Think spring??? It's think babies, what a bunch of little beauties & parents arn't bad either!!!Each one is little ball of sunshine tho! Do they stick around & raise them at your place or were they just passing through!! How lucky you are to have such majestic birds visit you! My favorite toy was made by my dad, It was a swan glider that I sat in & loved to go back & forth, we lived in Glendale until I was about 4 ,well from 3 mos until 4 yrs as I was born in S.D. I guess we left it for some other child to enjoy. I have pics but guess no way to get on Internet!! How is the snow at your house, still stacked high? Enjoyed the pic! Jan

Dear Jeanne- I just joined GardenWeb because I happened across this posting the other day and I wanted to comment about your birdhouse. I hope there is some sort of notification system that lets you know there was some activity on this old post from last year. Maybe someone can help me learn how this forum works. I know my comments are late coming. I'm curious how the birdhouse worked out this summer. My comment is a combination of congratulations and criticism and I hope you will find it helpful in planning any winter projects for next spring's birds and garden. I am active with The Purple Martin Conservation Association and am signed up as a "mentor" for folks in my area who are interested in learning more about martins and attracting them to their home. In this case- I'm sticking my neck out with some "outreach" that's unsolicited. And I must be clear- I am not a representative of the PMCA- I'm just a lover of native cavity nesting birds. If you are interested, you can find a mentor close to you at the PMCA website. The birdhouse that you and your husband made is a commendable beauty of craftsmanship but sadly it's a disaster for native bird conservation. I will include a link to some information about martin biology and at the PMCA website you can download file explaining ideal housing specs- and even buy plans to build state of the art perfect housing (which is quite an undertaking) There are really only three kind of birds who will nest in close proximity to eachother, English House Sparrows, European Starlings and Purple Martins. The first two are introduced non-native birds who compete aggressively with our native cavity nesting birds for nest sites... including wrens, blue birds and tree swallows as well as most of the woodpeckers. (starlings have been known to kill woodpecker nestlings in order to take over the wild nest site that the woodpecker excavated- so this isn't just about man-made birdhouses) The non-native birds have behaviors that our native birds did not evolve competing with. This is not a matter of "good vs. bad" it's a simple matter of biology and the problems that introducing non-natives can cause for the local ecology. It would be better to provide no nest sites at all- than to provide nest sites which are only hospitable to these invasive non-native birds as you will only be increasing the burden on the local cavity nesting birds. Every breed of bird has specific needs- and it is quite amazing how - if you provide the perfect nest site (the right size hole, the right depth cavity, the right height off the ground, perch or no perch, in the right location in your yard) AND you provide an environment free from aggressive competition with the non-natives... you can cultivate a bird family of a specific variety with almost the same assurance as planting a specific seed in the ground. You should never put up a house with the idea that "some bird" will make a nest there- every bird house you place should be so specific that you know exactly which bird you are targeting- as if you sent them a unmistakable written invitation...and when you see your efforts rewarded- it is oh so satisfying!! Bird houses should never be placed on climbable poles as they just become "egg shops" for snakes, and raccoons. (The auger could not be a more perfectly designed snake ladder.) Also bird houses should not have plantings at the base of the poles as these hide predators from view. I hope this has been helpful- best wishes- Sarah Here is a link that might be useful: About Purple Martins

Hi Alb419 will your figs wake up in 6 weeks you ask. I think as the weather warms they will wake up as this has been my experience. Actually mine dont care if there is snow on the ground just the air temps and the way you folks are getting nailed over back east its quite possible figs will have leaves slowly breking out then temps drop all of a sudden them Bam another snowfall. I think all will be fine though and just a winter for some to tell the grandkids about. By the way did you email me about a perticular plant last season , someone did and i lost all my information when computer went on the fritz. So anyone reading this or i might have to make a seperate post about it , i do recall it was from back east and if memory serves me correct it was an italian fella. Best Health Martin

Looks great! Early Summer type of weather is finally starting up here tomorrow. This is what I want my plants to have accomplished by Friday... All the bananas to put out almost an entire leaf My bougainvillea to start getting a little greener My white mandevillea to start climbing My geraniums to start flowering again (all the flowers rotted off because of the endless rain!) My mexican petunias to green up. I definitely have some high expectations, but with the 80s forecasted, I think that my plants can get it done! I'm so happy to see that their wont be a chill in the air all day anymore! Good luck! -Alex