I found the answer in the Duncraft® Cling-A-Wing Songbird Feeder. I found that only certain birds have the ability to cling and that there is a bird feeder that the larger, more aggressive birds cannot adapt to. This spherical bird feeder is designed JUST for the small clinging songbirds. The larger songbirds are not able to cling; therefore, they cannot partake of the goodies inside. It holds that yummy Black Oil Sunflower Seed that is the favorite of so many birds and critical for their winter good health.  The globe design also keeps the sunflower seed dry, so I don’t worry about snowy, sleety or rainy weather.

With four feeding ports, there is plenty of space, so I’ve added to my backyard feeding stations by including one of these for each of the regular feeders that the larger birds use. I’ve actually separated the large bird feeding stations from the smaller ones, with plenty of space in between so that the little ones aren’t intimidated by the flight of the large ones through their feeding area. Even though fall is just beginning its fade and winter is a month away, at least, the colder temperatures in the north seem to have hurried the migration, so I am already seeing many of my favorite visitors back at their feeders in my central Oklahoma home.

Houseplants and landscape plants that are accustomed to TLC when you’re home can now be left unattended in your absence.  There is a product called Vacation All-Natural Anti-drought Treatment that takes all the worry out of watering while you’re away—whether it’s a once-a-year vacation or regular business trips. Vacation gives plant lovers peace of mind.

Vacation All-Natural Anti-drought Treatment works this way:  it sends your plants into a state of temporary hibernation.  Your plants will be able to go up to two weeks without watering, because they’re dormant until they receive water again.  Once you water them or they receive rain or irrigation, the effects of Vacation wear off and your plants return to their normal behavior.

You simply mix Vacation with water and apply the solution to the soil of your indoor and outdoor plants.  Then, they can go up to two weeks without another drop of water.   For all your plants, once you return home and give them a good drink, they “wake up” and slowly return to their normal moisture requirements.

Vacation is all-natural, biodegradable, and safe for use around children and pets.  The dormancy effects gradually wear off as plants once again receive watering.  Nothing could be easier to use, and it’s way more cost-effective than hiring someone to water your plants as you travel.  If you’re like many people, it’s a comfort to know no one is in your home while you’re away.   And it most certainly beats having to move your plants to someone else’s home to be cared for.

Indoor plants have varying water needs, depending on the season, the amount of sunlight, and the moisture level in the air.  With Vacation Anti-drought Treatment, those fluctuations don’t matter.  You’ll find your plants exactly the same way you left them when you return.  If plants are in bloom, the flowers should be intact for that two-week period, as well.

Vacation is available in 8-ounce bottles and a little goes a long way, since it’s mixed with water before application.  It’s safe to use outdoors around wildlife.  Vacation Anti-drought Treatment can even be used on lawns.  Basically any plant that requires regular watering can benefit from this amazing and practical product.  Should it rain while you’re gone, the effects of Vacation wear off and your lawn returns to normal moisture needs.  Consider Vacation for your cut Christmas trees, too.  It eliminates the need for adding water to the reservoir daily for up to three weeks!  Vacation Anti-Drought Treatment is one product that no plant lover should be without.

Seeds require specific conditions for optimal growth, and those conditions can be hard to meet when germinating seeds in egg cartons on your windowsill. Temperatures fluctuate, cloudy days occur, humidity is not constant, especially when the weather is still cold outside, and it is so easy to over water or under water. Basically, if you just miss one day of careful attention to those babies…well, you know….you’ve been there.

Jiffy-7® products have taken much of the guess work out of seed germination. The Jiffy-7 products optimize growing conditions, resulting in a much higher, sometimes as high as 100%, germination rate. The heat mats or heated germination units provide a constant, thermostatically controlled temperature, so important to starting seeds on their growth cycle. The domed greenhouse-like lids insure that the humidity remains high and stable, something which is almost impossible to achieve without a greenhouse. Jiffy has thought of everything. Even the Jiffy-7 peat pellets, specifically designed to fit their trays, have been enhanced with the necessary minerals and vitamins necessary for seed germination. Jiffy-7 trays are re-usable and recyclable. They come with complete instructions so even the novice can succeed at this delicate task.

Make your life easier! We all get great pleasure from watching those seeds sprout and grow into healthy plants to be transplanted to our springtime gardens. Quit wasting money on seeds that never sprout and on growing medium that goes to waste. Jiffy-7 makes it easy to maintain the proper growing conditions!  Insure your success by investing in these Jiffy-7 products; you will find them invaluable in terms of your success and the productivity and beauty of your gardens.

