VictoryGarden/WildlifeGarden/ WaterGarden

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It is my intention to start ‘Open House’ meetings, perhaps weekly at first (since this is an intense time to start; spring is just ahead and February is the time for planning), for folks interested in growing and harvesting vegetables and/or meat & eggs; planting and maintaining a Native Plant garden that will produce lots of food and cover for birds and other wildlife; as well as a forum for those who’d like to build, or already have, a pond or water garden whether it is in a barrel, a prefab container or dug into the ground. Or even for people who just have a lovely garden and would like to share it (perhaps we can have tours!) It is my dream that interested folks share experiences with like-minded others in their effort to create, or share their creations, in gardens that provide a family’s food on a back-yard lot or several acres. Of course this could include a flower garden with chickens and/or rabbits that provide compost; just a few vegetables in pots on a patio, or a purchased water-feature that brings beautiful ‘music’ to your world. In other words, regardless of the involvement, all interested folks could participate as they see fit, whenever they are able. Are you interested?

Victory Garden
Then:
As part of the war effort, the government rationed foods like sugar, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, coffee, meat and canned goods. Labor and transportation shortages made it hard to harvest and move fruits and vegetables to market. So, the government turned to its citizens and encouraged them to plant "Victory Gardens" They wanted individuals to provide their own fruits and vegetables. Nearly 20 million Americans answered the call. They planted gardens in backyards, empty lots and even city rooftops. Neighbors pooled their resources, planted different kinds of foods and formed cooperatives, all in the name of patriotism.
Farm families, of course, had been planting gardens and preserving produce for generations. Now, their urban cousins got into the act; all in the name of patriotism. Magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post and Life printed stories about victory gardens, and women's magazines gave instructions on how to grow and preserve garden produce. Families were encouraged to can their own vegetables to save commercial canned goods for the troops. In 1943, families bought 315,000 pressure cookers (used in the process of canning), compared to 66,000 in 1942. The government and businesses urged people to make gardening a family and community effort.

The result of victory gardening? The US Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 20 million victory gardens were planted. Fruit and vegetables harvested in these home and community plots was estimated to be 9-10 million tons, an amount equal to all commercial production of fresh vegetables. So, the program made a difference.
From: http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org

Now:
Harkening to the self-sufficiency of previous generations who planted victory gardens in their front and back yards as a means to support their nation’s war efforts - today many are undertaking the challenge of declaring independence from corporate food systems, reducing reliance on fossil fuels to bring food to the table, and cultivating a more healthy and fulfilling life. This grass roots revolution is occurring in today’s modern version of the victory garden. The “war” is a revolution – and the battleground is right here on the home front. It is all about taking back responsibility and control of our own food supply. Whether it is a modest container of tomatoes on a patio deck or a full fledged self-sufficient garden – each effort represents one step towards freeing ourselves from the forces that would keep us dependent on a system of petroleum fueled and factory farmed food. Growing more of our own food heightens the taste and nutrition of meals, and along the way we experience the empowerment and fulfillment that comes from learning the basic skills of providing for our families and ourselves.

Benefits of Garden Self Sufficiency

• Frugal - saves considerable money if done sensibly without "buying" your way out of all problems
• Healthful - a diet that is composed of higher proportions of fresh vegetables and fruits is proven to be life extending
• Better for the Planet - the average produce item travels 1,500 miles to get to my table consuming petroleum in it's travels, refrigeration, and in the pesticides and fertilizers used
• Good for the Soul - a garden is a good place to reconnect with what is important in life and to literally stay "grounded"
  
  From: http://www.modernvictorygarden.com

Wildlife Garden

Like most of you, I am more than a gardener; I am a reader, a bird-watcher, interested in ecology and what plants have grown here and what has come to depend on those plants. I am also unemployed, getting older, and worried about what is in, or on, the food I eat. I am also a bit lazy, which works out for folks who want to support birds and other wildlife, but who do not put and support out a bunch of feeders. I like a simple, native, healthy yard that will offer my backyard, and the rest of the world, a beautiful retreat/sanctuary that will still allow me plenty of reading time. Believe it or not…the more native one goes, the easier it gets, and the less water used, to boot! Such a garden is not only lovely to behold, it is a life-saving island of food and shelter to bees, butterflies, birds and more; perhaps yourself!

Pond Garden

I built a lovely pond in my Denver home; it was 10x12 feet and dug to five feet deep. I used the dirt I dug to create a ‘berm’ from which I built a waterfall that used a biological filter to clean and re-circulate the water. I kept what are called Butterfly Koi, a lovely, long-fined type of carp or goldfish that can live all year in such a pond. It was a delight!

