The Avant-Garden Shop: Your Garden & Bird Store

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

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 Gate: Episode 211- Suet and peanuts for the birds (March 12th, 2021)

In the colder months, suet and peanuts are excellent sources of fat for the birds. This helps to keep them warm during long cold winter nights. Our peanut ring is one feeder that customers (and the birds) love! These can be filled with whole peanuts and also our perfectly sized suet balls (available in 6 … Read more

Garden Gate: Episode 210 -Eliminating Grackles and starlings (Feb. 26, 2021)

Once we hit March, the grackles and starlings are starting to show up at feeders again. They can be so annoying and will take over your bird feeders and scare away all the more appealing birds. On this episode I show you some different feeders, and seed that you can offer to help eliminate them … Read more

Garden Gate: Episode 209 – Plants to attract birds to your garden

Often times our customers will wonder why they aren’t getting birds to their feeders. On this episode I show you some different trees, shrubs and perennials that you can add to your garden to attract a wider variety of birds. Birds are not attracted to yards with only grass. They find food in trees, shrubs … Read more

Garden Gate: Episode 208 – Building a squirrel proof bird feeding station (Jan 29, 2020)

Setting up a squirrel proof bird feeding station can be done! You just need to be smarter than the squirrels! And I think you are! Squirrels can climb poles, clothes lines, shepherds hooks and they can jump up 4-5′. Squirrels can also launch themselves 10-12′ from deck rails, gazebos, your roof, trees, clothes lines etc. … Read more

The Avant-Garden Shop