The Great Backyard Bird Count

Grab your binoculars! Stock the feeders! This weekend is for the birds!

 

From Friday, February 17 through Sunday, February 20, you can help scientists and environmentalists by participating in The Great Backyard Bird Count. The goal of the event is to “create a real-time snapshot of where birds are across the continent,” according to the website, http://birdsource.org. From tallying chickadees to counting cardinals, beginning bird watchers through experienced ornithologists join forces to track bird diversity and population throughout North America.

So, you might wonder--why is it important to count birds? Bird populations are constantly in flux. Through tracking the quantities and varieties of breeds, scientists and ecologists can determine how temperature changes affect populations. They compare timing of migration to past years. The count helps identify any problematic declines of bird populations, allowing conservation efforts to be initiated when appropriate. They look for regions where birds are affected by disease.

But scientists could never attain an accurate count without the help of volunteers—they just don't have the resources to track populations. That's where we enter the picture! Here's how it works:

1. Count birds in your area for at least 15 minutes on one or more days over the weekend. Submit a separate checklist for each day you participate. Checklists can be found here.
2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see at any one time. You can find a checklist of birds common to your area by entering your zip code here.
3. Finally, enter your results here.

 

You can choose to perform a stationary count, which is a count of birds in one place—such as your backyard. As the Great Backyard Bird Count has become more popular, many organizations lead “bird walks” or hikes, which would be considered a traveling count. (The goal here is to avoid counting birds that you've already tallied.)

 

If you're an educator or parent, there are excellent resources on the website for children to prepare them to participate. And—if you don't know the difference between a bluejay and a bluebird, you'll also find resources to help you identify those feathered friends. Plus, of course, you can find a slew of smartphone apps to ID birds in your backyard.

So, get out there and play scientist for a day! Or, if it's cold and rainy—look out your window, and take a tally of the birds visiting your feeders. Whatever your level of interest, 15 minutes can make a big difference in understanding the behavior and patterns of our bird populations.

It's free. It's fun. It's family friendly.

Happy birding!

XO ~

Julie

A Blooming Escape from the Winter Blues

It's been a strange morning. I'm not sure if it's the lack of good sleep or a severe sugar crash after yesterday's festivities, but boy—I need some motivation. Do you ever have those days when you have so much to do that you just can't start? That's me today. An overwhelming amount of projects coupled with a hint of melancholy—I feel a little like I have postpartum depression this morning. Is that possible, six years—eek, almost seven years!--after the last munchkin arrived?

Hmm. Perplexing.

So, in honor of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, hosted by the lovely May Dreams Gardens, I decided to combat my lethargy as I did in my long ago post-baby days.

I headed to Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve.

When our girlie arrived almost 11 years ago, Hatcher Garden was my escape. Since our darling daughter tended to nap only when lulled to sleep in a car, I'd bundle her up, drive to the garden, and carefully transfer the car seat onto the stroller. We'd stroll a bit until we came to this area:

Then, while she napped, I'd read and enjoy the change of scenery.

Hatcher Garden truly saved my sanity on many days.

 

Founded by Harold and Josephine Hatcher, the garden is a three-acre gem tucked into the westside of Spartanburg, SC. The Hatchers moved to South Carolina in 1969, purchased a small home, and then expanded their property by buying three acres behind their lot--for $2,000. The land, a former cotton field, required extensive work to turn it into a usable garden space. The Hatchers amended the soil, built paths and ponds, and planted more than 10,000 trees, shrubs, and flowers.

(They certainly didn't laze away their retirement!)

In the 1970s, community volunteers joined forces with the Hatchers to expand their vision for the garden. They designed trails, a series of ponds, and added more trees. A gazebo became a focal point upon entering the garden, new flower beds were added, and a wildflower garden became Josephine's pet project.

In 1987, the Hatchers donated the property to the Spartanburg County Foundation. The Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve became the official name of the garden, honoring the couple whose vision provided a retreat for school children, workers on lunch breaks—and new moms with their babies.

When Josephine died in 1999, Harold restored the wildflower garden in her memory.

When Harold died in 2003 at the age of 96, he gave his life's savings to endow the future of the garden.

While there are many private gardens that become community sanctuaries, the beauty of the Hatchers' garden lies its humble beginnings. The Hatchers weren't wealthy landowners—they simply loved to garden. And they worked diligently to share their love with the community.

The last time I went to the garden was in October. Once or twice a year, my amazingly talented friend, Jessie, takes photos of the kiddos. (You can see her work here.)

Let me tell you: our kids give Jessie a work out. Still, she manages photos that make our children look sweet and civilized...

 

 

...but I actually love these honest photos even more, because they capture our kids' crazy personalities so well! 

Anyway...

When I strolled through the garden today, thinking that Hatcher Garden would be a perfect location to find blooms, I was amazed at the changes:

The Garden of Hope and Healing...

 

 

...plus dozens of newly paved paths, water features, and memorials.

When Peter and I first visited Hatcher Garden years ago, we took our oldest son (who is now 21) to scout for turtles. He was in a serious turtle obsession at the time. Once, when we were poking around in the ponds and not having any luck, we met an elderly gentleman who guided us to a different pond to help ensure our turtle hunting success.