Here, in La Veta, I am in the process of creating another such pond…but I’m having some troubles. It would be good to share information and ideas with others who have or would like to have ponds. In my current pond, I have added “Shubunkins,” another hardy and colorful goldfish; much less expensive than Koi. In that we have raccoons here, and in that I’ve seen as many as four, as big as Cocker Spaniels, in my yard at once, not to mention skunks and bears…there is no point in adding expensive fish. Besides, I wouldn’t mind at all if the Belted Kingfisher dined in my yard!

A Sharing Community for Experienced and New

Now is the time to start thinking gardens! I plan to add 3-4 more ‘raised beds’ to my arsenal, and to try chickens again (last time a loose dog got in and made a serious mess of things. And some wonder why I do NOT like loose dogs, but that is another story.) I have worked it out with friends who will help me with the physical part of preparing and building for such things, as well as another who will help with ‘what grows in La Veta’. It occurred to me, as so many folks come into my yard or ask over the fence about birds I see, that a regular ‘get-together’ might be fun. I have always had folks ask about my gardens, my pond (in Denver) and here in La Veta I am often asked by birders from all over the country for permission to come see the Rosy-Finches which are quite rare, but come here by the hundreds (I’ve had 600 at a time; wouldn’t it be fun for La Veta to be renowned as the Rosy-Finch paradise? We could do that, just like Sandia in New Mexico and Estes Park in Northern Colorado…but no where else in the world.

But, what vegetables should I start now? What grows with what? Which chickens do well here? When should I order them? I am a good researcher, but there is little better than a friend who has done it before! Would you like to get together and chat for an hour or two, once in awhile? I would… Imagine what we could learn; just from sharing.

We are in a horrible economic time; not to mention what is happening to our world with regard to wars, climate change, and the insidious changes to the food we buy. I plan to start a Victory Garden to ensure I eat healthy food and save on both ecological and financial costs; a Wildlife Garden that will both feed my birds and help the environment and that which lives in it; and to finish my pond…for the shear beauty of it. What do you want to plan? Would you like to get together with like minded people?

I am organizing such a group which will meet regularly but will not be a ‘club’; there will be no RSVPs; just come when you can and if you want to. I plan to pick ‘topics’ to start the evening…but we will undoubtedly go on to much more. I will have books to share, do you? We can meet in my home, or at Sammie’s, should the numbers be greater than six; unless you have other ideas. I will research stuff, bring print-outs, and ask for a donation to cover costs and my time; give only what you think I’m worth or for the cost of printing & hosting. If you are interested; call me, Beverly Jensen (I'm in the local phone book) and leave a message with phone number. Or, e-mail me: goldiloucks (notice the spelling) at the yahoo place, or ‘friend me’ on Facebook: Beverly Loucks Jensen.

The number of folks interested will decide when and where we meet… Add: ‘Gardening’ to your subject line, or topic so that I can tell you from SPAM! LOL

Leave religious and political notions at the door, bring questions and answers about gardening only. I would prefer we stay organic and leave talk of toxins & other poisons at the door, too.

Can There Be Too Many?

As I mentioned in the last post, my friend Polly Wren brought a new neighbor over when she came the other day. Turns out Colette is a budding birder and a very good photographer! I begged more photos...

I love this shot showing the beautiful silver undersides to their wings, as well as the mixed flock of Brown-capped and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches. Brown-capped have little to no gray on their heads, with a black forhead. Gray-crowned ...and I remember it's Grey-crowned because real crowns are usually made of something like silver or gold and not something brown (like a cap). We get both species, as well as the Black Rosy-Finches here...but didn't see them this visit. What we also get are a sub-species to the Gray-crowns called Hepburn's...which look to have a helmet rather than a crown of grey. The things I do to remember names!

I cropped this shot so that I could show the gorgeous photo Colette got of this Brown-capped Rosy-Finch. Be sure to click to embiggen!

Another fun shot of the birds close to my pond where we tossed seed under a volunteer Currant Bush. I wonder if
the less-pink birds are younger. That would be in keeping with how most young birds look; like the females, but even more drab.

Colette also took a shot right through the window, where the birds will also come to eat. It's very exciting to be nose-to-nose with these beauties. The netting is something I keep over the window; it helps keep birds from hitting the glass...most of the time. Those Evening Grosbeaks are the worst, however, and I usually have one or two that need rescuing per season.

Speaking of nose to nose, this stump, which I've photographed before, is just a few feet outside my back door. It's a blast to sit inside, with the door wide open, and watch the birds feeding practically at your feet. Thanks, Colette for a wonderful bunch of photographs!

New Year's Rosy-Finches

Yesterday I had the first visitors of the new year. What fun, and one is a new neighbor right up my street! Colette came with another friend of mine; Polly Wren. These are some of Polly Wren's photos of the day...

