Tube-type feeders with small perches and openings discourage magpies and scrub jays from dominating the feeding stations. Provide food for these larger birds somewhere else in the yard. They mate before this period but babies develop inside their mothers only after hibernation ends. During hibernation, they manage to survive at a lower temperature. After only fifteen minutes of warmer temperatures, they are ready to fly.
Gardeners consider bats to be beneficial because of the large number of insects they consume.
O RTHO offers monthly horticultural advice on the care of ornamentals and edibles. We'll remind you of the appropriate time for chores and provide information useful to both the beginner and the experienced gardener. Even within climate zones, factors such as altitude, proximity to large bodies of water, and protection from wind contribute to the creation of diverse weather conditions or microclimates. Monthly Tips is a guide meant to be adapted to your individual zone and microclimate. More specific information for your area can be obtained from local garden centers or botanical gardens.