All the Dirt on Gardening

There are about 50 birds that nest in cavities and will use a birdhouse. Almost any size birdhouse will attract starlings and sparrows but if you want bluebirds, wrens and chickadees, you have to provide a birdhouse that they can utilize. Muskogee artist Joshua Blundell designed an Oklahoma-Indian Territory bird house For example, a chickadee house has a 4-by-4-inch floor, is 8-to-10-inches high, and, has an entrance hole one and one-eighth inch wide. The entrance hole should be 6-to-8-inches above the floor. Hang a chickadee house 4-to-15-feet above the ground. For bluebirds, the house floor is 5-by-5-inches, the height is 8-to-12-inches, and the entrance hole is one and one-half inches. Bluebird houses are hung 4-to-6-feet above the ground. See www.wild-bird-watching.com for more birdhouse size tips. Russell Studebaker, former Tulsa Audubon Society president and long time bird feeder, said, “Bluebirds nest in open field areas, near pastures or large patches of grass.” “Th...

National Geographic Books released " The Field Guide to Fields : Hidden Treasures of Meadows, Prairies and Pastures" Fields is a fascinating read that provides a guide to the progression of fields over the course of human history. Flowers, grains, crops, flowers and creatures great and small are included. There are several full-page crop descriptions with an identification guide, uses, cultivation history and primary growing area. The illustrations are paintings that beautifully illustrate animals, crops and scenes from nature. I've enjoyed reading and learning how they interacted and changed each other over time. Fields is a 220 page paperback. $17.50 at the National Geographic link above.

National Geographic posted a series of about 30 photos of carnivorous plants. Click over and enjoy the show. Here's the link . There's also a good article written by Michael Pollan here . His topic is the pollination of orchids - good writing by a plant lover.