Beautiful day in MN

Today has been a beautiful day in MN! Spring is definitely just around the corner and all the snow will soon be gone. Great time to look into what new lawn decor I want to incorporate into my garden. I'm excited to get some wind spinners to put near my mailbox maybe or right in front of my bay window.  My returning hummingbirds probably could use another hummingbird feeder too!  My baby is due at the end of the month and couldn't be more excited.  God bless everybody and have a wonderful day!

Give Your Tree a Makeover

Trees are very unique in and of themselves.  There are not two trees in the world that are the same.  Each tree has its own personality just like we humans do.  With personality comes character and what a more unique and fun way to express ourselves through lawn decor and using trees to do that?  Some great choices of lawn decor include garden planters, tree decor, wind chimes and wind spinners.  Garden planters can add color and versatility, while wind spinners, wind chimes and tree decor can provide a more pleasant and entertaining environment. 

Wind spinners are one great piece of lawn decor that can add uniqueness to your tree or outdoor space.  By hanging wind spinners in your tree or near your tree you can enjoy the wonderful twirling just the slightest breeze can produce.  There are different variations of wind spinners that include solar light wind spinners, dog breed wind spinners, themed wind spinners and many other great shapes, sizes and colors of wind spinners.  You will be sure to find a wind spinner that will match your lawn decor theme.  Another great way to decorate a tree is with wind chimes.  If you are looking to create a pleasant surrounding area in your lawn or garden, wind chimes will surely be able to do that.  Wind chimes are also a great piece of lawn decor that come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and sounds.  So find a great selection of wind chimes to choose from and select the one(s) that match your personality or vibe you are trying to create.  You can’t go wrong with wind chimes.  Make sure to place wind spinners and wind chimes on a secure branch that will not easily break.

Although wind spinners and wind chimes can not be hung easily onto the trunk of a tree there is no reason to ignore this potential part of the tree.  The trunk may also be decorated using cute tree decor that you can nail right to the tree.  These unique tree decor may come in pieces, for example, the face of a monkey on one side of the tree and the tail directly on the other side of the tree.  These are cute and fun ways to strike up a conversation or entertain kids or even neighbors passing by.  Garden planters can be used to decorate the base around the tree.  You may do this by doing some light landscaping around the tree first with some mulch or rock and then adding garden planters in different spots.  Garden planters are a great way to add color to any area.  Flowers and plants are the most popularly used in garden planters and can make a dull space come alive.  By using garden planters you can move them from one place to another.  Just like wind chimes and wind spinners, there are many different kinds, shapes, sizes and colors of garden planters so look for the right one that takes to your liking. 

Whatever pieces of lawn decor you decide to go with, your tree will definitely come alive again and not be such an eye-sore.  Wind spinners are a beautiful piece of art that anybody will enjoy and allows you to be able to dial in on the theme of your lawn decor very easily.  Wind chimes can provide a sort of peaceful environment anybody will appreciate and like wind spinners can easily be matched to your lawn decor.  Tree decor bring laughter and entertainment into the yard.  And garden planters bring color and assortment into a space.  Whether you implement wind spinners and/or wind chimes and/or garden planters and/or tree decor you will enjoy all!

A great way to get your kids involved

Looking for some fun outdoor activities to participate in with your kids?  They love new things, bright colors, adventure and most of all spending time with you while doing it.  Consider organic gardening and simple lawn decor.  I found some wonderful ideas in an article written by Stacy Pessoney, Gardening With Kids that mentions using wind spinners, hummingbird feeders and wind chimes along with some wonderful organic gardening activities for the kids to get involved in.  Wind spinners can be a fun addition to any garden for kids.  They are colorful, twirl in the wind and there are so many different kinds to get.  Hummingbird feeders are a lot of fun for kids to get involved with.  They can help you make the nectar, pour the nectar in the bird feeder, help you clean the bird feeder and the best part is to wait and watch them come in.  Kids get a kick out of hummingbirds because they are so fast in motion and can be very territorial, so to watch them chasing each other around the bird feeder is very entertaining.  Along with wind spinners, there are so many different kinds, shapes, colors and sizes of wind chimes to choose from.  Kids will love helping you choose wind chimes and placing them in different areas of your garden.  Wind chimes can provide a very musical outdoor environment for everybody.  Make sure to check out some of the other organic gardening activities Stacy Pessoney has mentioned in her article, Gardening With Kids, and get busy with your kids in the garden.  They will thank you and appreciate it!

Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden

Hummingbirds are a very unique and delightful bird to have in your garden.  They can be found all over America.  Hummingbirds are a great addition to any lawn and garden space and can be quite entertaining for most people. That’s why I would like to share with you how you can attract more of this intriguing specie of bird to your garden.

Some of the greatest features of a hummingbird are not known to many people.  They can flap their wings up to amazing speeds as fast as 80 times per second.   Because of this, hummingbirds have a very fast metabolism, in fact the fastest of all birds.  In order to sustain their high metabolism, they need to feed off hundreds of flowers a day.  This allows them to consume food and nutrients in excess of their own body weight.  The smallest bird in the world is the Bee Hummingbird at 2” long and weighing in at 1.8 grams.  The largest hummingbird in the world is the Giant Hummingbird weighing in at about 24 grams and 8” long.  Hummingbirds are able to decrease their metabolism just by sitting unlike other high metabolism animals.  This allows them to lengthen their lifespan up to 17 years of life.  Can you imagine a bird that is 17 years old?  That’s amazing! 

First of all, hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors and a variety of them.  They have a poor sense of smell, but love colors.  There are some plants you may want to consider planting in your garden that will provide just this.  For annuals, try the salvia, petunia, impatiens, firespike and jewelweed.  Some perennials to consider using are bee balm, costa, yucca, canna, lupine, cardinal flower and faxglove.  Use a variety of garden planters to incorporate all the different flowers and plants in various areas of your garden.  The trees and shrubs that work best include the azalea, buddleia, cape honeysuckle, mimosa, weigela, flame acanthus, lantana, red buckeye and tree tobacco.  Hummingbirds also eat bugs and insects so avoid using any pesticides.  It is also a good idea to incorporate places to rest for your hummingbirds as they do so 80% of their time.  Examples would be clothes lines, tree branches, bird houses, fences, garden statues, etc.  Female hummingbirds are always looking for nesting materials.  They usually like soft materials from willow or eucalyptus trees or mosses, lichens, and ferns.  In terms of hummingbird feeders and their locality in your garden there is a lot to consider.  Because hummingbirds prefer bright colors, try using an assortment of different brightly colored feeders and/or you can decorate around them using streamers or wind spinners.  You’ll want to position the bird feeders at various heights in your garden.  Hummingbirds can be very territorial, which is quite amusing to watch.  Another thing that hummingbirds enjoy is a cool mist, usually from wet tree leaves, but you can incorporate this using a mister in your garden.

What else attracts hummingbirds that is sweet and tasty?  Nectar can be store bought or home-made.  Just mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts boiled water.  Mix well and let cool before putting into bird feeder.  It is a good idea not to use synthetic sugars or food coloring.  Also, do not substitute sugar with honey as it can ferment and produce fungus that is harmful to the bird.  Keep the feeder out of the sun if possible and make sure to change the nectar about 2-3 times a week.  Clean your bird feeder once a week using 1 cup vinegar to 4 cups water, then a rinse through with just water. 

Hummingbirds are a wonderful way to decorate your garden and by following these tips you should be off to a great start providing the ideal territory for this specie of bird.  Sit back and enjoy all the entertainment these birds can provide.  They are truly a delight to have in your garden and your family and friends will think so too.    

What Birds Want In Your Lawn & Garden

Ever wonder what birds really want? Are you trying to attract certain specie of birds? Birds can in fact be picky when it comes to their bird food and will likely stay or leave because of what type is being fed to them or how the bird feeder and bird seed are handled. Here are some facts to swallow and learn from that will help you provide the right kind of food to attract the specie of birds you want.


Out of all the wild birds that live in the United States, the ten most commonly found at your bird feeders are probably: American Goldfinch; Black-capped Chickadee; Brown-headed Cowbird; Common Grackle; House Finch; House Sparrow; Mourning Dove; Northern Cardinal; Pine Siskin; and Purple Finch. You may see some others not listed here depending on the area you live in. In my experience wild birds tend to like the following types of seeds: black oil sunflower; fine and medium sunflower chips (also known as hulled sunflower); nyjer (formerly known as thistle); and white proso millet. Different seed types attract different kinds of birds. For example, white proso millet tends to attract native sparrows and mourning doves. Small finches, including gold finches, prefer nyjer or sunflower chips. Larger species, like cardinals, woodpeckers and house finches, like black oil sunflower seeds. Two seed types that tend to not be so popularly liked are red milo and cracked corn. So try to avoid seed mix with these in them.

