Thanks for the warm welcome and nice comments! I'll try to answer all of your questions. Luna, the square base on that totem birdbath is a square microwave plate. Must be for a microwave that doesn't revolve. I prefer the heavy microwave plates as totem bases and buy them whenever I find them when they are a good price. The birdhouse was made for me by my wonderful DH for Mothers' Day a couple of years ago. It fits over our wellhead and hides it at some times of the year before the plants grow big. Karen, you are welcome to add the photo of the plate markers to your album. Your album is very inspirational. I made an album for another forum so know how much time it takes. Cait, the funny thing about that birdbath is that while it is decorative and I loved making it and having it in my garden the birds prefer the cheap plastic one from a YS. So I sold the nice one in my yard sale - it makes a good decoration anyhow. Susie, for the plate markers I used a ceramic paint pen that I bot at Michaels. You have to bake them in the oven after painting and it seems to hold up. I just half bury them in the soil near the plant. Got the idea from a cottage blog. In this climate I have to take them up in the fall so they are a bit of work but I like the cottagey look they give the garden. Marlene, I made my first totem about 4-5 years ago and was immediately smitten. Made about 2 dozen which is ridiculous for one garden so sold them all, then made about another dozen. Have a good stash of glass so will probably *have* to make more! LOL I've also made and sold a lot of the teacup birdfeeders altho I use them for tealights around the patio. I will add to my album once DH gets the totems out of the barn and I've washed them. This year we are planning to enlarge the garden area and make a garden house, kind of a playhouse for me (and the Grands!). So lots more work ahead but it will give me more space to decorate with garden junk.

Echoes, i often feel like you do, looking at people's pictures and sighing over how lovely their gardens are. Mine are getting there. It's true that we all get inspired by each other. I'm sure my yard would be nowhere close to what it is except for all the enablers here! One thing i have to thank everyone for is the "different" plants i've been forced - uh, i mean inspired - to buy. :) Many of the gardeners around here have the same old, same old, mostly from trading with each other over the years. It's these different plants that are the reason for my yard being on the tour this year - no one around here has as many lilies as i do! LOLOL

Oh, you'll have so much fun! Be sure and post what you come up with in your own garden. Even pics if you can. Dayle ann

black oil sunflower seeds probably attract more birds than any other feed. you can use a tube feeder or a mesh wire feeder or even a hopper feeder. Suet is a great treat in winter but some birds eat it year around. you can use a suet cage and buy suet cakes or make your own suet mix. there are lots of old posts on here making suet. if you like doves and juncos and other ground feeders the seed mixes with cracked corn ot millet do good but they also attract blackbirds and starlings and cowbirds which lots of people don't want around. the summer song birds such as tanagers and orioles and grosbeaks like fruit or berrys or drink from necter feeders. or plants with berrys or blooms and blossoms. the woodpeckers i get here love nuts and suet and cracked corn and millet. robins and bluebirds like mealworms or grubs or earthworms the tits and chickadees and nuthatches like suet or hulled sunflowers or boss or nuts.