The Rosy-Finches love to 'stage' up on my roof. Colette noticed lots of seed up there, and suggested perhaps they take it with them when they whirl away...and sometimes eat up there. Who knows...could be; they sure do whirl around a lot...but it's always lovely seeing those silvery underwings.
This is a lovely shot of the Hepburn's Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. It is a sub-species of this finch that I call a 'helmet-head' to remember how much further down the head the Gray-crown comes. Usually it is just down as far as the eye, here you can see it's more like a helmet! The middle bird looks to be a Brown-capped Rosy Finch...

And you wonder why I call these Pink-butts! Ha...

Polly Wren calls this one 'Skippidy Do Dah'. This is a lovely shot of a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch; for the oddest reason we aren't sure we saw but one single Black this visit. And none are here today...I'm happy Dale and Beverly made it over from Alamosa before the finches left.

Two waves of Rosies

A huge flock of Rosy-Finches in my yard: just before Christmas 2011. They first came on December 1st...the earliest recorded visit (by me). They were here about 5 days and left when the weather turned warm. They returned the 19th and have just left for higher country, where they prefer to live.

This photo, taken through the netting on my window (Rosy-Finches never hit the windows, but Evening Grosbeaks seem to do it with some regularity; the netting helps them see the glass). There are two waves feeding in this shot; one closer and the other is along the trees and shrubs in the back. They often 'stage' on top of my house, just above the bay window through which I view them, or along the wires that cross my property or in the huge trees that surround it. So far, I've had at least 600 Rosy-Finches visiting at a single time. The breakdown is generally: 50% Brown-capped, 40% Gray-crowned and 10% Black.

FOS Rosy-Finches!

I am feeling so smug! Is that okay, sitting alone, with a huge grin on my face? It was enough that I told my brother, in California, yesterday it was a beautiful, warm day outside. When he asked how warm, I said about 55; checked and found it was 56. Yeah, pretty smug.

Then I walked outside and told him about the 'mashed-potato clouds' just on the other side of the mountains. I told him (not having heard the weather report in days) that with the wind howling high in the trees and those clouds, we were in for a weather change; probably snow tomorrow. My yard is protected by the river-trees and a hill; I hardly feel a breeze, but you sure could hear it roar. I woke up to snow this morning! Smug; yup.

Not only THAT...but I washed every window outside my house and deep-watered every young tree and shrub in my yard. I even coiled the hose back where it belonged. And it's snowing like a banshee today; perfect timing!!

Yes, I feel smug...it's the first day of December: it's snowing and the Rosy Finches are here right on schedule! I love da Rosies...

I get all three species of Rosy Finch: Brown-capped, Black and Gray-crowned, including the Gray-crowned Hepburn's. I'm not sure other than I've never had them visit in November, but this might be the earliest date they've arrived.

You can read more about the Rosy-finches by clicking a Label below. You can also read more about the rosies at Sandia, in New Mexico by clicking this link. Be sure to explore that site, there are lots of beautiful pictures, too.

Oddly, I was rather surprised just now, when I observed at least a dozen big, black Crows (!!!) feeding on sun-flower seeds that I'd scattered around a feeder. A murder of crows, that's called; but don't ask me why. Perhaps it has something to do with E.A. Poe. I do see lots of crows around, but never on the ground together, under a feeder.

Photos from Nick Athanas, copyrighted: see more on his site here.
Other from Wikipedia

Pussy Willows

Okay, I admit it...I nearly always walk through the Garden Section at the big Target Stores. While I avoid Walmart and Sam's Club like the plague (that they are), I rather like Target. In spite of being a 'big box' store, I like their commercials and the way (I see) that they conduct business.

So, when one of the two River Birch I bought in Pueblo West from a family owned nursery died (I noticed when planting that they were horribly root bound with thick, winding roots and little soil), I looked to see what Target had to offer. I found River Birch! I looked through the whole pallet, pulling plants from containers and choosing the most likely plant to make it in my yard. The unfortunate thing was, I apparently picked up a Pussy Willow! [sigh]

I had no intention of planting a Pussy Willow. Other than knowing they like wet roots as much as a River Birch, I knew little about them. I've never heard they have real flowers and I had no idea if anything ate the little furry buds I know are called catkins. Past that...a rambunctious shrub that suckers, but offers little in the way of food, was the last thing I was interested in...pretty pussy willow branches in early spring or no.

Then my big dog, Zeus died. He was only about ten or eleven; young for an Akbash, I think. I was crushed and he was so big; I asked a friend to help me bury him in the spot he chose to die. Jerry hit water before he was two feet deep; not a good spot. He filled the hole back in and we came up with another plan, but I remembered how high the water table was in that spot.

