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By Sara Rae Lancaster SPECIAL TO HOMES PLUS Stuck in a gift-giving rut? Put the happy back in holi- days with this trio of out-of- the-box (but not out-of-town or out-of-the-budget) gift sources perfectly tailored to your recipients' interests. For the birder and nature lover From seasoned pros to fledglings, backyard enthusi- asts to field hobbyists, every birder will find something to add to their wish list at Wild Birds Unlimited in Brook- field. For a gift you can't go wrong with, store manager DeeDee Higgins suggests a new bird feeder. And with food resources at their lowest during the winter months, the holiday season is an ideal time to purchase a feeder, too, Higgins added. The franchise's signature feeder, the WBU Classic Bird Feeder ($65.99), remains a favorite, but other popular choices include window feed- ers, hummingbird and oriole feeders, squirrel-proof feed- ers, and the classic pole sys- tem feeders. "What I really like about the pole system feeders is you can set it up to be what you want it to be," Higgins said. "A lot of people will buy the basics and then add acces- sories like feeding cups and branches." For the person just getting started with backyard bird- ing, Higgins suggested start- ing off with the basic pole system, plus one arm and one or two different feeders. Another option: the seed cylinder feeder system (start- ing at $27.99). "The seed cylinder items are a big item for us because you're not filling a feeder but sticking a cylinder of seed inside the feeder," Higgins said. These compressed mixes of seeds and nuts easily slide C O N T E N T S Enhance your winter landscape for more enchantment Entertain over the holidays without the hassle with a few helpful hints Explore heat-efficient alternatives to real firewood A publication of the Waukesha Freeman and Oconomowoc Enterprise • December 2015 Your Guide to Homes, Home Improvement, Lawn & Garden and MORE! HOMES HOMES WAUKESHA + An out-of-the-box gift guide Ideas for shopping for a yard-loving or home hobby-minded person Zannah Crowe/Monches Farm Antique watering cans are some of the unique gifts for the gardener and nature lover available at Monches Farm in Washington County, just north of the Town of Merton. See GIFTS/Page 6 Wild Birds Unlimited The limited edition Seed Snowman from Wild Birds Unlimited.

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