Dear winterberry growers, I have a wet, winter garden and focus on winter interest plants as winter is my longest season here. Here are more things I've learned from growing winterberries: 1. Be patient. They take about 3 years to settle in. They will set fruit in August and then drop it soon after for several years. This is normal. Don't despair. 2. They are wind pollinated, which is why the male has to be within "X" feet of the females. One mature male will pollinate up to 5 females if at the right distance. I have also planted small male plants right next to females so they grow together. 3. Be accurate. You must have the right male for the female, as noted in e-mails above. 4. Males tend to grow larger/sucker more than females over time as they don't spend all their energy setting fruit. 5. Bluebirds flock in my yard and eat the winterberries typically by Jan 1. The berries need to freeze/thaw often for the fruit to be palatable to birds. 6. Try the dwarf form Red Sprite (about 3' tall and wide). They set huge berries that last until spring. Birds don't tend to eat these dward-variety berries. I grow the dwarf in shade and sun, and it does better in shade. 7. All winterberries really need is the right pollinator and plenty of moisture. They love wet feet in winter. 8. If there is a drought in August, they may drop their fruit out of stress. Doesn't hurt the plant. 9. Starting after leaf drop, deer eat the outer branches of winterberry, fruit and all. I cover the most-visited plants with black bird netting which is 100% effective and invisible from 6 feet away. Remove netting before they leaf out in spring or you'll be sorry. Winterberry is lovely from Sept through Jan. They look pretty with green leaves in Sept, have lovely yellow leaves in Oct, and have great berries once established from Nov-Jan. I have never pruned them. Happy plants sucker on the sides so you can give them to friends. I have alternated winterberry and yellow-twig dogwood (all moisture lovers) and it is stunning in winter sun. Put this combo in front of an evergreen hedge, like pine trees, and it is stunning. HAve to be ruthless to the yellow-twigs in spring or they'll crowd out the slow-growing winterberries. Go winter!

Kendra, I don't know for sure but I've seen sparrows poking around on the ground too and have assumed there are seeds---weed seeds or something that they like. I have mourning doves doing the same. Congrats on your egg! I'm hoping for the same very soon.... Ann

Hi Cathy You must be well north of me. Yes the population of bluebirds does decline after a harsh winter my numbers have stayed around 35 to 40 pairs the last few years... back in the 1990's the weather was different winters were mild and the bluebird population low at the time doubled in the mild years. New England had a cold spring of april of 2008 many females weak from there trip north perished on half made nest. Its just not winter weather that kills bluebirds! Food supply at its lowest in april many bluebirds perished and my flock which was already paired off were flying around the town and reforming there bonds with other bluebirds because of this extreme cold weather in april killed so many nest box's just ready for eggs were found with nothing but dead bluebirds I have such a volume of bluebirds that return here I did not feel the loss like so many others in near by states The month a may brings in the youngest of the bluebirds and what ever box's are empty are quickly taken by these first year breeders. I can support 60 pairs but only once in the 1990's were they all used by bluebirds. Alot depends on weather and your local population of bluebirds. My bluebird box's have been in place for years and with out question they are super prime locations. Bluebirds with care can live three to five years. Those are area's void of HOSP And cats! I have a few bluebirds that are absent I blame the harsh winter. But the sites should be taken by young bluebirds that i produced last year. 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