B-town Dirt Blog

2/18/2015 0 Comments

Tracking Hummingbirds and Orioles

As you look outside and view a foot or more of snow on the ground, it seems impossible that spring will actually arrive next month. However, the promise of spring is right around the corner, and it is not too early to start thinking of attracting hummingbirds and orioles to your backyard.

Starting in March, the ruby-throated hummingbirds begin to make their way north again from Mexico and Central America. You can follow their migration progress with weekly updates posted on Journey North at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/ or on their Facebook page. This site also tracks the migration of other bird and animal species, including orioles, common loons, gray whales and monarch butterflies. They also monitor and provide seasonal data on tulips and “ice out” on northern lakes.

photo by Belinda Abendschein

So even if the landscape is still looking bleak in your neck of the woods, you can log on to Journey North and see what is happening in other parts of the country. Timing is one of the most important aspects to successfully attracting hummingbirds and orioles each spring. Following their progression will help you be better prepared with the appropriate food and feeders when they start “winging” their way to your neighborhood.

For additional information on attracting hummingbirds and orioles, join me as I host a seminar on Saturday, February 21st at 10:00am at Burlington Garden Center. RSVP at 262.763.2153 or send an email to: [email protected].

- Belinda Abendschein

(You can follow Belinda on her personal birding blog here.)

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2/12/2015 13 Comments

Garden Tour: A Collector's Garden

It started with an invitation to see her dahlias. What I discovered was a beautiful garden that reflected the soul of its owner.

Come with me as we tour the autumn garden of Sandra Hopkinson located on the wooded outskirts of Burlington, WI.

The dahlias were still gorgeous when I was there in mid October

Zantedeschia aethiopica 'White Giant' (Calla lilies) looking lovely even after the white flowers have faded.

Rusty grates make charming stepping stones.

Dactylicapnos scandensicentra (Golden Tears Bleeding Heart Vine) is not hardy in Wisconsin. Sandra buries the pot and overwinters it in her greenhouse.

Persicaria amplexicallis 'Firetail'

Heptacodium miconioides (Seven Son's Tree) blooms in the fall.

This standing buddha marks the entrance to Sandra's fernery. She has collected 40-50 varieties of ferns and says there's always room for more.

Duranta erecta 'Sapphire Showers' is a broadleaf evergreen in zones 8-11 where it can grow 10-15' tall.

Acanthus mollis 'Tasmanian Angel'

Sandra is a huge Beverly Sills fan. This statue takes center stage when the surrounding 'Beverly Sills' iris are in bloom. Her husband even fashioned musical notes into the gate in the background.