Deer Barrier and X-treme Deer Barrier by Easy Gardener offer the most efficient, economical, and effective means of protecting your garden produce, shrubbery and treasured landscape plants from being dinner for four-legged wildlife.  This black mesh barrier is quick and easy to install, and it gets the job done without obscuring the beauty of your natural environment.

Made of UV-protected poly mesh material, Deer Barrier is designed to last.  It won’t rust, rot or corrode, and it doesn’t conduct electricity.  It also withstands climate changes and won’t fade due to sun exposure. It also has openings too small for feet to get caught in, so no humans or invading wildlife can be trapped by it.

Deer Barrier is lightweight and has no rough edges, making it a cinch to install.  It attaches easily to fences, posts and trees to provide a physical barrier that is sheer enough to barely be visible.  It is available in three package sizes:  7’ x 100’, 7’ x 350’, and X-treme Barrier, which adds a foot of height for blocking larger animals, at 8’ x 100’.

By securing Deer Barrier or X-treme Deer Barrier to the ground, and around the perimeter of your garden, you can also keep vermin, dogs, rabbits and raccoons away from your maturing produce.  This mesh is strong and resilient and animals steer clear of areas protected by its physical limiting abilities.

If you’re looking for a one-man, fast and low-tech installation, this mesh fence is your answer.  Deer Barrier and Deer Barrier X-treme are the most transportable and maneuverable material available.  Depending on the durability you seek, you can even use a basic wood stapler and have a complete barrier constructed in minutes.  For a more stable, permanent fence, consider strapping cords to secure each few yards to upright posts.

A great way to contain pets, Deer Barrier can also be used for temporary housing to keep animals “in”.  It sets up quickly when a pen is needed.  Since it is easy to roll and unroll, it can be used over and over.  And because it contains no metal or sharp edges, it’s safe to use around the animals you want to protect, as well as the ones you wish to repel.  You can feel like a good environmental steward by using poly mesh instead of metal or treated wood materials that break down and harm the soil.

One of the biggest benefits of Deer Barrier is its low cost.  It can be attached to existing upright posts or trees, or a few inserted new posts, in minutes.  Very little investment is required for the average property owner, and certainly the cost of your plants and yard are well worth the protection!

Popcorn is a whole grain, meaning the bran and germ are intact, so you get the benefit of natural fiber.  Those who are conscious of their calorie and carb intakes will appreciate that popcorn is a healthy, filling, satisfying and high fiber snack. And instead of tasting like a cardboard health food, it tastes like a fantastic treat.  Served plain, drizzled with butter and salt, or lightly coated with any combination of healthier seasonings like black pepper and cheddar powder or dried dill and lime juice, you just can’t beat the satisfaction of biting into a handful of fresh-popped kernels.

If you’re already convinced that popcorn is the best nutritional and economical snack food around, you’re really in for a treat if you’re not yet familiar with Amish Country Popcorn.  It is the gourmet popcorn for those with a discerning palate, yet it isn’t priced like a gourmet food.  For the same cost as a bag of kettle-cooked potato chips, you can have a 2-pound bag of Amish Gourmet Popcorn on your shelf, awaiting your hunger pangs.  The difference is, this snack is guilt-free!

Amish Gourmet Popcorn is special because the tender hulls won’t get caught in your teeth.  They’re full, fluffy, light and delicate and allow all the flavor of the puffy white corn to come through.  Most people refer to this popcorn as hulless, but there really is no such thing.  It’s just that this popcorn’s hull is thinner, and the crop is bred and harvested to be light and tender—very different from store-bought brands.

Amish Gourmet Popcorn is all natural, and truly is grown by Amish old-world standards.  It comes in a range of popcorn sizes, including baby, medium and large kernels in colors white, yellow, blue, red, purple, black and rainbow.  There is a type to please every popcorn lover.  And, to keep it interesting, it’s nice to have a few varieties ready to choose from on your shelves. Like fine wines, there are subtle flavor and texture differences among the colors and types of popcorn.

Once you’ve experienced the difference in the fluffy and tender hulls of Amish Gourmet Popcorn, you’ll be addicted.  You’ll never want to be caught without a few bags on your pantry shelves.  It also makes a great gift.  Just be warned:  after you’ve tasted this gourmet popcorn, you’ll never want to buy any other.  It just is that unique!  The best part is that it’s priced like most other high-quality popcorn on the supermarket shelves.

Amish Gourmet Popcorn can be prepared by the same methods as all other popcorn, but if you want the most health benefits, the hot-air popper is your best bet.  It’s the lowest fat, highest yield method.  And, the kernels will retain the maximum amount of puffiness and flavor.

