Was that a Yellow bellied -Sapsucker I just heard?

I have been a subscriber to Birds & Blooms since the first issue was released. I guess I followed my mother’s footsteps when it came to nature. As a child the one hobby my mother had was the National Audubon Society. She was a charter member and even though she did not drive, she found a way to get to all their walks.

As a child I though mom had gone off the deep end but it was the only pleasure she had. On any given day I would find strangers at our home dressed in funny clothing and many binoculars wrapped around their necks.

We lived in the country and miles and miles of wooded area surrounded our home. If mom was not at home all I had to do was check and see if her binoculars were missing and if they were I knew she was in the woods.

Many years later my husband and I purchased my parent’s home and I am now in the middle of this beautiful wooded area. I stared out by adding bird feeders to my back yard. I pulled out old shrubs and added bushes that would attract many birds. I found moms old field guides and started to keep my own list of birds. I noticed that I was not attracting as many birds as I wanted so we built a pond in the back yard to provide a water supply.

The day came when a free issue of Birds and Blooms arrived in the mail. I read the issue from cover to cover. I had to have this magazine even if it was every other month.

The magazine has many sections and the full colored pictures jump right off the pages. The Garden Variety section features a yard and shows a complete setup of all the gardens.

When they added Blooming Beauty I knew this magazine would be in my home forever. It features a subscriber’s backyard pond. It profiles a prominent plant that is found in their pond. Full colored pictures and information on the plant.

Top Billing the bird of the month. My last issue shows a Chimney Swift and the nest that it built. I am now able to add birds to my list by the type of nests I find on my property. It is fun keeping an eye out for the bird that matches the nest.

Ready for a walk is my favorite section. Page upon page of colored pictures. The section features, birds, bees, flower beds and unusual planters for your back yard.

Home Tweet Home features bird feeders made by the subscribers. I have taken many ideas from this section.

There is many more section to this magazine and I could go on forever. A few of my favorites: Garden Chat, Questions Across the Fence (readers write in asking for help) and Kids in Bloom. I have a few good pictures of my grandson playing around the pond that I am going to send to the magazine.

If you are interested please go to www.birdsandblooms.com and see what they have to offer.

Bird lovers of every shape and size should have this magazine in their home.