A week ago, the temperatures were in the 60’s, and I spent some time gathering up the willow branches that had fallen into the yard over the winter. I piled them around the post of the tray feeder Dad made for me last year. Some birds prefer to peck through the twigs for their seeds, or retreat there when threatened. The neighbors are probably amused by my efforts, or think I am too lazy to carry them up to the brush pile.
We made a trip for 50 lbs. of sunflower seeds, 25 lbs. of cracked corn, and a bulk bag of white millet. I brought in some of the bird feeders and scrubbed them clean. A trip through the garden center, and I found a new hummingbird feeder, and a hanging water bath. For Dad, I found a butterfly garden that he has started in a hanging basket (he has always felt that butterflies would be attractable, as easily as birds). I also bought him a jalapeno pepper growing kit, which he can tend to on the deck.
The tulilp leaves are halfway up, the rhubarb’s poking through, the lilac bush has begun to bud. Now the temperature has dropped forty degrees, and we are back to winter. The butterfly garden will get moved around to sunny spots in the house, but who knows when we will be able to hang it outdoors?
I hung the water bath and the hummingbird feeder yesterday. The temperature was above freezing, but didn’t stay there long. The nectar and water froze by mid-afternoon, and I brought them back inside. Today I didn’t even try. The temperature might have made it to 34 degrees, but I figure the hummingbirds will delay their arrival and not miss my offering. The deck had a light covering of snow, and the birds came for their usual feed, but I didn’t want to spend any time outside with them.
This is our spring break – anticipated for nicer weather and time we could spend outdoors. I’ll wait.