Crabapples

We now have several types of Crabapples available.  All are seed grown so they have a bit of variation from tree to tree. Great for Wildlife.

Crabapples provide food for over 25 species of songbirds, including cedar waxwing, woodpeckers, orioles and mockingbirds. They provide cover and nesting sties for others such as robins, blue jays and catbirds. Crabapples, a favorite of deer and foxes, are also consumed by raccoons, bear, opossums and rabbites. The are also the larval host plants for the red spotted purple and striped hairstreak butterflies and an important nectar source for bees early in the season.

Spring flowers with red or yellow fruit in the fall - it's a great small tree for the landscape.

Blue Bird Boxes

An excellent detailed article of how to build Bluebird boxes. I will add only one suggestion. They love dogwood berries. So plant some dogwoods just for them.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1093/

With a dwindling natural habitat, the Eastern Bluebird often struggles to find acceptable nesting cavities. A specially designed and strategically placed nestbox can help in their survival. All you need to know are a few basics.

Every bird lover must feel like they are in heaven when they spy a pair of Eastern Bluebirds on or near their property. For those who live in Eastern Bluebird breeding areas, seeing that flash of blue generally is followed by a gasp of delight at the thought of hosting a bluebird pair.

As a participant in the Bird Watching Forum on Dave’s Garden, I quickly learned that THE website for Eastern Bluebird information is Sialis (Sialia sialis is the scientific name for the Eastern Bluebird). If it’s bluebird information you’re looking for, there’s not much you can’t find on this site, including links to other bluebird sites. Also through the forum, I discovered someone I like to call “Mr. Bluebird,” or 2dCousinDave. Dave is an avid bluebirder who gives forum participants daily reports accompanied with stunning photos of his nesting bluebirds. Much of what I have learned about Eastern Bluebirds comes from Dave or one of the other participants who host bluebirds.

As Dave will tell you, hosting a bluebird family is more than putting up a house. It is a serious decision, one that requires a good deal of thought. Because bluebirds face great competition for dwindling nest sites, providing a well-designed and regularly monitored box is extremely important. I strongly recommend spending some time getting to know the Sialis site in order to determine your “bluebird readiness.” If hosting IS for you, your first decision involves a nest box.

Birdwatching at Shady Grove Gardens 'The Peak' (Ashe Co.)

We're on the NC Birding Trail in the Mountain Region section http://www.ncbirdingtrail.org/mountains.asp

We offer guided and unguided use of our trails, spring is almost here plan an early morning with us.

The Golden Winged Warbler is a symbol of the need for conservation of resources for migrating song birds. Brent has spent all good weather days this entire winter working on habitat maintenance for the GWW. 4 months of bush clearing and Multiflora rose removal. Come see our conservation success story and support our hard work.

Owner: Brent Cochran and SusanWright

2278 West Peak Road, Creston, NC 28615 828‐297‐4098

Site Description: Shady Grove Farms is a nice mix of open grassy areas, early successional shrubby areas, and young forest. These habitats support a variety of high‐elevation shrub land species like Golden‐winged Warbler, which are easily seen and heard here in May and most of June. In some years, Brewster’s Warbler hold territories here. A pair or two of Black‐billed Cuckoo are usually present in summer and fall migration (August). Yellow‐ breasted Chat and Alder Flycatcher are also present in most years. Gray Catbird, Field Sparrow, Chestnut‐sided Warbler, Indigo Bunting and Eastern Towhee are all common breeders. The farm is nestled under the shadow of the Peak, one of the high Amphibolite Mountains in northwest North Carolina. Common Raven nest here and are regularly seen and heard from the farm, as are resident Broad‐winged, Red‐tailed and Cooper’s Hawks. Migrant songbird numbers can be good in fall and spring, especially in the denser, wetter portions of the farm.

Species of Interest: Black‐billed Cuckoo, Alder Flycatcher, Common Raven, Golden‐winged Warbler, Chestnut‐ sided Warbler, Yellow‐breasted Chat

Habitats: northern hardwood/cove forest, early successional, river/stream/wetlands Access & Parking: The site is open to visitation on Sunday and Monday; visitors must call ahead to arrange a

visit and schedule a guided walk (fee). Check the Website for details.

Directions: From Boone, travel north on US 421 for 14 miles. Turn right on NC 67/88 in Trade, TN. Travel for 7.5 miles to West Peak Road, on the right. Follow West Peak Road for 2.5 miles until the pavement ends. The farm is the first property on the left after the pavement ends. Signs for Shady Grove Gardens are on the barn along the road.

Coordinates: N 36o 24’ 37” W 81o 39’ 07” DeLorme (NC Gazetteer) Page: 13

Growing Flowers for Summer Butterflies and Winter Birds

Here's a short list of easy to grow flowers for both butterflies in the summer and seed for the birds in the winter.

Sedum Autumn Joy and Fountain Grass

Coreopsis 'Brown Eyes'

Liatris or Gayfeather

Various Rudbeckias

Helianthus hirsutus  -Perennial Sunflower

Cosmos 

Sedums sp. great for bees, butterflies and later the birds

Rudbeckia- Black-Eyed- Susans -all varieties birds, bees and butterflies

Liatris- also called Blazing Star and Gayfeather

Coreopsis- is an excellent flower for both summer butterflies and winter seed sources

Cosmos- an easy to grow annual

Goldenrod- does not cause hayfever! A perfect flower for all winged animals and insects.

Coneflower or Echinacea

Sunflower - great to grow with kids

Butterfly Bush - a non-native species, still great for butterflies and winter birds

Perennial Asters of all types. Perfect food for the Juncos and sparrows that stay with us for the winter

Fountain Grass

Winterberry Holly

Snowberries - beneficial wasps pollinate and bird feed on the berries

Special on Helianthus hirsutus Perennial Native Sunflower

Bareroot divisions of Helianthus hirsutus are now available. This is a tall 6' perennial sunflower. It is great for the wildflower meadow or garden. It's a native to the eastern US and the birds love the seed in the fall and winter so leave the flowerheads on for them. If 6' is too tall for you, it can be shortened by pinching ( cutting back the shoots in May.) The divisions have already been cutback this year to make transplanting easier on them. Call if you want any in the next week or so. Clumps are $5 each.