Strawberries at the Rose Garden!

Last year we planted a small strawberry plant and thought it was a failure, but   while mowing the lawn this weekend,  we discovered that the strawberries are here!  Strawberry Mania running wild!

A few more pics are located here - Strawberries

Baltimore Roses | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Came across this album and had to look and share.

Baltimore Roses | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Birds in the Rose Garden

Finally saw goldfinches land on the coil bird feed!  It took a couple of weeks and I could see them flying towards the feeder and stopping.  Was strange, since the feeder advertises that the feeder's coil makes it easier for birds to land on the feeder.  I bought this at Ollies Bargain Outlet for $5.99 they sell good stuff cheap that are mostly overstock, but sometimes the items have minor defects.  I was thinking that maybe it was here because birds don't land on it.

I observed an increase in Mocking Bird activity today and saw my first Cat Bird.  Last year they were meowing all over the place.

The Rose Garden is looking okay.  Still recovering from a bad case of black spots, but over all looking good.  I will be taking more pictures as additional roses bloom.

Birds Observed today


1  Cat Bird
3 Cardinals - I think they are watching me come home from work.
1 Brown Headed Cowbird
4 Mourning Doves

I heard the Blue Jay Screeching when I out out the food!

Ortho RosePride Disease Control Concentrate - Scotts Miracle-Gro

This is the Disease Control Product that has never failed me.

Ortho RosePride Disease Control Concentrate - Scotts Miracle-Gro

Birds, Disease Control, and Rose Collage 4/27/2012

Had a long week of rain and cold weather here in Baltimore.  Not much time spent out in the Rose Garden.  I took a day off work and help my mother move some stuff off the front porch which allowed me to spend some time out on Wednesday.  I observed many birds on a nice clear day.  I finally saw some goldfinch feeding, but they do not seem to like the Coil tube feeder yet.  The windy weather blew all of the yellow leaves off the bushes.  I had a bad case of mildew and black spots.  This year I got out early  before all the April Showers and used Bayer Advanced All in One Rose and Flower care.   Unfortunately, the roses still got Disease.  I had a panic and apply a more powerful solution.  I sprayed them with Ortho Rose Pride Disease Control this has appeared to put a stop to the disease.  In previous years when I did not spray all of the leaves would fall of the roses.  Its been about a week and the roses are looking good again.  I observed the following birds:

10+ Sparrows
1 Blue Jay
4 Cow Birds
4 Robins
4 Mourning Doves
1 Mocking Bird
4 Crows
1 Hawk Gliding way up high
3 Low Flying Geese - Never saw them fly that low around here
4 Goldfinch
1 Grackle
2 Cardinals

View From the Feeders, the yellow tube feeder with coil - No finch has landed on it!

Stokes Select® 40lb Wild Bird Food--Outdoor Living-Outdoor Decor-Birdhouses & Feeders

This is the bird seed I bought and used today.  Hope the bids eat it up.

Stokes Select® 40lb Wild Bird Food--Outdoor Living-Outdoor Decor-Birdhouses & Feeders

Rain, Wind, Roses, and Bird Feeders

Its been rainy at the Rose Garden,  not much going on.  Normally, most of my Birding involves watching the Baltimore Orioles play ball on TV after work, but they were off today, so I got some things done out in the Rose Garden.

First I went and bought some bird seed.  I saw new brand at Kmart that I wanted to try.  The Stokes look nice and seem to know what they are doing and the prices in the store weren't bad.  You can find a retailer on there site: Stokes Select.

Yesterday, my camera was destroyed by rain.  I wanted to take some pictures of roses that are beginning to bloom so I got my old camera.  The camera is an Aiptek DZO-V50 that I bought on clearance years ago.  It has worked out well for videos and most pictures,  Can't say that these Rose pictures are the best, but better than nothing.

Mostly blurred Roses - I need a new Camera!

The bird feeders are pictured below,  The 2 twin green feeders are filled with mixed wild bird seed and the yellow tube feeder is for finches filled with thistle.  I also read that the coil around the tube feeder can be pulled out by smart squirrels, so I placed that aluminium tray over it to work as a baffler. I have been using it for almost 2 years and it seems to work.  Squirrels have stayed away from the feeders, but sometimes will work there way down to the suet cakes.  You can see the aluminium tray I added in the last picture below.  The 2 big green feeders are great because they hold a lot of seed and sometimes last a month before more seed needs to be added.

My twin bird towers - I have been offered $10 bucks for 1 of them .  I think they are only $10-$15 brand new.

See the aluminium tray on the Finch feeder. I hear a smart squirrel will pull out the coil and spill all of the seed. 

The next 2 feeders below are the birds favorite.  They just allow too much of the seed to flow out at a time.  Birds go for the red feeder first and then the green feeder.  I call it the Green Lantern.

