THE SPECIAL: DECORATING FOR THE BIRDS

There are a lot of myths about feeding birds. One such popular myth is that feeding birds will prevent their migration. Studies on wild bird populations, however, show that migration is an overpowering drive related to length of day and not abundance of food. Birds will not be distracted by our feeders and decide to stay.

In our area, you can expect overwintering birds to include several types of wrens, sparrows, chickadees, cardinals, titmouse, finches, jays and doves. In addition two species of woodpeckers – Golden Fronted and Ladder Backed – stay in our area throughout the winter.

A fun project for the whole family can be putting out decorative treats for the birds. Pine cones can be filled with peanut butter or a paste of peanut butter and cornmeal. Trim a tree with strings of cranberries, cereal with holes, raisins and peanuts in the shell. Tie bunches of red grapes to the tree with raffia or ribbon. Cut out stale bread with cookie cutters and hang on the tree. Suet is popular with our woodpeckers, but is also visited by chickadees, titmouse, and wrens. You can make a small basket from the orange rind of half an orange and fill it with suet or suet and peanut butter. Or make suet cookies (www.ehow.com/how_4510635_make-edible-outdoor-christmas-decorations.html). Wild Birds Unlimited has a short brochure with recipes and ideas for decoration for the birds. Just go to www.wbu.cor./education/decorateatree.html.

If you see a hummingbird in your yard this winter, don’t be surprised. The Rufus hummingbird will often stop short of the full migration and winter in Texas. So, I keep one of my hummingbird feeders clean and full through the winter until I am sure that no birds remain. I seem to have one lingering this year. Two years in a row I had at least one all winter. None stayed last winter. How did they know it would be so cold?

And, please don’t forget the water for our birds. They need it just as much as we do all year long!

THE BAD: MISTLETOE

As the leaves fall, we begin to notice green areas in the tops of some of our trees. Red Oaks frequently have these strange growths. What we are seeing is our native Mistletoe. It is part of the Phorandendron species and not the same as the European species.

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows into the branch of the affected tree. The root like structures are call haustoria. Although our mistletoe can manufacture some of its own chlorophyll, it takes nutrients from the tree, also. It is spread by wind and by the many animals and birds that eat it.

Although we don’t like to see it on our trees, a lot of wildlife has existed for centuries with the plant and use it for various purposes. Raptors frequently use it for nesting. It serves as a larval food for butterflies, a nectar and pollen source for bees when almost nothing else is blooming, and the berries are food for small and large mammals and birds.

Since the haustoria tap into the tree, herbicides cannot be used on Mistletoe. The best way to remove it is to remove the part of the branch where it is growing. You will also have to remove about 12” of the branch toward the trunk in order to be sure you have removed all of the haustoria. If that is impractical, you can remove just the top of the mistletoe growth. It will grow back, but the pruning will prevent flowering and berry production and keep it in check. Be careful not to cut into the wood of the branch when pruning since this can leave the tree prey to other diseases. If the Mistletoe is up high in the tree, it can be dangerous and very costly to try to remove it.

Trees will survive with Mistletoe, but it can shorten the life of the tree and weaken it. If it is safe and economical, removal is suggested.

THE GOOD: STONE PINE (Pinus pinea)

Our first Christmas in Texas (2005), I saw small pine trees for sale in pots at HEB. They were so cute that I bought one. I decided that I would try to plant it after the holidays. It wasn’t terribly expensive, after all, and I could use it next to my barren front door as a little decoration. Now, five years later, I have purchased and planted two more. The first one is about 6’ tall, bushy and green. It is growing at the end of the driveway with no irrigation. During drought periods, I have been known to carry a couple of buckets of water up there, but that about covers the special watering I have done for them! I have since done a little research on them and want to share the results.

The pines are Stone Pines, also known as Umbrella pines. When mature they can be 30 – 70’ tall. As they get older, they lose the lower branches and grow a dense canopy that gives them the umbrella shape. If you have visited Rome or the Mediterranean, you will remember seeing them. For that matter, you can see mature specimens in Fredericksburg!

When young, the branches sport two kinds of needles – some longer and some short. When they mature, the cones produce the pine nuts that we pay dearly for in the grocery store. They are drought and wind tolerant. They tolerate temperatures down to freezing though they prefer warmer temperatures. They don’t need fertilization. They naturally prefer acid soils, but tolerate our alkaline conditions. I do mulch mine with pine needles or peat moss just to counteract our lean, alkaline soil a little. Deer and rabbits don’t seem to bother them, although I have found that I need to protect the small ones from the male deer during the rut season since they will rub on them.

As with all living Christmas Trees, you should keep them outside as much as possible. They really don’t like to be inside for three weeks! Then, plant outside in the ground in early spring. You probably want to water them occasionally the first summer.