Gardening tips infograph from RubbeRecycle

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How to help woodpeckers over the cold months of winter

Woodpeckers are part of the Picidae family of birds and are indigenous to primarily woodland areas virtually worldwide. A few species live in treeless areas such as rocky hillsides and deserts.There are approximately 200 species of woodpeckers, with many being threatened or endangered due to loss or fragmentation of their habitats. Woodpeckers are unique in that they have strong bills for drumming and drilling into trees and long, sticky, bristled tongues for extracting food. They also possess a number of unique adaptations to protect their brains from the damage their drumming behaviors may inflict, nictating lenses and special feathers over their nose slits to protect them from debris and zygodactyl feet with the 1st and 4th toes facing backwards to allow for climbing tree trunks and grasping branches.

Woodpeckers may be sedentary or migratory and all are diurnal, meaning they are active during daylight hours and roost at night. While a woodpecker's diet mainly consists of insects, they are omnivores that will eat a variety of fruit, nuts, seeds and tree sap. Their voracious appetite for insects along with their bright colors and bold patterns make them welcome additions to many landscapes. If you find that your garden or landscape has become home to woodpeckers, there are a number of ways you can help them survive the cold winter months.

FOOD
Since insects are the primary diet for most woodpeckers, it will be necessary to help supplement their food supply through the winter. Place feeders in an upright position to support their preferred feeding posture. If at all possible, place feeders near mature trees for additional foraging and shelter. Woodpeckers will eat a variety of foods, including nuts, berries, suet, peanuts, peanut butter and black oil sunflower seeds. Suet and seed cakes that contain a variety of these food items make offering these birds a varied diet without breaking your bank easy. Dry mixes work well, too, but these should still be supplemented with suet or peanut butter as a main source of energy. In the warmer months of the following year, plant some low scrubby shrubs that produce berries over the winter months for an additional food source and shelter.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WATER
During warm weather months, woodpeckers prefer isolated natural areas of low lying water, but will visit bird baths when they are not occupied by their noisier brethren, During the winter, a heated bird bath is essential. If possible, keep one closer to the ground as this is the birds' preference and one on a stand for song birds.

SHELTER
You may wish to place bird boxes in your yard for woodpeckers to roost in during the cold days of winter. While they prefer roosting in deciduous or coniferous trees, they will easily adapt to life in appropriate bird houses. The added bonus of bird houses is that you can winterize them for your feathered friends to make their winter months a bit more cozy. Place bird boxes between 10 and 20 feet high in a location that faces opposite of the prevailing winter winds, preferably in a direction that allows the opening to receive afternoon sun for warmth. Line the box with grass, wood chips, shavings or sawdust for added insulation. If there is enough room inside the box, place a perch inside. This will allow multiple birds to roost together without suffocating each other. Adding a dark shingle to the top of the box is also highly recommended for two reasons. First, it will add insulation to the roof of the house. It will also act as a solar panel by absorbing the sun during the day and warming the inside of the box. Be sure to allow the shingle to hang over the front of the bird house to allow extra protection from blowing snow and rain. At the end of each season, remove the houses and clean them out before replacing them. This will lessen the woodpeckers exposure to pests, removes accumulated waste and provides them with a clean place to nest before breeding season begins.

What happens to butterflies during the winter months?

The snow is already falling in numerous places across the United States and the cool winter winds are beginning to blow in even more. As we move towards the more somber part of our year, you may find yourself wondering what becomes of the beautiful butterfly during the long, cold months of late fall through early spring. Well, it depends on which stage of their life cycle our bedazzling friends are in.

Adult butterflies do one of two things-they migrate to warmer climates, like the majestic Monarch or they remain in their cold weather habitat. Butterflies that choose to remain in their cold weather climate enter a phase known as diapause. They find a safe place, such as cracks within rocks or tree bark and enter what is basically bug hibernation. Like other animals that enter a state of hibernation, non-essential functions, such as reproduction, shut down and metabolism slows down. These winged wonders have special anti-freeze like chemicals in their body and they remain dormant until the weather begins to warm.

Some species of butterflies spend their winter months as caterpillars. They also enter the state of diapause once they have buried themselves deep amongst leaves or soil. Once their host plants have sprung back to life, they will reemerge and begin to eat and grow.

Butterflies that spend their winter wrapped up snug and safe in a chrysalis spend the last days of the caterpillar stage looking for a sheltered location before enclosing itself in its cocoon to wait out the winter cold. All development stops during cold weather, and once the weather warms, it will begin again. The fully developed butterfly will emerge once fresh blooms have appeared.

Some butterflies are programmed to spend winter in the most vulnerable state of being-as an egg. These species typically lay their eggs at the base of their host plants to minimize exposure to the cold, winter winds. Once the host plant has started new growth, the eggs will hatch.

If you are interested in helping your native species survive during the winter, here are a few tips:

• Allow Autumn leaves to remain undisturbed at the base of trees as much as possible. There is a good chance that caterpillars or eggs are tucked safely away for the upcoming cold season.
• If you come across a chrysalis or cocoon, let it be. There is a good chance that a butterfly will emerge when spring comes.
• Be sure to plant a variety of nectar producing plants in your garden, especially those that bloom in early spring and late fall to give the first and last butterflies of the season some extra sustenance. 

For more information, please visit Butterflies and Moths of North America.

Eight ways to celebrate a "green" Christmas

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Even though many people dream of celebrating a White Christmas, celebrating an earth-friendly "green" Christmas is fast becoming the ideal for more and more people across the globe. During the season of holiday excess, it is easy to lose sight of treating our planet with the tender loving care she deserves. If you are searching for ways to ease the burden we place on the Earth, here are some great steps to take.

1. Shop Locally. Not only will you be putting your hard earned dollars back in to your neighborhood, it will also reduce the amount of gas you use when driving from store to store while searching for the perfect gift. If you are planning on shopping with your family or a group of friends, turn the day into an adventure as you wander the shops in your city by creating a scavenger hunt list and letting everyone have some fun while they shop. 
2. Choose Recycled Gifts. Many small businesses and individuals create some amazing crafts using recycled items. Not only do these gifts keep items out of our landfills, they usually come with an interesting story that you can share once your gift has been opened. If you are the do-it-yourself type, you may want to consider making gifts from recycled items yourself. 
3. Ditch Batteries. Discarded batteries quickly become an environmental hazard, even if you opt for rechargeables. Instead, choose board games, books and other items that will stretch a child's imagination while reducing waste. 
4. Decorate for Nature. When decorating your home for the holidays, take a little extra time and decorate outdoors, as well. You can spend an afternoon crafting edible ornaments and garland to help feed local wildlife. Birds will flock to feed on suet, peanut butter and a variety of seeds and berries while squirrels will go crazy for corn, nuts and larger seeds. The entire family can then spend time watching the animals that come to feast on your decorations and learn more about your local wildlife. 
5. Choose Life. Instead of spending money on an artificial tree that is made from petroleum products, decorate with a live tree. While a fake tree may be used over and over, once its shelf life has "expired", it will forever take up space in a landfill. Live trees can be turned into beneficial mulch or simply placed outside to provide shelter for a variety of animals through the cold winter months. Bonus-live trees actually smell like Christmas!
6. Handcrafted Cards. Instead of spending money on greeting cards, make your own. Old magazines, calendars, scrap paper, fabric scraps, etc can all be repurposed into unique holiday cards and gift tags. 
7. Recycled Paper. When choosing wrapping paper, choose those that are made from recycled materials and avoid metallic papers. Metallic and foil papers are made using heavy metals, making them difficult to recycle or reuse.