Herbal Blessing: FOR THE BIRDS

Today is Make a Difference Day! It’s also that time of year to think about blessing the birds with some additional bird seed and treats, so why not create a unique wreath to do just that. Gather some friends to have a bird wreath/feeder making party or simply create several on your own to use as gifts as well as surprises for your own wildlife!

To make an attractive and functional wreath and feeder you need to start with a few basic materials, then look for other materials that birds like by observing your garden to see what the birds are going for and what needs tidied up too.

You will need the following for a hanging grapevine wreath:

splatter screen with handle removed or a circle of wire screen
grapevine wreath (sized appropriately for screen)
florist wire
3–48” pieces of rope for hanging

Attach screen to wreath with the wire at several places around the edge (closer together if you are using a regular circle of wire screen) until securely attached to the wreath. Flip the wreath over and tie rope to three sturdy vines and then together at the top to form a hanger.

Begin to attach some of the following by tucking in between the vines or wiring to the wreath to create a one-of-a-kind garden gem to attract feathered friends:

assorted seed heads: coneflower, black-eyed susan, milkweed pods, sunflowers
strings of popcorn
mostly empty orange half
berries: holly, bittersweet, beauty berry
small heads of corn
bundles of wheat, barley or millet
tiny pumpkins cut in half to expose seeds

In addition, you can make the following combination to spread on pinecones to also attach to the wreath:

Just-for-Birds
½lb lard
1c crunchy peanut butter
½c raisins
½c sunflower seeds
½c mixed bird seeds
¼c honey or molasses
about 3-4 cups cornmeal

Soften the lard and peanut butter then add all the remaining ingredients, using as much cornmeal as the mixture will absorb. Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve to the birds spread on pine cones. Can also be frozen and cut into blocks for suet feeders.

Hang the wreath/feeder from a tree limb or decorative hook in the garden, then fill the center of the feeder with a mixture of bird seed and let the fun begin!