The Avant-Garden Shop: Your Garden & Bird Store

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

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

Birds, Windows, and Feeder Placement

It’s estimated that windows kill and injure more birds than any other human influence – about 1 billion birds annually in North America alone! Many of these window strikes happen at tall buildings in cities, especially during migration, but residential homes contribute to bird fatalities, as well. Research has identified several factors that contribute to … Read more

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