Hi Jeff, great to see you are joining the group. I have very little to offer since my gardens are only on their second year but mostly wanted to attend for the socializing. Quite a few of us met last year at Deb's house for the swap. We are glad to have you aboard and I think with Signet hosting, we are in for a real treat. She's going to show us "Hosta Choice Gardens" near her home but even better we get to see her vast array of plants she has collected and nurtured. As for me, I don't know that I have anything you might like but if you have an extra Kentucky Coffee Tree seedling, I'd be happy to take one off your hands. Just an aside Jeff...I'm still hoping for those bladdernut seeds to sprout. My wintersowing didn't do well at all and those pots that did sprout are only just sprouting now so I really don't see the benefit of doing the wintersowing at all. Barb

We just moved to our house in PA a year ago this month, and the previous owners left their shepherd's hooks in the yard, with one birdfeeder attached. I rec'd a nice birdfeeder as a housewarming gift and have been so delighted with the birds that are visiting. I will probably regret all the seedlings that will be sprouting in my walkway and beds in a few months, but for now, I am a (happy)slave to the birds. So far, my main birds are tons of male and female cardinals, goldfinches, juncoes, sparrows, 2 red-headed woodpeckers, and chickadees, plus two nuisance squirrels. This past spring and summer we had two separate bird families rear babies in the eaves of our gazebo, and that was just great watching them on the day the babies learned to fly. The parents spread out into two trees and called loudly for their children to follow. Slowly, big brother waddled out from the nest and perched percariously on the edge of the eave. "Wow, it's a long way down from here", he thought as he looked below his little feet !! However, he got up his nerve and hopped off the ledge, only to crash a few yards down on the patio (I gasped in horror as he hit the ground !) Quite embarrassed at his first flying lesson, he started hopping into the brush to hide as he gathered his wits about him, and then began a series of short, low flights until he was resting at the base of his parent's tree. Well, in quick succession, his siblings followed suit, all going off in many directions, so fast I couldn't keep up with them all. I learned to recognize their young voices as they called to their moms for help, under a bush, under the bench, or right in the middle of the lawn ! Happily, all seemed to make it into a tree and I am hoping that they come back as adults and make my gazebo their family's choice of home once again. Looking froward to spring and new bird babies !! It's funny, in summer I concentrated on attracting butterflies since I thought the birds could find plenty to eat in spring, summer and fall. Maybe this year I will continue feeding the birds year round, and try to attract more hummingbirds as well. Thank you, God, for making such beautiful animals for me to look at !! I am amazed at every detail.

I would expect to find these birds in Florida, absolutely. sharbear, look for the females, too. They're greeny-grayey-yellowey. It's funny...the very first bird I had at a new feeder I installed (at the beach in lower SC, no less) was a bunting. I hung the feeder, turned to go back inside...and when I went to slide the glass door shut...he was already there! He found the feeder in about 5 seconds.

Lots of violence and sadness... the grackles and cowbirds and the Keene falcon ... mixed in with grace of butterflies and that magnificent display from the Tom. And,of course, I loved all the hummers. We haven't seen any for quite a while ... is it because our neighbors don't have flowers and so they moved on to better pickings? We still put out the feeders and are hopeful. Still, there have been some recent visitors. Most morning a Mama duck brings her brood to our feeders. We enjoy watching the babies mature and become more independent grazers. A few of the babies A chipmunk has made a home in our gardens. He/she travels through the grass, tail up, from the nest to feeders. Love this little guy! And a young deer has been grazing along the river's edge. Ears up, heading back into the woods.