Our sunflowers were lovely this year.
There weren't many,
but they always add a cheery touch to the garden.
Summer just wouldn't be the same without 'em.
but they always add a cheery touch to the garden.
Summer just wouldn't be the same without 'em.
Alas, as summer fades into autumn,
they seem to know their time is through
and hang their heads in surrender.
Along with saving seed for next year,
these sturdy seed heads can be used to feed this year's winter flock.
Seeds can be stripped from the head, left to dry and then added to feeders
or used to cover peanut butter smothered pinecones
or paper towel rolls and hung in trees.
When grown organically, the birds can safely dine.
We decided to try a short cut this year.
Simply fastening them to the branches where birds linger
seemed like an easy solution.
Just a bit of baling twine was used.
We hope our feathered friends enjoy these treats
all season long.
One Simple Thing
We grew sunflowers for the first time this year and they just made me smile everyday! And yes, now they are hung over. I will save some seeds (I just gotta try that!), but I love your idea of hanging as they are for the birdies. I love to feed our birds and they will love this special treat!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing them enjoy the seeds au naturale.
DeleteGreat idea! The coop girls would die if they saw their favored sunflowers being fed to the wild birds. :)
ReplyDeleteHa! Well, someday we'll have chicks to feed them to, and they will get first priority!
ReplyDeleteWe grow sunflowers every year, they are my favorite. Summer wouldn't be summer without them. We grow a few of the large type that produce the gray striped seeds, which is what yours appear to be, but we also grow branching sunflowers that produce small seeds preferred by smaller birds.
ReplyDeleteThe best variety for that is, imo, Autumn Beauty. It is a mix that produces solid and bicolor flowers, ranging from cream, yellow, orange, and deep red. Over the past few weeks, I've posted a few pics of them on my Facebook fan page, if you want to check them out (go to my blog, then connect to my FB page). I highly recommend them. The best for both beauty and wildlife value.
Found this on Homestead Barn Hop - thanks for sharing.
Janet
http://ouroneacrefarm.com
I've grown that variety in past years, but didn't realize it was a favorite of smaller song birds. Thanks for the information!
DeleteI have an old bird bath that won't hold water, so I take my sunflower heads and turn them upright in the basin. It works great and the birds love it!
ReplyDelete