no one to water them. just God. I've planted a number of trees - only 1 still alive and 4 bird of paradise bushes - 3 still alive! and a cactus my sister brought over. when the doublewide is in and dbf is down putting in cement patio or whatever he plans then I'll plant some things up closer and in view of the front of me and the back also. plus a few things out farther that will grow up high to block things from my view. that'll be next fall/winter at least. i do want some things up close that bloom so i can enjoy them each day. no grass on my acres (none out here unless in a development). I just have dirt. my sister has a lot of stone - as do some other people. I prefer the dirt - and it's easier to walk on - and easier on the body when you fall! I do love seeing the lushness that others have tho. It's beautiful! They both are in their own ways. Guess I lived 30 some yrs with grass and evergreens etc and enjoy the change in these later yrs. I'll take some pics at my sister's when I go over - of some of her plants that have been growing a number of yrs. and she has some very old saquaros - I love those. they bloom in May, as do the ironwoods.