 | Tuesday, August 1, 2000
Birds May Rely on You for Food This Winter, Say Audubon Experts
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| November 1, 2000Spring into Fall!
With the Sunset Best of the West Collection by Monrovia
Great Fall and Winter Planting Ideas! August 1, 2000Birds May Rely on You for Food This Winter, Say Audubon Experts | |
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| NAPS – Savvy gardeners and birdwatchers have discovered that they can attract beautiful birds to their yard by selecting plants that provide food and shelter. All spring and summer, when gardens are in full bloom, birds typically have an ample supply of food. But as plants complete their flowering and fruiting cycles, it gets more difficult for birds to find food.
So this fall, the National Audubon Society reminds gardeners to think about our winged friends by planting varieties that produce fruits, berries, nectar, seeds and nuts during the fall and winter seasons
The National Audubon Society and Monrovia, a leading grower of plants, are making it easy for people to create a backyard environment that is friendly to a variety of birds and butterflies with the Audubon Habitat Collection of plants. Just look for plants in Monrovia’s green-banded containers with a special Audubon label in select fine garden centers nationwide.
Here are some fall planting tips for a winter bird garden:
· Fall is a great time to add bird-friendly plants. The heat of the summer is past, and plants have time to root before frost comes.
· Select plants that provide nuts, seeds or berries in the coldest winter months like holly, junipers, oaks and other nut trees.
· Other plants that provide late fall and winter food include: Crowberry, Staghorn Sumac, Pitch Pine, Inkberry, Smooth Winterberry, Toringo Crabapple, Saw Palmetto, Virginia Creeper, Walter’s Viburnum and Myrtle Dahoon.
· Water is essential for birds, so provide a birdbath or dripping water source. If freezing is a problem, don’t put additives in the water to lower the freezing point. Instead, consider a water heater designed for outdoor birdbaths.
· In the coldest climates, you may want to provide supplement food, such as seeds or a suet ball.
“The National Audubon Society and Monrovia hope to educate people about the important role plants play in a healthy environment, and how those plants complement each other in the survival and health of birds, insects, and other wildlife,” said Jesse Grantham, Audubon spokesperson. To find the nearest garden center offering the Audubon Habitat Collection, call toll-free 1-888-Plant It!
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News Release for NAPS distribution in September, 2000. Color slide enclosed. Contact: Judy Lynes, The Phelps Group for Monrovia. 310/752-4400 ext 124
Please return photo to Hugh Smith Photography. FedEx form enclosed.
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