Marianne's Response

coneflower freak-question

Marianne
I live in Kirkland (Washington for the readers) and I am trying to make a wildlife habitat (mostly birds) in a rather small garden. What small trees or bushes would you recommend please (to plant before winter) that might have berries or seeds or any favorites of yours smile

thank you

Posted by on August 26, 2007

Marianne's Response

I love the beautyberry, Cornus or dogwood family and the low growing kinninick as well as native salal and huckleberries that feed the birds. For much drama plant a contorted filbert with it's winter catkins that make the chickadees do acrobatics. For early spring hummingbird food add pulmonarias or lungwarts and don't be a tidy gardener in the fall. Leaving seed heads of sedum Autumn Joy, Rudbeckia and other daisy like flowers provides winter interest and winter bird food.