I checked; this willow will take some shade. The spot is shaded a bit by huge cottonwoods and other willow trees, so I knew it'd be okay there. But it can be huge; and will grow to a thicket if not severely trimmed. Imagine my surprise when I discovered this today:

The Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project of Prince Edward Island, Canada notes the importance of pussy willows for feeding wild birds and other wildlife:

Willow buds are second only to the buds of poplars as preferred food of ruffed grouse. Beaver ... muskrat, red squirrel, and snowshoe hare all include willow in their diet. The leaves are rich in Vitamin C and zinc. Pussy willows are an important nesting site for American goldfinch, while other songbirds use them to a lesser degree. The cover and protection thickets of willow provide are probably of equal importance to wildlife as its food value.

Oh good I thought, this won't be so bad after all. At least it'll feed the birds. I seldom purposely purchase any kind of plant unless it feeds birds or at least offers 4-season good looks. Not only will this feed birds, young branches will look cool in a tall, glass vase.

But then I read on: Deer also like to eat the branches of pussy willows. All this attention from wildlife has its good side, of course, especially for bird watching. But the downside is that, if you don't want your pussy willows damaged, you'll have to protect them. Ugh

Since Zeus is gone, my yard has experienced even more squirrels, skunks, raccoons and deer; not to mention bears, I'm sure they'll be back, too. The damn skunks are turning my lawn (such as it is; I don't water it) into what looks like a mini-mine field and the raccoons are pushing down feeder-poles and tearing apart bird feeders!

The deer seem to enjoy my new puppies as much as I do. What on earth is afraid of a 10" fluffy-butt; even if there are two of 'em? [sigh] Even their growls are cute: Grrrrrrr is more like a Purrrrrr...

So, today I planted the Pussy Willow. It should do fine; presuming the deer don't chew it to the ground. I also planted two Trumpet Vines that I got from Perennial Favorites last month. Funny, a neighbor was walking buy and stopped to say hello. Turns out she was friends with the folks from whom I bought this house. She loves the spot, so I invited her in to take a look around.

Ahnee (sp?) works at the Ryus Street Bakery, so while I recognized her...we'd not officially met. What a nice lady! Anyway, she also has Trumpet Vines and says the little hummingbirds practically disappear into the flowers; so deep must they dive. I've looked some time for this plant; too bad I didn't meet her earlier. I hear this is yet another rampant, rambling vine that is easy to transplant! I'll share as soon as its established.

Everything was planted out front, if you'd like to see how things turn out; the Trumpet Vines will grow out front, next to my driveway (near the Virginia Creeper and Honeysuckle), and the Pussy Willow will be on the opposite corner of the front yard. Wish me luck...

Photos of plants from Wiki
Photos of puppies are mine

Q. I have been told

"... that I should stop feeding hummingbirds in the fall so that they can begin their southern migration. Is this correct?

A. That's a myth (from Cornell's All About Birds). A number of factors trigger the urge for birds to migrate, but the most significant one is day length. As days grow shorter in late summer, hummingbirds get restless and start to head south, taking advantage of abundant natural food, and feeders where available, to fuel their flight. A few individuals, especially Rufous Hummingbirds and a few other Western species, wander east rather than south; causes for this have not been entirely teased out, but it's not feeders that cause them to wander, and if a feeding station is closed down, chances are that a vagrant hummingbird will wander toward worse rather than better conditions.

We encourage people to keep hummingbird feeders full for several weeks after the last hummer leaves just in case a straggler shows up in need of additional energy before completing the long journey south. One of our own staff discovered an adult female Rufous Hummingbird at her feeder in northern Minnesota on November 16, 2004; that bird remained for over two weeks, surviving a blizzard and temperatures that dropped to just 6 degrees Fahrenheit, before leaving at mid-morning on December 3. That day temperatures climbed to a relatively warm 25 degrees; the bird's chances of survival without the feeder she stopped at were significantly lower."

I thought I'd re-print this Cornell Q&A, as I know folks who either don't feed past September or who quit when they don't see a hummingbird for a day or two. Personally, I think that's a sad mistake. I have spent many a winter-like day, changing out cold, slushy hummingbird feeders for ones I've warmed. Just think how much energy a tiny bird needs to stay warm enough on a snowy day; or how much energy it uses to warm up cold nectar.

Sometimes I won't see a hummingbird for two or three days, then suddenly I'll find several at the feeders. Please keep feeders up till you've not seen a hummer in two weeks. That outta keep even the stragglers safe.



See, if these were my feeders, I'd be alternating; one outside, one inside warming...switch and repeat. I'd keep the snow off the feeders, too, they can hardly find the ports in this clip. Perhaps hang them under an eve or put a baffle above. It's a good idea to keep 'em close to a door, too; you don't want to freeze either. PS: it's a long clip and the end is just like the beginning.

Recipe for nectar: One cup sugar to four cups boiling water. Bring to a boil, cool, refrigerate. During exceptionally cold weather, I use one and a half cups sugar to the four cups water. Stronger than that (say 2/4) some folks say is okay, others say it can hurt their kidneys.

Photos are mine...such as they are.
Clip from Youtube
Q&A from Cornell's Question of the Week