General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMother Nature provided a gift for our birds
It is no secret we feed the birds in our back yard. That and the DU are our big hobbies. Just on unsalted peanuts in the shell, we go through 4-6 pounds a week. The blue jays & woodpeckers show their appreciation for them.
The fire wood pile is a somewhat ignored part of the yard behind the shed. I knew we had new volunteer fruit bearing plants growing up. I went back to identify them tonight. We have a crop of elderberry : http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_sanic4.pdf
Those in the wood pile area will have to come down. Those on the other side of the fence (still on our property) will be allowed to grow. They are small trees that really grow when left alone.
I have no idea how we got a small wild crop to grow here. The turkeys are already nibbling at them. They are nutritious and medicinal. Look at the drug store next time your there.
Thanks Mother Nature. It also makes a good wine.
OS
Skittles
(152,967 posts)I too leave out unsalted roasted peanuts and am curious about the behavior of blue jays - when they pick up a nut and drop it and try a few others before flying off with one, are they grabbing the heaviest one? Also, they seem to scream loudly upon initially discovering a nut stash - are they alerting all their buddies?
Omaha Steve
(99,077 posts)No idea why they pick over the peanuts the way they do.
We had a male that imitated a hawk sound for a couple weeks. Science believes it for a couple reasons. To warn of a hawk in the area. And to keep others away from it's food source. He stopped doing it about a week ago.
They know when we come out the door in the morning to feed them. They are helped by the racket the dogs make running out the door first thing. The blue jay racket starts right up. The turkeys nested in trees just down the hill in line of sight, so they come running up when we go out the door too. So does a lone female deer.
These small trees will replace some of the privacy trees (between the homes on the side of us) we lost to drought. The birds loved sitting in them during the day even though the forest is on the other side of the back fence: http://www.fontenelleforest.org/
OS
Skittles
(152,967 posts)I also have a squirrel I have I call Chubby who will chatter loudly
hey, the other morning a mockingbird PERFECTLY imitated a coworker's CHIRP CHIRP sound when unlocking his truck doors
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)We have apricots only now, and only if we don't get a hard freeze after they bud.
Lucky you! Enjoy!
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Hey, Elton John had a song about that wine!
Too lazy to find a link, but it's easy to find. I think it was on the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album.
herding cats
(19,549 posts)There's a good chance a bird "planted" the seed there which later grew up to become the fruit bearing plant. I love nature.
Omaha Steve
(99,077 posts)It was in a rock retaining wall. Same bird planted way.
This just seemed too wide an area to all show up at once this year. But with the rain we've had this year, everything is growing. Like the story in "The Illustrated Man" on the planet where it never stops raining. Or the story "All Summer in a Day"
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Add cloves or lemon zest
Or yes make wine!
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)First onset of a flu or cold, chug a whole bunch of the syrup and it does not take hold. You can also make gummies out of it for kids. The taste is amazing. I always take some before going on a plane because that is a hotbed of nasties. We rarely get sick in this house but I still have some on hand just in case. I have not had the wine but would just love it.
Sweet Freedom
(3,995 posts)shenmue
(38,503 posts)I can't think of a better way to pass the time!