01-03-2008, 10:10 PM
You've enjoyed it throughout the Christmas season and well into the new year. Fresh pine aroma engulfed the house, and solid branches carried the burden of bright lights and treasured ornaments.
Now, despite weeks of watering, you're starting to find needles on the floor. It's probably time to put the tree out on the curb for the city to haul to the landfill-or maybe grind into mulch for flower gardens at the local park.<br />
But wait, before you get rid of that tree, doesn't it still have some value? Sure it does! That ol' tree can benefit wildlife well into next summer or even for a couple of years, depending on what you do with it.
Shelter, food and safety<br />
Coniferous trees-also called conifers-produce cones, are generally evergreen and have needle-shaped leaves. Examples of conifers include pines, spruces and firs, many of which are harvested for use at Christmas.<br />
These trees are also important to wild animals, especially in the cold of winter:<br />
"¢ Songbirds and quail roost in coniferous trees at night, taking advantage of warm air trapped in the dense branches.<br />
"¢ Blue grouse spend the winter eating needles from certain fir trees.<br />
"¢ Deer, elk, snowshoe hares and other wildlife use conifers to conceal themselves from predators and avoid harsh weather.<br />
Before you discard your Christmas tree, consider using it to help our wild friends. Here are a couple of possibilities:
Make a Christmas tree for songbirds<br />
It's easy: first move the tree to your yard or patio, somewhere you can see it clearly from the house. Then, it's just a matter of decoration. You can use nearly anything:<br />
"¢ Stale breads and bakery products hung by ribbons or string<br />
"¢ Fruits such as apples and oranges (cut in half)<br />
"¢ Cereals of any kind, including Cheerios®, oatmeal, grits or cornmeal (tied in net bags)<br />
"¢ Strings of popcorn or cranberries<br />
"¢ Peanut butter or nuts of any kind mashed into the crevices of pinecones<br />
However you choose to decorate it, your "bird Christmas tree" will provide countless hours of bird-watching fun through the rest of the winter.
Provide shelter from the elements<br />
If you live in a neighborhood where there aren't many trees...
Now, despite weeks of watering, you're starting to find needles on the floor. It's probably time to put the tree out on the curb for the city to haul to the landfill-or maybe grind into mulch for flower gardens at the local park.<br />
But wait, before you get rid of that tree, doesn't it still have some value? Sure it does! That ol' tree can benefit wildlife well into next summer or even for a couple of years, depending on what you do with it.
Shelter, food and safety<br />
Coniferous trees-also called conifers-produce cones, are generally evergreen and have needle-shaped leaves. Examples of conifers include pines, spruces and firs, many of which are harvested for use at Christmas.<br />
These trees are also important to wild animals, especially in the cold of winter:<br />
"¢ Songbirds and quail roost in coniferous trees at night, taking advantage of warm air trapped in the dense branches.<br />
"¢ Blue grouse spend the winter eating needles from certain fir trees.<br />
"¢ Deer, elk, snowshoe hares and other wildlife use conifers to conceal themselves from predators and avoid harsh weather.<br />
Before you discard your Christmas tree, consider using it to help our wild friends. Here are a couple of possibilities:
Make a Christmas tree for songbirds<br />
It's easy: first move the tree to your yard or patio, somewhere you can see it clearly from the house. Then, it's just a matter of decoration. You can use nearly anything:<br />
"¢ Stale breads and bakery products hung by ribbons or string<br />
"¢ Fruits such as apples and oranges (cut in half)<br />
"¢ Cereals of any kind, including Cheerios®, oatmeal, grits or cornmeal (tied in net bags)<br />
"¢ Strings of popcorn or cranberries<br />
"¢ Peanut butter or nuts of any kind mashed into the crevices of pinecones<br />
However you choose to decorate it, your "bird Christmas tree" will provide countless hours of bird-watching fun through the rest of the winter.
Provide shelter from the elements<br />
If you live in a neighborhood where there aren't many trees...