Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons | Roundtable | Gardening “For the Birds!” How Your Garden Can Be A Bird’s Best Friend

About

It’s now the very beginning of March and we gardeners and garden lovers are eagerly anticipating spring. What do we think of as one of the first signs of spring? It is not only the first emerging bulbs and other flowers that are the harbingers of spring, but also the sight and sound of birds. Whether they have remained all winter or are returning to us from a warmer winter home, or stopping by on their migratory flight, birds are our welcome companions.

One of our greatest pleasures in the garden is to stop and watch the birds as they eat, drink, build nests, fly to and fro, and to enjoy listening to their birdsong. Their presence can bring us joy, amusement, relaxation, and contentment. To increase the numbers of birds that will visit your garden, there are a number of things you can plant and incorporate that maximize their need for shelter, food, and water.

Here are some topics we’ll discuss:

• The role of native plants in sustaining local birds
• Varieties of trees that provide the best shelter and food sources
• The role of various shrubs
• The best berrying trees and shrubs and their timing as a food and water source over the seasons
• The benefits of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs
• Dioicous trees and shrubs: why having a male and female is necessary for producing berries
• Annual and perennial flowers whose shapes, colors, and other properties cater to the needs of different kinds of birds
• Various kinds of water sources for drinking and bathing are also beautiful ornamental focal points
• Birdhouses
• Man-made bird feeders: pros and cons
• Protection from predators

We will begin the program with a slideshow of photographs for inspiration and questions followed by our always lively discussion. We welcome all samples for show and tell. By the end of the program, if there are attendees who have additional gardening questions about these or any other topics, please feel free to stay a while longer and talk to one of our knowledgeable members.

Looking forward to seeing you on March 1st!

Moderated by Pamela Harwood