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Hi Everyone,
I can see from all those fabulous photos of waxwings that there are still loads of berried trees/shrubs around.
My rowan, cotoneaster and yew berries were demolished a few weeks ago by migrant members of the thrush family.
Any plant suggestions for increasing the time period for available berries would be appreciated.
Regards,
CM
"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom" - Wlliam Blake
Hello CM
Try a mix of holly, hawthorn, pyracantha and ivy. Adding these to your already good selection will increase the availability of berries throughout the winter.
There are many other shrubs and trees that also provide fruit and berries so if anyone else can suggest things that work well for them please suggest them, pictures might be useful as well!
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Thanks IanH,
I intended to plant a hedge this autumn but now will have to leave that until around March/April, given the weather, and will include hawthorn and holly.
I do have ivy, a variegated variety, but it never produces any flowers - wondering if this is a feature of this species?
ClaireM said: Hi Everyone, I can see from all those fabulous photos of waxwings that there are still loads of berried trees/shrubs around. My rowan, cotoneaster and yew berries were demolished a few weeks ago by migrant members of the thrush family. Any plant suggestions for increasing the time period for available berries would be appreciated. Regards, CM
waxwings on their rd, what a sight, but when i looked on top of the snow, and watched the birds, they
were acting l;ike bullfinches and eating the buds off the trees, the bud cases were all over the snow.
best regards mac
That's interesting,Mac. Lovely photos - lucky you.
ClaireM said: I do have ivy, a variegated variety, but it never produces any flowers - wondering if this is a feature of this species?
The native hedera helix will produce a good crop of flowers and berries, the variegated variety and other cultivars are generally not as good.
I have also been wondering how the berries will last. There are many apples still on the ground (still being eaten by Fieldfares and Redwings) but they have also eaten all the Haws and Holly berries except those closest to the house.
There are plenty of Haws still lining the local A roads and so it looks as if they are not so hungry to risk feeding where they don't feel safe.
My Guelder rose berries haven't been eaten so far (Usually Bullfinches have eaten them by now). A Song thrush was eating Rose hips yesterday.
Hi Ratty, I have noticed today greenfinches feeding on some shrivelled hips from my rosa rugosa - C
ClaireM said: Hi Ratty, I have noticed today greenfinches feeding on some shrivelled hips from my rosa rugosa - C
it just shows the weather is making the poor things get food where they can, survival. best regards mac
How about Crab Apple Trees. All the berries have gone from the garden but two of the Crab Apple trees still have fruit. I cannot recomend these highly enough. Lovely blossom in the spring to attract the Bullfinch and fruits that last well into winter. The smaller birds eat the fruit whilst still on the tree, the bigger birds take the apples away to eat and the Blackbirds and Thrushes eat the fruit that falls to the ground.
I took these photos yesterday.
Cottagegardener said: How about Crab Apple Trees. All the berries have gone from the garden but two of the Crab Apple trees still have fruit. I cannot recomend these highly enough. Lovely blossom in the spring to attract the Bullfinch and fruits that last well into winter. The smaller birds eat the fruit whilst still on the tree, the bigger birds take the apples away to eat and the Blackbirds and Thrushes eat the fruit that falls to the ground. I took these photos yesterday.