Some other things you can do to attract more birds or keep them coming back is regular cleaning and care of your bird feeders and bird seed. Start by providing a lot of feeding space for the birds to share. Providing more space will invite the birds to enjoy their feeding much more comfortably than trying to fight for first dibs on the bird food. Clean the bird feeders and area of both seed hulls and bird droppings. This is not only unpleasant for the birds but unattractive for humans as it takes away from the beautiful site of bird feeding. Storing the bird food appropriately will also have an impact on your returning visitors. Make sure you store it according to the instructions on the package and/or recommendations. And one last important tip is to always keep fresh bird seed in the feeder. Once you start providing birds with bird food and they start depending on it for survival or energy needs, it is very important to keep up on it, especially if you want them to return. Make it part of your routine in the morning or afternoon to check on the seed for all of these things to ensure you are providing the best possible environment in the birds’ eyes. Then sit back and enjoy all the work you put into keeping them around.

Here are some interesting facts about bird feeding and how it rates in America. Among hobbies, bird feeding is second only to gardening in the United States. More than 55 million Americans over the age of 16 feed wild birds. For comparison, that's more than people that hunt and fish combined. People who feed birds spend more than $3.8 billion on seed, feeders and other accessories. Still, feeding wild birds is one of the most understudied wildlife management issues in the United States. As bird feeders supply only roughly 10-20% of a bird’s daily energy needs, studies show that birds with access to feeders lay more eggs and fledge more young. In addition, survival increases if birds have access to feeders during harsh winter weather.

I hope these tips help to increase or improve your wild bird feeding experience. If you are new to this, now is the time to join the many people who enjoy this popular hobby and create some outdoor life in your lawn and garden. Wild birds are wonderful to watch and interact with each other and their environment. They will greatly appreciate your careful attention to detail and work you put into providing them with the food that they like.

Five Easy Ways to Personalize Your Lawn & Garden Space

Are you looking for easy ways to personalize your outdoor space? Do you want your lawn or garden to reflect your sense of style? Great news, it is possible. Anybody can transform their outdoor space into a personal space that would inspire anyone who visits. Heck, maybe you can inspire your neighbors to be just as creative with their lawn and garden space. By finding the perfect décor that fits your style and wallet, you will discover simple and inexpensive ways to spruce up your outdoor living.
Wind Spinners
What is a Wind Spinner? Imagine a single slab of stainless steel cut into multiple rings inside each other. Then each one individually bent around the axis. All rings equally spaced through a 90 degree arc. Motion of the resulting structure about its axis would also create the illusion of movement of light from the center outward. Thus the stainless steel wind spinner is born. Wind Spinners can be placed anywhere in your yard, garden, deck, porch, patio, garage, work space, inside the house and even in the car. You can enjoy the same motion of wind inside your home by purchasing a motor. These beautiful decorations come in all different sizes, colors and themes. That’s why it makes it so easy to use Wind Spinners to personalize your outdoor space.
Wind Chimes
From the lovely tinkling sound of aluminum wind chimes, to the lower, mystical melodies of bamboo or wood chimes, this is a wonderful addition to your yard décor. Not only can you choose from a variety of sounds that add some of nature's music to your yard, but the style you need to match your decor will be easy to find. Choose a standard chime with pipes, an all-American theme, a décor of crosses or pipe organ sounds, a country and barn piece, or glass chimes in almost any form. Add some melody to your life!
Bird Houses & Bird Feeders
A great example of a simple form of lawn and garden décor that will draw in and give home to wildlife will always remain the bird house and/or bird feeder. While outside you can enjoy the touch of color and personality your chosen bird house or feeder brings, and more importantly, you will love seeing the birds and their families take refuge in your yard. This can be a joy for adults and an especially fun time of learning and watching for children. Add to it a traditional bird bath, or go creative with an entire bird "village" or humorous bird diner. Possibilities are endless!
Stepping Stones, Signs, & Plaques
You can accent your outdoors with a colorful sign or path of stepping stones in your yard. For the front yard, you may want to find a welcoming piece that invites visitors and gives a sense of hospitality. Just a few small signs can give your landscape an individual flair and homey feel. Go with an artistic and whimsical look, or create a theme of birds, butterflies, or country. Since cost on these items is low, you can find just one perfect item or go with several to complete the look you are creating.
Garden Planters & Flower Pots
Your garden may be full of gorgeous flowers, but why not bring a bit of the color and scent to your patio or front entrance? Outdoor pots allow you to have flowers anywhere, while adding the style of the pot itself. From oversized to small, flower pots make it possible to move your flowers to new locations simply for change or to find the best spot of sun or shade depending on the season. Flower pots also make a perfect gift that you can personalize for them!
These are just five examples of easy ways to decorate and liven up your outdoor space. Take advantage of the low-cost ideas today and spruce up your lawn & garden area to make it your own. Your family, friends and all other guests will appreciate all you put into your yard, so have fun with it!

