February 13–16, 2009.
The Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society,
with sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event.

It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds. They will be adding updated 2009 GBBC materials as they become available.


Use this link to find more information at:
http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

Movies: Gardening Passively During Winter

This is a list of movies that I have enjoyed over the years that reference gardening is some way or another. I thought it would be fun to share these movies with you.

Balian (Orlando Bloom) Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut
He develops irrigation for crops in the desert. It is a beautiful part of the movie where he collaborates with the local peoples.

Maximus (Russell Crowe) in Gladiator
references are made to his farming at his estate; raises grains

Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Sam is shown gardening in the shire; movie is full of inspiring landscapes and otherworldly beings.

Roger the Shrubber (Michael Palin) The Holy Grail
"I arrange, design, and sell shrubberies".

Tinle (Thilen Lhondup) Himalaya
He and his community raise grains for trade

Jack Meadows (Timothy Hutton) Sunshine State
a landscape architect/does residential golf course developments. There is even a reference to Frederick Law Olstead "the father of
landscape architecture".

Wong Kei-ying (Lung Ti) The Legend of the Drunken Master
raises herbs and Bonsai; he and his two sons deliver a very special ginseng root for a client.

Professor Pomona Sprout (Miriam Margolyes) Harry Potter
raises various plants with healing properties

Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) The Constant Gardener

Bronte Parrish (Andi McDowell) Green Card
a horticulturalist who finds the perfect apartment with a greenhouse but it is for married couples only.

Chance (Peter Sellers) Being There
A simple-minded gardener with no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from television. He becomes an unlikely political insider.

Mr. Bennet (Donald Sutherland) Pride & Prejudice
He grows orchids; his daughter Elizabeth enjoys walking through beautiful, picturesque landscapes.

Elinor Dashwood (Emma Thompson) Sense & Sensibility
She is shown gardening towards the end of the movie.

My Neighbor Totoro directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Totoro, his friends and two children nurture tree seeds to grow into a massive tree.
This is an animation masterpiece.

American Robins: Overwintering in MN

American Robins are known to overwinter in Minnesota in modest numbers. I have occasionally seen a Robin or two over the years. However, this year I have seen quite a few. Last week, during the sub-zero temperatures, I saw three separate flocks (on the same day!) feeding on the berries of Hackberry trees (Celtis occidentalis). Each flock numbered about 24 to 36 birds.



My dad reported several American Robins eating the small, red fruits on his Eastern Wahoo tree (Euonymus atropurpurea) last week. He adds, "This is the third winter that the female Cardinal has eaten berries from this tree." This is exciting to know because I have not heard many reports regarding what birds feed on the fruit of Eastern Wahoo.



I am glad these birds are finding food at this time of year. If American Robins are shifting their winter ranges farther north, it is not clear. I have heard reports that birds are more sensitive to climate change. Birds are more sensitive to climate change whether the shifting is due to short term weather patterns or long terms changes. Northern Cardinals shifted north years ago and we enjoy seeing them during our winter seasons.



All sightings were in Saint Paul, MN

Northern Shrike Sighting

This Sunday, my family was visiting my parents house in Saint Paul, MN. We were enjoying some hot tea and cookies when my dad excitedly announced, "Everyone, come to the window and look at who is sitting on the bird feeder!" We all stopped visiting and looked out the window together. My dad asked if we knew what it was? We guessed wrong several times but finally named the bird....A Northern Shrike.

Photo by: Tom Munson

www.fishandgame.idaho.gov

This is exciting for us becuase their back yard is located in the city. This is a bird that is more commonly seen in rural areas. This was my second sighting of a Shrike in my life. Happy New Year to you and yours!!!!

Book: Bringing Nature Home

Bringing Nature Home

How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens

by Douglas W. Tallamy

Tallamy's research as an entomologist make a poignant, positive and pro-active argument for using native plants in our gardens. Many advocates of native plants for gardening and restoration have suspected for many years that non-native, alien ornamental plants do not provide much environmental benefit. Now we have the proof. This books is based on scientific evidence that native plants and native plant communities are essential to support insect populations and the bird populations that feed on them.

He suggest that gardeners can "make a difference" in their suburban or urban communities by creating habitat on their properties using native plants.

This book includes very informative pictures and native plant lists that relate to insects. Many of the native plants listed in this book are native to the Midwest.

Book: Birdscaping in the Midwest

Birdscaping in the Midwest

A Guide to Gardening with Native Plants to Attract Birds

by Mariette Nowak

This is one of the most important books on landscaping to become available in years! While most gardening books are coffee table books that recycle the same garden images, the book provides us fresh information about landscaping for birds.

Birdscaping in the Midwest illustrates, in detail, the fundamental relationships between native plants and birds. Mariette Nowak shows gardeners and landowners will find how they can deepen their relationship to the natural environment.

Highlight found in this book: bird-focused landscaping, native plant lists, garden designs, many informative pictures, sustainable practices in the landscape.

Legumes: The Beauty of Nitrogen Fixation

LEGUMES
Native to Minnesota



These plants are beneficial to native plant gardens because they help enhance the nitrogen fixation in soils by soil rhizobium (beneficial bacteria). If we integrate these types of native plants with other native plants in residential "prairie gardens" or "savanna gardens" in increases the overall health and longevity of our gardens. These plants look great when planted in groups or clusters.



Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) Native to WI

Wild senna (Cassia hebecarpa) Native to WI

Hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)

Round headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata)

False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) Shrub

Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) Small Shrub

Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpureum)

Silky prairie clover (Dalea villosum)

Wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)

Canada milkvetch (Astralagus canadensis)

Showy tick trefoil (Desmodium canadense)

Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis)

Prairie indigo (Baptisia bracteata)

Dwarf False Indigo (Amorpha nana)

Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)