Available in 1-pound, 2-pound, 6-pound and 50-pound sizes, there is an Amish Gourmet Popcorn ready to purchase for every need.  There are even two varieties in convenient microwave-ready packages.

Ahhh…can’t you just smell that fresh-popped aroma?  If you’re hungry for popcorn, nothing else will satisfy like Amish Gourmet.  Try some today, or if you’re already a fan and believe that this is the best popcorn on the planet, try some of the varieties you’ve never tasted before—there are more than a dozen.  They’re all equally delicious!

Preserving your own food is more economical than buying comparably high quality fruits and vegetables in the supermarket.  And, there is nothing that brightens a winter season like enjoying the preserved produce grown from one’s own garden.  In addition to cost savings and more flavorful meals, preserving foods also allows your family to reap the benefits of all the nutrients the foods contain when picked at their peak freshness.

The Ball Corp., notorious for canning and preserving supplies, has produced the Blue Book Guide to Preserving for all aficionados of good food. This soft-cover book offers time-tested recipes—including for a wide variety of produce items, special diets, and gourmet palates—and several methods of preserving those foods.

This comprehensive guide has step-by-step instructions, photographs, and suggestions for how to keep your meals colorful, nutritious and delicious.  Preserved food items also make great gifts from your kitchen, and from the heart. Ball’s Blue Book Guide to Preserving offers bountiful recipes and food preservation options and ideas in its 120 fully illustrated pages.

After fall’s harvest, or a great deal on produce at your local farmers’ market, count on Ball’s Blue Book Guide to help you stretch those fresh food flavors well into the next growing season.  You might even be inspired to try planting new produce items each spring, because nothing tastes better than homemade.

The Blue Book Guide to Preserving should be part of every cookbook library. It makes a wonderful and inexpensive gift for birthdays, weddings, or housewarmings, for anyone new to cooking, canning, or gardening.

Some people can’t bite into a freshly cooked ear because of dentures or braces; and young children’s lack of front teeth makes it impossible to bite off the kernels.  Some people simply don’t like handling the cob, so moms everywhere have become accustomed to cutting the corn off the cob for some of their family members.

Many chefs have cut corn off of the cob to preserve it, either by canning, pickling, freezing, or cooking into recipes, so they can enjoy the delectable flavor year-round.  However, cutting all of the corn off a cob with a knife can be a tedious, difficult and messy task—especially if you’re cutting several ears of corn.  Now you can make easy work of getting all the good kernels off in a few sweeps of the hand.

Commercial cut corn is tasty, but it’s usually not the sweetest varieties like those so readily available today.  Store-bought canned corn is mushy and flavorless, and frozen corn is expensive and doesn’t always last long in the freezer.  So, particular cooks know it’s worth preserving your own corn, and now it can be done easily, inexpensively, and with a gadget designed for simplicity.

The American Corn Cutter™ is an indispensable tool for anyone who cuts corn off of the cob, whether for occasional meals or for large-volume canning.  This durable plastic implement is made to last for years of use.  The blades are rust-proof stainless steel, and the entire cutter is dishwasher safe, for the easiest clean-up.  The American Corn Cutter’s blades are adjustable, so you can determine just how close you wish to get to the cob, and whether you only want to cut kernels or you wish to shred them (like for use in soups or creamed corn) before they’re removed. Replacement blades are available.

The back of the cutter is notched so it sits firmly on the lip of a bowl as you work, to catch all of the kernels as they fall through the opening.  The American Corn Cutter is comfortable to hold as you slide the ear for each pass across the blade, and then rotate the ear slightly to cut each next section.  In seconds, you’ve stripped an entire cob and have a bowl full of crisp, fresh-cut corn to prepare any way you like. The American Corn Cutter simplifies this task and is one of the most affordable tools of its kind on the market.

Made in America, you can depend on the American Corn Cutter to be designed for easy use and long-lasting durability. Whether you grow your own corn or you have access to a wonderful farmers’ market or produce stand, there is nothing more rewarding than preserving enough ears to last your family through the cold winter months.  The American Corn Cutter is small and compact, to take up very little room in your kitchen tool drawer.

Lawn grubs are of several sorts. All do damage. You will need to find out which particular kind you have, and how badly you are infested. On way to check is to use a spade to make a sort of flap of turf that you can lift up, several inches thick if you can manage it. Look under there, especially around the edges of the brown patches. You ought be able to find some of the critters. You can then compare to pics online, or get a sample down to your local ag agent or other expert. You will need to be accurate in your identification, because they have different life cycles and are controlled in different ways.

