Welcome to Hamlen's
Helping Hand!
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This is our Winter newsletter, the last
newsletter of 2003. We look forward to
seeing you at the garden center.
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In this issue...

It is easy to attract birds to your garden. You will need to provide the basics. Food, water. Shelter and a place for them to nest. They are a benefit to have in your garden in many ways. Birds can help control the insect population by quite a bit. They go along the ground eating grubs and larvae of turf eating beetles. They eat caterpillers, mosquitos,ants and other insects. They are also music to the ear and a wonderful past time to watch.

Feeders
Choose feeders of different sizes for attracting different sized birds. Larger feeders will attract blue jays and cardinals. Smaller feeders will attract smaller birds. Suet cake feeders will attract woodpeckers. Free standing feeders are the most common because it is easiest to keep the preditors off the feeders and away from the birds. We sell many types of feeders including free standing, window ledge, oriole and humming bird feeders, thistle feeders, and tube style feeders.

Food
Insects, berries and seeds are their basic diet. This can be supplemented by feeding them seed and suet. They will eat the seed on annuals and perennial flowers, so don't be so quick to dead head and clean your garden. The birds will appreciate your untidyness. Use seed with high sunflower content. Corn and millet are also important. Do not over feed. Only put enough food for the day. Clean up debris on the ground often. This will stop the seeds from germinating on your lawn. This will also deter rodents from coming around. Feed early in the mornig when the birds are most active. Do not let suet go rancid. You should only put out enough for a couple of days.

Shelter and nesting
Trees, shrubs, evergreens, vines and hedges are mostly used for both shelter and nesting. Their preference are evergreens for shelter in the winter months and thickly branched hedges and shrubs for nesting.

Water
Keep water fresh and clean. During the winter months, you can use a submersible pump or heater to keep the water from freezing. Place the water on the south side of the house where it will catch the winter sun.

Chemicals
Do not spray insecticides, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides while feeding the birds. If spraying can not be avoided, stop feeding for at least one week before and after spraying. Water garden and foliage thoroughly to wash chemicals off the plants. Use only biodegradable chemicals if possible.

Sanitation

• Clean feeders regularly with hot water and a mild soap.
• Clean old seed up off the ground around the base of the feeders. Excess seed can attract unwanted rodents.
• Wash hands throughly after handling bird feeders.

Squirrels
They can be a difficult adversary to beat. They will prevent the birds from going to the feeders. If squirrels are a problem, you can use free standing feeders. Use pipe or metal poles to hold the feeders. They should be 8' from buildings, fences or trees. They can jump that far. Metal cones can be placed at the base of the feeder to stop them from climbing up.

Protecting your own crops
Crops need to be protected. Nylon netting can be used over the plants to stop them. Grapes, blueberries, raspberries cherries, and other crops can sometimes be devoured by birds. These from eating the fruit.

Moral obligation
It is an unwritten rule that you must be consistant with feeding. They come to depend on your handouts . Make sure that if you are going away, there is enough food for them while you are gone. Your feathered friends are counting on you.

Some people feed all year round, some people choose to only feed when there is a shortage of available food . If feeding in the winter, set up in September to establish their winter eating habits. If not feeding during the winter, cut back the feedings in the fall slowly over a period of a couple of weeks. Do not stop feeding too early.

Plants that attract birds

Annuals	Perenials	Shrubs	Trees
amaranthus ageratum calendula china aster cosmos marigold sunflowers zinnia	coreopsis echinacea rudbeckia california poppy ornamental grasses thistle	bearberry cotoneaster euonymus holly oregon grape roses boston ivy viburnum elderberry	sumac serviceberry cherry juniper hawthorne mountain ash crabapple

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Bonsai

Available in the spring from March to April at Hamlen's garden center.

"Bon" means: "tray" or "pot"
"Sai" means: "plant"

Bonsai is the ancient art of dwarfing plants. It combines the love of art, history and gardening. They are often planted with rocks or miniature structures to look like landscapes in nature.

The art of bonsai originated in China during the Tang Dynasty dating back to 250 A.D. Bonsai's made an appearance in Japanese writings in 1195, where they built upon the chinese styles. Fantastic shapes became highly prized by emperors.

China and Japan had closed most ports and had in place an isolation policy. Europe did not receive bonsai until 1901, where they made an appearance at the Windsor Castle during an exibition. In less than a century, the practice of bonsai has reached international statice. Japanese Americans brought the knowledge and appreciation to North America and it now has a very large following.

Caring for a bonsai

Watering
Regular watering is very important to your bonsai. The plant is in a very small pot with only a tiny amount of soil. The plant will dry out quickly and should be watched carefully for any signs of wilt. The amount of water will differ by the type of plant and the size of the container. Evergreen plants will need more water and more frequent misting. If the plant is in a hot location, it will probably need water every day or two. Mist a couple of times a day. The moss at the base of the plant is an indicator of how moist the soil is. Always keep moist. Do not let dry out.

In the spring, summer and the warmer part of fall, the bonsai should be kept outside. Fresh air, sunshine and normal humidity are best for the plant. No excessive heat, winds, or rainfall. Place in a sheltered location with good air circulation. Keep on a raised bench or table to keep from getting damaged from animals.

Rain, well, or distilled water is best because there is no chlorine present.

Fertilizing
Use a well balanced 10-10-10 or fish emulsion at half strength every two weeks during the late spring and summer. In the fall, use 0-5-5. Only phosphorus and potassium, no nitrogen until October, then stop feeding.

Tools

• Concave pruners. This minimizes the scar tissue grown after a cut.
• Magnifying glass. To inspect the plant closely for insects.
• Pruning saw. Used for larger branches.

keep tools sharp and clean regularly with alcohol.

Pinching
You can pinch the tips during active growth. Use finger tips, tweezers or cuticle scissors for very small leaves.

Pruning
This can alter or simplify the shape of your bonsai. Do not leave stubs when pruning. This allows decay to enter the branch. Cut out any unnessessary branches so that you can see the structure of the plant better.

A bonsai can outlive you and I if cared for properly. It can be passed on through generations and carry a family legacy.

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Christmas Has Come to Hamlen's Garden Center

Our christmas trees are fresh from a local supplier. We carry frasier fir and balsam fir. We chose these two types because we feel that they are the superior of the christmas trees. They are long lasting and have that special smell that we all associate with christmas. We will be happy to help you select your special holiday tree. Prices range from 24.99 - 39.99

Wreaths, boughs, garland and kissing balls

We hand-make all our wreaths and kissing balls here at the garden center. We take orders for special requests and can make to order sizes and lengths.

Houseplants
We have a beautiful selection of poinsettia, christmas cactus, cycleman, norfolk pine and many other houseplants to green up your home for the holidays.

Store gift ideas for the holidays
Our store transforms into a christmas gift shop during November and December. Bird houses and feeders, tree ornaments, wind chimes, pottery, amaryllis bulbs and forcing vases, aromatherapy oils, and many other great gifts your family and friends will love.

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1. How does the guy who drives the snowplow get to work?
2. If they squeeze olives to make olive oil, how do they get baby oil?
3. Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
4. If there is only one TV why do they call it a set?

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Hamlines

"The greatest service which can be rendered any country
is to add a useful plant to its culture."
Thomas Jefferson

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