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As I was working in my yard one day, it caught my eye that all the trees and shrubs that produce berries were covered with a great multitude of birds. I've been planting trees and shrubs for the birds since I've moved into my house, but until now, haven't paid close enough attention to the results. I started paying more a t t e n t i o n after I had hosted a fam- ily reunion. All during the reunion, people kept c o m m e n t i n g on how many different types of birds were around. I guess I had gotten used to seeing them all and didn't think much of it. They told me they had bird feeders just like me but only had a couple of different bird species around. I told them that if they wanted a diversity of birds, they needed a diversity of plants, and that included fruit-bearing plants. To certain birds, berries are a major part of their diet. So, what are these plants and what birds do they attract? Let's break it down into three categories: summer, late summer- fall and winter fruits. It's important to plant some of each to keep birds around all year. Summer fruit-bearing trees include cherries, mulberries and serviceberries. These plants attract up to 60 different species of birds, including kingbirds, blue jays, robins, thrashers, cedar waxwings, cardinals, orioles, bluebirds, catbirds, thrushes, vireos and grosbeaks. Service- berries (Amelanchier) are particularly important because of their early summer fruiting. Summer fruit-bearing shrubs include blueberries, currants, raspberries, black- berries and bush cherries. I make sure to plant enough for both the birds and myself to enjoy. I share these with most of the same species listed above and even game birds like grouse and pheasants. Late summer-fall fruit-bearing trees like mountain ash, hawthorns and crab apples attract around 20 to 30 different species. Late summer-fall fruit-bearing shrubs include dogwoods, viburnums, elderber- ries, sumacs, cotoneaster and barberries. Again, I could list all the same birds again, but I think you're starting to see a pattern here. As a bonus, though, elder- berries and sumacs will also attract phoebes. Winter fruit doesn't mean the fruit is produced in the winter; it's just that these plants hold on to their fruit through the winter. These winter fruits are an impor- tant emergency food source. Some trees would include hackberry, hawthorns, crab apples and junipers. There are up to 50 different species that feed on these trees. Shrubs that hold on to their fruit throughout the winter include vibur- nums, sumac, winterberry, hollies, snow- berries and chokeberries. As you can see, berries play an impor- tant role in many birds' diets. So if you truly want to see a diversity of birds, add some berries to your landscape. Happy gardening. HOMES PLUS AUGUST 2014 4 We're there when you need us. Your local source for FAST and AFFORDABLE repairs of ALL makes and models of outdoor power equipment. (262) 408-5615 2510 W. Sunset Dr. Waukesha, WI 53189 www.mccannoutdoor.com 20% OFF ANY OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT REPAIR With this coupon. One coupon per purchase. Expires 9-30-14. 239477006 AN AMERICAN WORKHORSE SINCE 1916 THE KING OF SNOW ® Now accepting contracts LAWN MOWING We deliver small loads of TOP SOIL 1 ⁄2 yards - 3 yards Pruning - Bed Edging - Mulching Spring Cleanups & Aeration Residential / Commercial FULLY INSURED whlandscaping@gmail.com 262-542-6120 239216003 SPECIAL Neighbor-to-Neighbor RATES! Call Today! Enjoy Your Summer! Add fruit-bearing trees and shrubs to attract birds (Michael Timm is the head horticultur- ist with Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixo- nia. He can be reached at mtimm@eberts- greenhouse.com.) MICHAEL TIMM baseboard level." Scott also suggested using temporary wall or ceiling decals to incorporate a child's favorite theme. "They can be ordered online and applied easily. There are a lot of stylish options that can allow a theme to be applied to a room for however many weeks, months, or years your child remains interested in that theme." Don't be afraid of color Choosing paint colors for a child's bed- room or playroom can be difficult, since children and parents often have different tastes. "When it comes to walls, my advice is to let your child express them- selves," Scott said. "Remember that wall color is one of the most cost-effective ways to impact any space since it can be easily changed. It's also good to keep in mind that a bedroom has a door, so don't worry if the color is drastically different from the rest of the house." For parents hesitant to adorn walls with bright, bold colors, Tarrence suggests finding other ways to bring the colors into the room. "Incorporate the bold, bright colors in smaller ways like bedding or lamps," she said. "You could also paint the ceiling the bright color and use a lighter, more subtle color on the walls. That way when the child goes to bed they can see their favorite color, but it's not quite as bold for other members of the family. Don't be afraid to find creative ways to compromise and make sure that both you and your child are happy with the color of the room." Create a space they want to live In "Life can be chaotic and every family member should have a space in the home to seek refuge from that," Tarrence said. "A child's bedroom or playroom should provide a safe, quiet place for them to escape to. Include comfortable seating and good lighting for reading. Make sure there are good storage options to keep all of their things under wraps and not lay- ing about. This will help them keep the room tidy and comfortable." Let them help No matter what remodeling or redeco- rating is being done to a child's space, Scott suggests letting the child be involved in the process. "Involving the kids in the design choic- es can be really fun, and it will probably make them like the room much more," she said. "Yes, parents always have the final say, but allowing children a say in their space builds confidence and some life skills. Measuring the room and deciding where to place furniture might lead to a future skill. If they show interest, I think it is important to let them participate and express it." Child continued from Page 1

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