attracting birds to your garden

Camera shy

Bottoms up

Lovely silhouette

Four-in-one fruit tree in bloom

I’ve been trying all week to get a decent photo of our four-in-one fruit tree. Earlier in the week it was grey and the photos reflected that. Now that the sun is out, I’m having trouble getting the contrast. So, here is my attempt at a photo of the tree. Please use your imagination when I say it is quite beautiful. I wish I could share it with you up close.

On the plus side, it was delightful watching the little yellow-breasted birds flitting from branch to branch. I’m not sure if they are eating part of the flower, or an insect under the bloom. The tree saw all sorts of activity this week. I’ve counted hummingbirds, bees and yellow finches among the visitors and could hear mourning doves nearby. Hurray for the sounds of early spring.

Mesh bag of laundry lint, high in a tree

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, winter is just five weeks away. Within three months of that, we’ll be enjoying spring.Time is wasting!

I save our laundry lint year round, but if you are just getting started you’ll have a few months to amass your collection. I keep a bag in a cupboard above the dryer. After each load of laundry, I sweep the lint trap and add it to the bag. It’s a great way to re-purpose what you might otherwise throw in the trash, and a fun way to attract birds to your garden.

As spring approaches, I fluff up the collection and fill the mesh bags I’ve saved from apples or onions. My boys loved this activity when they were young, but now I’m on my own!

Once you fill the bags with laundry fluff, secure them high in a tree. You can also wedge the bags near the top of the eaves. One year I tied one to an empty swing frame. You lint bag should be sheltered from the elements and away from predators. Locating them near feeders or water sources helps too. Whatever you can do to make it easy for birds to find the laundry lint, the better.

A bright red bag of laundry lint, tied with a bow, also makes a fun and funny gift topper for your nature-loving friends. They’ll think you’re crazy, then they’ll laugh and come spring they’ll be smiling and thanking you as they hang the lint in a nearby tree.

Laundry lint: it’s for the birds!