The Green Lantern

I observed the following birds today at the rose garden:

Around 10 House Sparrow
4 Robins
4 Cardinals
1 Downy Woodpecker - Male

I did video some of the woodpecker.  You get to here me act like a jerk when disturbed.  Don't worry I called her right back and made nice.

The All-America Rose Selections is a non-profit association of rose growers and introducers dedicated to the introduction and promotion of exceptional roses.

The All-America Rose Selections is a non-profit association of rose growers and introducers dedicated to the introduction and promotion of exceptional roses.

E-Membership « American Rose Society

E-Membership « American Rose Society

American Rose Society

American Rose Society

STOKES BIRDING BLOG: Fallout, Sanibel Lighthouse

STOKES BIRDING BLOG: Fallout, Sanibel Lighthouse: Every birder dreams of fallout. Today dreams came true at Sanibel Lighthouse park where neotropical migrant birds were pouring in, in his...

Cardinals Love the St. Francis Bird Feeder

The St. Francis Bird feeder statue was given to my mother as a Christmas present years ago by my sister.  My mother wanted a Virgin Mary Statue and both my mom and sister act like they don't even remember where it came from.  This bird feeder is frequently visited by cardinals and sometimes Blue Jays.  I often come home from work and throw some sunflower seeds on the top and the cardinals will show up in a few minutes.  You can see I took several pictures trying to get the cardinal to look my way.

St. Francis Bird Feeder

Finally, the Cardinal has noticed me taking pictures.

View from my Bargain Basement Gazebo

=

Rose garden from the opening of my Tent Net Gazebo

Kaytee » Kaytee Pet Products, Inc - Wild Bird, Pet Bird, Small Animal

Kaytee » Kaytee Pet Products, Inc - Wild Bird, Pet Bird, Small Animal

Kaytee Blog

Kaytee Blog

Kaytee » KAYTEE® Finch Coil Tube Feeder

Below is the tube feeder I bought to replace my socks.  If you read the review there is interesting information about how squirrels have been spilling the seed.  I better get out there and do some thing before all the seed is on the ground!

Kaytee » KAYTEE® Finch Coil Tube Feeder

Discouraging Grackles

I don't mind the Grackles, they look cool and don't seem to eat on my suet feeders, but the link below does give me some idea of how I might keep starlings away from the suet feeder.  I have also found, that the starlings don't go crazy over those big seed cakes, leaving it mostly for woodpeckers and other birds.

Discouraging Grackles

STOKES BIRDING BLOG

I was shopping in Kmart and saw stokes bird seed.  It was in the back of the store because around $15 for 40 pounds, its much better than buying the cheap brand on sale.  They have mixed premium wild bird seeds and thistle seed for finches.  The finch seed is also around $15, but you get double the amount of seed.  Few weeks ago I bought a cheap finch mix that the sparrows also loved.  The sparrows liked it so much they chewed holes in my finch sock feeder.  Was glad to find a more reasonable priced thistle seed and no more cheap finch mix for me.  Not sure the sock feeder is worth it with birds and squirrels biting holes in it.    I have replaced the sock feeder with a cool new tube feeder. I will post a picture later.  Below are links to Stokes website and blog..  The blog has lots of cool pictures.

stokes birds at home
STOKES BIRDING BLOG

Attracting Orioles

Attracting Orioles

Simply Rose Gardening

Simply Rose Gardening

Attracting Cardinals to Your Back Yard Duncraft.com Wildbird Blog for Nature Enthusiasts Duncraft's Wild Bird Blog

Attracting Cardinals to Your Back Yard Duncraft.com Wildbird Blog for Nature Enthusiasts Duncraft's Wild Bird Blog

Duncraft Wild Bird Superstore | Celebrating 60 Years Duncraft.com Wildbird Blog for Nature Enthusiasts Duncraft's Wild Bird Blog

Duncraft Wild Bird Superstore | Celebrating 60 Years Duncraft.com Wildbird Blog for Nature Enthusiasts Duncraft's Wild Bird Blog

Rose care - grow roses - David Austin Roses

Rose care - grow roses - David Austin Roses


I was looking through a free gardening  magazine and came across this website where you can buy and read about roses.

You can request a free catalog by mail - David Austin Roses

Right Rose, Right Place National Home Gardening Club

Many times I often hear about how hard it is to grow and care for rose bushes.  It is important that you choose the right roses for you.

Right Rose, Right Place National Home Gardening Club

2011 Rose Garden Pictures

2011 Roses and Birds 1

2011 Roses and Birds 2

2011 Roses and Birds 3

2011 Roses and Birds 4

Preakness Day 2011 in Baltimore - Drinking Black Eyed Susan and eating Crabs - Had a TV out in the yard  for the race.