Mr. Hatcher.

The garden has changed. It's more formal, more structured. Master Gardeners flock there to volunteer. School groups are guided through the garden by horticulturalists. And now, signs like this are a feature at the ponds:

I wonder if Mr. Hatcher would approve?

Still, the camellias were lovely.

After my visit, I felt better. Maybe it was the change of scenery, maybe it was a dose of vitamin D. Maybe it was the realization that spring is only 33 days away.

Also, I realized that while I bemoan winter, I'm pretty lucky here in Upstate SC. After a quick walk through our yard, I found plenty of blooms to share for Bloom Day.

Crocus...

Hyacinth...

Ice Follies Daffodils galore...

Muscari...

Hellebores in every shady corner...and we have a lot of shady corners!

 

Tulips, popping their heads out of the soil...

Forsythia buds...
 

Daphne. OK, technically, it's not mine. I'm claiming this daphne, even though it's not in our yard. The fragrance reaches our front door from the neighbors' yard...delicious.

Daylilies, popping up a little early....

Iris, "Harmony," I believe...

  
Blueberry buds...

And look! Fraise des Bois are producing flowers already! Bliss!

Of course, my days are mostly spent in the greenhouse, prepping my babies for the selling season ahead. Sweet Peas, ready to pot up...

 

160 varieties of heirloom tomatoes...future bruschetta factories!

Basil...is it summer yet? Why yes, when I run my hands over these babies, it smells like June.

Nasturtiums in every color...

And heirloom hollyhocks, also ready for bigger homes.

And finally, the kitchen garden is still hanging in there, even after some 20 degree nights.
Pac Choi...(and weeds.) 

Rainbow Chard...

Broccoli...grow, baby, grow!

Huh. I didn't need to leave our yard to participate in bloom day after all.

But I'm glad I did.

My funk faded, and I've gotten a few things accomplished.

Finally, I loved this stone that I found at the entrance to the Garden of Hope and Healing. The words, in memory of a loved one, somehow spoke to me today.

Happy Bloom Day, everyone!

XO ~

Julie

P.S. If you'd like to know more about Harold Hatcher, this is a lovely book:

The Seasons of Harold Hatcher by Mike Hembree.

Tiny Miracles

It was a stressful weekend in the greenhouse.

I know. Sounds likes an oxymoron, right?

Trust me. Whoever thinks that greenhouses are a blissful respite of peace and tranquility never owned a greenhouse for business purposes. Those calm, soul-rejuvenating glass structures are known as “conservatories,” and I'm pretty certain the owners of conservatories employ horticulturalists to ensure their plants don't freeze.

I, on the other hand, tangled myself in wires and extension cords, power outlets and gas tanks, in the hopes that my green babies would survive the 20 degree temperatures this weekend.

Who knew that I'd need an electrical engineering degree to own an heirloom plant nursery?

Fortunately, as the temperatures plummeted, my fabulous technical support—a.k.a. Peter—intervened.

It kills me that there are certain things, like wiring greenhouses and lugging 120lb tanks of propane, that I can't manage on my own. Honestly, I just want to grow plants and help other people learn to grow their own food. Why does all of this technical junk need to interfere?

After all, the business of growing plants hardly feels like a business. It's more like an amazing feat of magic. To take a tiny seed...

...turn it into an adorable green baby...

...nurture it into a six-foot giant...

...to produce stunning, delicious fruit...

...that becomes dinner...

...now, THAT is magic. I know some curmudgeon will argue that it's, oh, something as banal as biology.

And scientifically, I obviously understand that a seed becomes a fruit-producing plant.

But when that first, tiny sprout unfurls in the toasty greenhouse while Arctic winds blast outside...

...magic.

I held my breath throughout the weekend, watching the thermometer, hoping the heater could keep up with the dropping temperatures. After all, nestled in the greenhouse are—literally--thousands of seedlings. My inventory for the season. My babies. 

 

So far, our system is working. A back-up electrical heater is giving an extra boost of heat to help the propane, and we're relaxing a bit, especially since Peter just had the big tank refilled today. We're expecting some more chilly nights, and maybe even a touch of a “winter event”--which, in South Carolina, is a major happening.

Still, the green babies are toasty, getting their first real leaves and teasing me with the aroma of basil and tomatoes.

Only 35 days until spring...

Stay warm!

XO ~ Julie

Spring, Interrupted.

Dear Punxsutawney Phil:

It's time to re-evaluate your career path. It's 70 degrees here in sunny South Carolina.

Crocuses are bursting.

Daffodils are popping.

 

The itty bitty basil is getting its first set of leaves.

Seriously, fur-ball, don't threaten me with six more weeks of winter. You might want to laze around for another month and a half, but for some of us, it's time for winter to be done.

D.O.N.E.

I highly recommend that you retract your original findings, forget about the shadow you thought you saw this morning, and issue a new statement that says:

“Hooray! Spring is HERE! Let's sow some seeds, people!”

I'll be waiting for your apology.

Sincerely,

Julie