There are several pesticides used for the control of lawn grubs. Once you have identified the creature, you can get the right kind, and apply at the correct time. You’ll need to do a little research, and read the labels. One called Merit is often quite effective, and can be found in well-known brands. Be sure you don’t just get something that says “controls lawn pests” and dump that on. Agents that will control bugs at the surface might not do a thing to the grubs, happily feeding several inches below ground. The reliable product you choose will have directions, which will most likely include watering in well, to get the stuff down to the grubs.

There are also several non-toxic ways to approach the problem. For Japanese Beetle grubs, you can get Milky Spore and apply that according to directions. That won’t hurt you but will hurt the grubs. There are also beneficial nematodes that will help control the critters. Whether you choose a reliable pesticide or one of the natural cures, you will need to do your research, identify the creatures, and get the timing right. You have to get at them while they are vulnerable, if you want to kill lawn grubs.

Now, there is one more way. I saved it for last because it is the most fun. You know those spike sandals that are sold to put on over your shoes and walk around over your lawn to aerate it? Research has shown that repeated passes over lawn turf with those spikes can be as effective as pesticide control for lawn grubs. You will need to go over the lawn several times, in order to get at least a couple of pokes per square inch. You could get healthful exercise, while providing an entertaining spectacle for the neighbors. You could buy several sets and get the neighbors involved, perhaps using a pitcher of lemonade or a well-stocked cooler of the refreshment of your choice as inducement. Or your could hold the sandals in one hand, and that teen-agers car keys in the other, rattle the keys, and see how fast they can do five times over the whole lawn. I’m just trying to help here. Sometimes you have to think outside the box, especially when trying to control those pesky lawn grubs.

Landscaping creates curb appeal—and a welcoming environment. It all starts with some basic design and planning. For a look that’s in harmony with the larger environment, remember that there are rarely straight lines or symmetry in nature.  Whether you’re in a brand new home or are updating an older landscape layout, consider the entire property, like how much area you wish to commit to grass, how much of the ground is flat or sloped, and which landscape components (tall trees, dwarf shrubs, flowers, ornamental grasses, water features) will fit the spaces well.

Once you’ve established where you’ll create beds, gardens and walkway edging, you’ll want to choose plants that will thrive in those locations and be compatible with each other, both in growth habit and overall appearance. 

After selecting the plants, you’ll need to establish your landscape beds with the proper soil, and then top it off with mulch that will add eye appeal, maintain soil moisture and control weeds.

E-Z Connect® Professional Landscape Edging adds the perfect finishing touch to landscape areas. It keeps the mulch in place, it provides a physical divider to mow against, and it adds clean, neat visual appeal to offset the garden, bed or walkway.

Where E-Z Connect shines is its easy installation.  It’s made of recycled PVC plastic, so it is a good option for the environmentally conscious. It has the look of sleek professional metal edging but is infinitely easier to use.  It can be installed in areas with straight or curved lines. And, it’s weather resistant.

Strips are four inches in height, and E-Z Connect is available in black, brown or green. Packages contain four 4-foot strips, or a total of 16-feet in a kit containing everything you need for quick installation.  You dig a 3- to 4-inch trench, slide the anchoring adaptor into the strips, connect the strips together and then lay them into the trenches. The enclosed spiral spikes are hammered into the ground to hold the strips in place.

In addition to being attractive and quick-installing, E-Z Connect Professional Landscape Edging is lightweight, so it’s easy to handle and move around as you work. It is suitable for nearly all landscape environments, and can even be used to separate designs within beds, such as decorative areas of colored rock within larger spaces of wood mulch.

Professional landscapers and do-it-yourself homeowners alike will find E-Z Connect Professional Landscape Edging to be the easiest way to achieve a pristine result with the most efficient and affordable product available.

Placing an inspirational garden plaque among your living plants adds beauty to your garden and anchors your landscape design with a focal point that’s warm and inviting.  It is a lasting memorial to cherished relationships, honoring those living or deceased, each time you enter that quiet space. 

Garden Harvest Supply has a wide variety of plaques that relate spiritual, inspirational, or motivational sentiments.  Whether you are recognizing the bravery of a public servant, seeking solace, grieving a recent loss, or giving a gift that says you share in someone else’s joy or sorrow, a garden plaque is a gentle reminder of all the richness in life.

All of the garden plaques carried by Garden Harvest Supply are made of durable and weatherproof cast concrete materials, and most come with stands.  They are designed to look rough hewn and to blend into any natural space such as landscape borders, at the base of an ornamental tree, or along walkways, flower beds and vegetable gardens.  They are a great way to express yourself and they make an excellent lasting gift that says you care.