Entomologists believe successful agriculture would be impossible without birds. They occupy a unique position among insect and weed destroyers. Their remarkable powers of flight enable them to gather immediately at the sites of insect infestation or at areas where the ripened seed is abundant. Their high metabolism rate, higher than human temperature, faster respiration, and … Read more
Recently while shopping at a garden center, I overheard a salesman suggest to his customer that she add a birdhouse to her purchases, which included insecticides, sprays, and dust. “I’m interested in flowers, not birds,” she snapped back. She didn’t realize that if just one family of birds came to live in her garden, she … Read more
Some people build all sorts of contrivances to lure hummingbirds into their garden. It was not our intention to invite them in when we planted flax and firecracker fuchsias in our Millbrae, California, garden. Plants: Magnets to the Hummingbirds But these plants are magnets to all the hummingbirds in the neighborhood. We have a whole … Read more