Backyard Style: May 2008
 

Backyard Style - Outdoor, Backyard Pond and Birding



Wednesday, May 28, 2008  

Attracting the Acorn Woodpecker with Peanut Suet- CLICK HERE!


Acorn Woodpeckers are resident in western Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas and are popular amongst wild bird enthusiast's because of thier brilliant colors.

If you live where Acorn woodpeckers reside - you might already know that they are attracted to peanut suet. You can many times find Acorn Woodpeckers in urban parks or suburban areas where oak trees are common.

Here are a few options that we have found successful in attracting the Acorn woodpecker and it's woodpecker relatives across the US:


The coloring of the Acorn Woodpecker male is brilliant red from the nape to a white forehead. The female is red only at the rear of her crown.

We suggest smearing some suet or peanut butter on the outside of your feeder and in the holes to attract the woodpeckers and help it identify the food source.

Happy Woodpecker Feeding!

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Friday, May 23, 2008  

Hummingbirds - How to Attract them and Great Hummingbird Feeders- CLICK HERE!

Sundae Hummingbird Feeder from Woodlink
Hummingbirds are the most beautiful birds in the world as far as I am concerned and the Ruby-throated hummingbird is the one that most of us are familiar with in most parts of the United States.

Before I start talking about how to attract them .. there are a few facts to keep in mind that will bring to light the "whys" behind my suggestions.

Hummingbirds have a long tongue that laps up liquids like a dog or cat would, just at a much faster rate. That is how the hummingbird gets the nectar out of your feeder!

The most commonly seen U.S. hummingbirds and their general areas of distribution are:

  • Allen's Hummingbirds in Coastal California
  • Anna's Hummingbirds in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas

  • Black-Chinned Hummingbirds in Western U.S. generally west of Texas to Wyoming

  • Blue-Throated Hummingbirds in Southwestern Arizona

  • Broad-Billed Hummingbirds in S.W. Texas, S.W. New Mexico and S.E. Arizona

  • Broad-Tailed hummingbirds in Parts of the Rocky Mountain regions, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado and mountains of Central California

  • Buff-Bellied hummingbirds in Rio Grande valley of South Texas

  • Calliope hummingbirds in Montana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, E. California

  • Costa's in S. California, southwest Arizona, southern New Mexico, western Texas
    Ruby-Throated hummingbirds in Easter United States from Central Texas to N. Dakota

  • Rufous hummingbirds in northwest United States to coastal regions of S. Alaska

  • Violet-Crowned hummingbirds in Southern California and West Texas

  • White-Eared hummingbirds in south Arizona and West Texas

To attract hummingbirds, make sure that you plant lots of native hummingbird flowers and flowering shrubs and trees. The brighter the flowers, the better.

Place at least one hummingbird feeder that will help will draw and keep hummingbirds in your backyard. Hummingbirds have a great "GPS" system (not necessarily Magellan .. but you know what we mean). Once they feed in your yard, they will keep coming back.

To attract more hummingbirds initially, try tying a pink, red or orange ribbon in a few places to draw the hummingbirds to your backyard. Remember to change your nectar frequently (once or twice per week) to keep it fresh.

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Monday, May 19, 2008  

Laguna PowerJet Pond and Fountain Pumps by Hagen- CLICK HERE!



A complete range of 10 fountain pond pumps to suit most pond sizes from small water features to large water garden projects and features.

Every Laguna Powerjet fountain pump by Hagen has been designed for powerful, reliable performance with low, low running costs! There is not a pond owner in America that is not worried about the costs of running the pumps and fountains this year. (at least we think there isn't!)

The construction of the PowerJets from the Motor housing to the fountain flow controls all the way up to the top of the riser stem is solid and durable. The strainer is one of the best in the industry and the foot adds a level of stability that is found in few brands.

Every PowerJET pump comes with 10 meters of cable. To hide the cable, simply run it under the turf or flower beds enclosed in a rigid conduit to protect it from over zealous gardening! It’s a good idea to run it against a wall or fence where you’re unlikely to dig too deep.

A pump alone does not clean the water. The strainer fixed to the front of every Laguna pump is not a pond filter. Its function is to protect the motor and impeller from clogging with pond debris and silt which will impair its performance.

The PowerJet pumps included in these kits are powered by Italian-made, magnetic-driven motors that are unequalled in the market for their ability to generate large volumes of water reliably and continuously at low energy costs.

