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We all put feeders out for the birds but how many grow natural food for them in their gardens. Now that the weather has improved I guess many of us will be thinking about doing a bit of gardening and replacing the plants lost during the freezing cold winter.
Many people plant Flowering Cherry trees, Why? they have blossom for three weeks of the year and then nothing. Why not plant a wild cherry or the cherry tree ' Stella' Stella can be bought or trained in a fan shape so it can grow along a trellis or fence, after you have enjoyed the blossom you can look forward to some cherries. That's if you get there before the birds.
All the fruit in my garden is grown exclusively for the birds. If you like blossom then the Crab Apple tree has the best blossom of all the fruit trees and the birds love the apples. Crab Apple trees are usually quite small so will fit into even a small garden, if you have more space, why not plant a Bird Cherry. Other bird food trees in my garden are Apple, Plum, Damson, Greengage, Wild Cherry, Cherry, Holly, Pyracantha, Cotoneaster, Guelder Rose, Rowan, Spindleberry, Hawthorn, Strawberry Tree, Cherry Plum, Fig, Quince, Mulberry, Medlar, Bulace and Hazelnut. I know birds don't eat Hazelnuts but Dormice do, I'm sure that's what attracted one to the garden last year. I plant soft fruit, Blackcurrant, Red Current etc in amongst the flowers. I have allowed Blackberry and Elderberry to grow wild in certain areas. Every last fruit and berry was consumed by the birds this winter. For some reason they always take the red ones first.
Just thought my list might help next time you go to the Garden Centre to choose a plant.
Cherry Tree Stella
Crab Apple Blossom
Crab Apples
Medlar
Guelder Rose
Thanks lynette! :-)
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Anytime, i'm a bit of a plant geek lol