The Avant-Garden Shop: Your Garden & Bird Store

Feels like drought already, doesn’t it?

Peterborough only got 16 mm of rainfall in May! The gardens, rain barrels, and farmers’ fields are so dry already. All the plants and critters, whether maintained in your yard or in the local natural areas all need more water. Including the birds. If you have active bird feeders (and we know many of you … Read more

Garden Gate: Episode 216 – Hummingbirds and Orioles (May 21, 2021)

  t’s the time of year again when we’re all so excited to orioles and hummingbirds. You can feel the excitement in the air. People are chatting online trying to figure out when these sweet birds arrive. And when they do–we hear about it! I suggest getting your feeders out the first week of May. … Read more

Garden Gate: Episode 215 – Kitras glass (May 7, 2021)

Hand blown glass from Fergus Ontario. The colours reflect beautifully when hanging in the garden or under a tree. We have a variety of sizes and styles. Some are on our website, but not all.   3″ glass hearts, 3″ Blossom balls, 3″ Tree of Life and larger 6″ tree of life. We even have … Read more

Hummingbirds & orioles, oh my!

Watching any bird at your feeder can bring such joy, but there’s something special about the aerial magic of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird or the vibrant colour of a Baltimore Oriole. These species arrive in the Peterborough area in early May, and both have particular feeding needs that require different setups. Hummingbirds There are several species … Read more

Job opening!

Do you love birds? Gardening?  Are you a multi-tasker? Friendly? This award winning business is looking for someone who comes to work with a positive attitude and who is willing to learn on the job. If the following describes you we are interested in meeting you: • You should have some experience working in a … Read more

Garden Gate” Episode 212 Bird houses

Besides bird feeders and bird baths, some birds also need nesting boxes. We carry a few different lines from different suppliers, but they’re all made in Canada. Our most popular are the practical designs by Animal House Creations in Lakefield, Ontario. We have houses for chickadees, wrens, woodpeckers, owls, blue birds, robins, doves, butterflies and … Read more

Garden Tips: Supporting Birds during Migration

Spring migration amps up in April Many bird species return or pass through our region in April and May for the breeding season. Migration is extremely risky for birds: unpredictable weather, predators, window collisions, and food scarcity are all threats, never mind the raw physical exertion needed to fly continuously for hours at a time … Read more

The Avant-Garden Shop