Benefits Bird Feeders & Bird Houses Provide for Everybody

If you are looking for an easy, affordable way to decorate your lawn and garden, consider using bird feeders and bird houses. They provide a number of benefits for not only you but your avian friends as well. They are two of the most popular interactive lawn ornaments you can include in your lawn & garden. Bird feeders provide food while bird houses provide shelter for our avian friends. Enjoy the entertainment that will bloom in your yard when using bird feeders and bird houses. Also, learn how bird feeders can have a positive impact on our environment.

Providing the finest birdie homes will change the way you look at a bird house. Not only do they provide our feathered friends with a home but they also provide you with an adorable way to decorate your lawn & garden. In order to keep these wonderful species returning to your lawn & garden consider providing them with an assortment of bird houses in different sizes and colors. Different kinds of birds may prefer different kinds of bird houses. Another benefit to having different sizes and colors of bird houses is the variety it adds to your outdoors.

Bird feeders and bird baths are another great way to invite your avian friends in for dinner and a drink (or bath, if you will). There are tons of different kinds of bird feeders to choose from. You will need to buy or provide the right kind of bird food for different birds you want to attract. For example, if you want to draw in hummingbirds, they like sweet sugary water in a specially-made hummingbird feeder verses bird seed. You can make your own simple recipe of nectar from home that works just as well as any in the store. What you’ll need is: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, boil the water, add sugar and stir, let cool before adding to feeder to avoid any melting of plastic or burning hummingbirds little mouths. Hummingbirds are just one type of bird that will change your lawn & garden for the better. Just think of all the other birds you can attract by providing a variety of bird feeders and even bird baths.

And last but certainly not least, here is something to ponder. As we provide bird feeders to our avian friends, more baby birds will have a better chance of surviving. This means that more birds will be around to eat insects that we most commonly try to rid of in our outdoor space using chemical-based insect repellants. The fewer chemicals we have in our environment, the healthier it will be for all of us living on this earth. What a great impact bird feeders can have on our environment.

As mentioned above, the benefits of incorporating bird houses and bird feeders in your lawn & garden are favorable for both birds and humans. What bird does not like a place made for them to comfortably eat, drink, sleep and bath? Your outdoor space can provide just that. As for us humans we get to sit back, relax and enjoy bird watching in our own yards. The entertainment birds can provide will make a great outdoor living space for you & your guests. As for the earth we all share, our environment can benefit greatly from the use of bird feeders in our outdoor space!

New 4" Wind Spinner

NEW 4” COPPER HORSE SPINNER
We have added a NEW 4" copper Horsehead Wind Spinner to our catalog!  These adorable small wind spinners make the perfect addition to any decor in the house, yard, garden, patio or even in your car.  They also make the perfect gift because of how small they are, they can go anywhere.  Check out all of our small wind spinners today and enjoy the calming entertainment AND the compliments you'll receive from your family, friends and other guests!  http://www.outdoormama.com/small_and_medium_spinners.html

Did you know...

We can make a difference in the world we live in and improve the environment simply by using bird feeders in our own lawn & gardens!  The more food we provide for birds, the more we help baby birds survive.  In return, more birds will eat more insects, which leads to a lesser need for the use of toxic chemicals to control insects.  Using fewer chemicals makes a healthier environment for you, our children, our pets, our water supply, wild animals & birds!  So lets join lawns and provide our avian friends with food so that we can make a difference in this wonderful world we call home, one bird feeder at a time! 

Looking for suggestions

I'm looking for some suggestions.  I have a request to add more plain wood bird houses to my bird houses page .  I think that's a great idea!  Is there anything else I can add to any of my pages that you would be interested in seeing in the future? www.outdoormama.com