Lincoln and the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat have received over 20 inches of snow so far in January. This moisture is good news and Nebraska is no longer in the ‘exceptional drought’ range.
Mary Jane Frogge
Snow!
Category Archives: winter
Snow Fall
Lincoln received its first major snow fall of the year yesterday, nearly 9 inches. I enjoy visiting the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat after a snow fall to see the tracks from animal activity. The deer had been through for a visit. Many bird visitors too. Found two imprints of bird wings in the snow. Hope you have a chance to get outside and enjoy your habitat in the winter. There is so much to see.
MJ Frogge
Winter
Happy Winter Solstice from the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat!
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” —Percy Bysshe Shelley
“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.” —William Blake
“Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.” —Anamika Mishra
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” —John Steinbeck
“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.” —Paul Theroux
“Every winter has its spring.” —H. Tuttle
MJ Frogge
March Weather
February Weather and Water
February has been very dry with up and down temperatures. With the warm, dry weather I have received many calls asking, “Should I be watering the lawn and landscape plants?” The answer is yes, it is a good idea to water, if the ground is not frozen.
Wildlife will also benefit from adding water to the landscape and habitat. Keep bird baths and water features filled with clean water. A heated pet dish would be helpful when the temperature dips. Place a rock in these water features to provide a shallow perch for honey bees and birds. Honey bees will visit these water features when the temperature is above 45 degrees F.
MJ Frogge
Decorate Your Trees While Feeding Birds and Wildlife
Feeding the birds has never been so fun. Decorate your trees with homemade garland and wildlife friendly ornaments.
Fruit Garland
Decorate outdoor trees with a fruit garland of cranberries, orange & apples slices. Supplies needed include cotton string and a large sewing needle. Alternate different fruits to make your own design. Remove string from the tree when fruit is gone, to prevent girdling the branches.
Pine Cone Bird Feeder
Supplies needed: pine cones, cotton string, peanut butter, bird seed and a spoon. Tie 8-inch string around pinecone and make a loop. Cover pinecone with peanut butter. Roll peanut butter pine cone in birdseed. Make several and hang on tree branches. Remove string when birdseed is gone.
Suet Cakes
You can purchase suit cakes or make your own.
Recipe for homemade suet (source Penn State Extension)
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup vegetable shortening
4 cups cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 cup sunflower seeds (optional)
Suet can be frozen in blocks and placed in suet feeders. Or use cookie cutters for making different shapes. Place large cookie cutters on a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Fill cookie cutters with suet mixture. Put in freezer. When hard, pop out of cookie cutter, place in suit cage bird feeder and hang in tree.
Enjoy, MJ Frogge
Decorate Outdoor Trees with Fruit Garland
An easy way to decorate outdoor trees that will benefit wildlife too, is to make a fruit garland.
Supplies:
cranberries
oranges cut in 1/2 inch slices
apples cut in 1/2 inch slices
cotton string, 3 feet long
large sewing needle
Directions: Put the cotton string on the large sewing needle and make a knot at the end of the string. Put the cranberries, oranges and apples on the string to make the garland. Alternate the different fruits to make your own design. Attach the garland to tree branches. Be careful not to injure the branches by tying the string too tight. Remove the string from the tree when the fruit is gone, to prevent girdling the branches later.
MJ Frogge
Feeding Birds
Last week I placed sock feeders for the American Goldfinch we have in and around the Cherry Creek Pollinator habitat. I also put up the sunflower seed bird feeder for our seed eating birds. We often see Dark-eyed Junco and Northern Cardinals in or near the habitat. It is important to keep your feeders filled through the winter because birds and wildlife will rely on them through the winter season.
MJ Frogge
Food for Wildlife
If you are done with your fall decorations like pumpkins and corn, they will make great food for wildlife in your habitat. Do not cut back native flower seed heads like purple coneflower. They are excellent winter food for birds.
MJ Frogge
Tracks in the Snow
I love to go out to the Cherry Creek Pollinator habitat after it snows. It is always interesting to see what tracks I can find. Wildlife are very active in the habitat during the winter. This week I found deer, rabbit, raccoon, opossum and varies bird tracks.
MJ Frogge
The Buzz at Cherry Creek 