Hummingbirds and Orioles arrive every spring around the 1st of May. Once the days get a bit longer and the weather has warmed up, you’re almost guaranteed to see these beautiful birds! On this episode of the Garden Gate I share some of my favourite styles of feeders and also give some tips on what … Read more
We take pride in ourselves for supporting many Canadian artists by carrying their beautiful items. On this episode of the Garden Gate I share 3 products made from similar product. Stones and soap stones! Stone and silver necklaces by Wendy Stanwick from Matachewan. Stone necklaces by Samantha Butts using stone from Madoc and Soapstone carvings … Read more
May 1st(ish) typically heralds the springtime return of hummingbirds and orioles from their southern wintering grounds. They fly far and hard to get here and benefit from whatever energetic support they can get. If you don’t already have them or want more, we carry a nice selection of oriole and hummingbird feeders. Hummingbird feeder set-up … Read more
Cleaning your feeders is very important. Dirty feeders can spread disease and also don’t operate properly when they’re gummed up with old seed. With the prevalence of the avian flu and conjunctivitis in Ontario, it’s especially important to clean feeders regularly. Cleaning feeders with hot water and a small amount of bleach twice a month … Read more
Spring migration is a physically demanding time for birds. Imagine the physicality of flying from Central or South America with the added challenges of unpredictable food sources and confusing high-rise tower lights along the way. This is a time when readily available energy can literally mean life or death. Bird feeders well-stocked with high-quality, high-fat … Read more
March. For some, that means March break. For many kids, it means “MARCH BREAK!” In this month’s e-newsletter, we presented several ideas for indoor activities that kids can do on their own or with some supervision. But, especially with the warming weather, this week offers an opportunity to get outside and offset some of the … Read more
You’ve purchased and set up your bird feeding station, filled it with high-quality bird food, sat down by the window with your binoculars and identification guide, and… …no birds! What’s up with that? Birds need food to survive, of course, and feeders can provide them with desperately needed calories, especially in the deep cold of … Read more
In addition to the pleasure that comes from watching birds at a feeder, many people choose to feed birds to help them out. You may have heard the idea that birds become dependent on feeders, and we could end up harming them if we stop stocking our feeders. The scientific literature suggests this may not … Read more
On this episode I share some ideas for last minute gift ideas. Beautiful Stitch by Stitch ornaments are always popular. Hand made and Fair trade. We also have an interesting suet feeder that looks like a cute owl, compressed seed gifts for the birds, beautiful soaps and hostess napkins by Michel Design Works, tea towels, … Read more
At this time of year the shop is filled with beautiful gifts for Christmas. One of our favourites are the Stitch by Stitch ornaments. These are hand made in South-East Asia by artisans in their homes. While we tend to avoid items made over seas so we can support our own Canadian artists, these items … Read more