Every PowerJET Pump comes complete with a riser stem and 2 fountain jets.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008  

Do-it-yourself Pest Control Guide- CLICK HERE!

Snake Repellant by Liquid Fence - ON SALE

It's that time of year that we have to pay attention to pests, insects and unwanted visitors a bit more than usual.

Personally our most dreaded visitor is back ... the "Garbage Raccoon". He thrives in our neighborhood and always seems to find a late night snack in either our garbage or one of the neighboors.

Keeping the pests out of the garbage is only 1/2 the battle; regardless of how clean your house is, you are not immune to pest infestation.
Pests such as termites, roaches, ants, beetles, spiders, earwigs, bumblebees, ticks, mice and rats and other pests can be drawn to your home by the prospect of food, warmth and shelter. Some pests can carry disease (rats), while others are poisonous (certain types of spiders).


Also very dreaded are termintes - termites can eat through your very home and cause thousands of dollars and more in damage.

Got Snakes? Once again, I have to rave about a Liquid Fence product. The relatively new Liquid Fence Snake Repellent works like a charm. If you have children, it is important to note how terrified a child can get when they see a snake.

In a nutshell .. this is how it works:

A snake’s sense of smell and taste is important to its ability to gather information and survive. The ingredients in Liquid Fence Snake Repellent irritate and confuse the snakes’ chemosensory systems. Simply put, it impairs the snake’s ability to gather information about its surrounding environment, forcing it to look elsewhere to live.
If you purchase the Gallon size Snake Eliminator by Liquid Fence - use coupon code: michbiz and save $5.00.

Whichever pest you are trying to eliminate .. we wish you luck and would love the opportunity to assist you. Please brown our Pest Control Products and call if you need any help at all!

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Friday, May 9, 2008  

Liquid Net Insect Repellent - ALERT .. the bugs are 'Comin!- CLICK HERE!


100% Deet Free all natural insect repellent that works.

Why would you buy something with Deet if you have kids or pets when there are products that work as effectively and do not contain Deet?


Deet, which can be absorbed through the skin, has been linked to neurological damage, can cause sizures and even death. It can be extremely harmful to children and the elderly.


Liquid Net (The Ultimate Insect Repellent) is completely DEET free and is made from all natural, pleasant smelling ingredients like lemon grass, cedarwood, and citronella oils. These essential oils can be applied to everyone in your family, including children - there is also Liquid net for pets!

Permethrin (found in Deet) is a possible carcinogen and a suspected endocrine disruptor. Endocrine disruptors interfere with normal hormone function and can contribute to breast and testicular cancer, birth defects, learning disorders, and other problems. Animal studies indicate that small amounts of permethrin may cause immunotoxicity, or corruption of the immune system. Exposure to sunlight may worsen this response.

Get all natural Liquid Net The Ultimate Insect Repellent for your family and have more fun in the great outdoors!

All Natural - All natural ingredients including lemon grass, cedarwood and citronella oils

Safe - 100% DEET free, safe for the entire family

Hassle-free - Long lasting and non-greasy

Smells Great - Natural, pleasant scent

Effective – In independent lab testing, Liquid Net actually outperformed common DEET repellents

Member tested – Tested and recommended by the National Home Gardening Club!

Guaranteed - 100% Money-back Guarantee!

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Sunday, May 4, 2008  

Garden "Green" - Save Water with Eco Friendly Hose & More Tips- CLICK HERE!



Our featured Eco-Friendly Tip helps save a ton of water! The Swan Soaker Hose saves up to 70% of precious, costly water and is manufactured of 65% recycled rubber.
  1. Instead of ammonia-based cleaners, use vinegar and water or baking soda and water.
  2. Don’t use electric tools and appliances when hand-operated ones will do the job.
  3. Plant trees. Strategically located, trees can reduce hearing and cooling bills, help prevent soil erosion and reduce air pollution.
  4. Water lawns at night to limit evaporation.
  5. Compost your leaves and yard waste. You’ll improve your garden’s soil.
  6. Minimize the use of garden chemicals by weeding.
  7. Don’t pour oil and gasoline into the sewer system or on the ground. Take to your local collection site.
  8. Tick/fly spray: Combine 2 C white vinegar, 1 C water, 1 C Avon “Skin-So- Soft” bath oil and 1 T eucalyptus oil.
  9. Create your own Roach killer: mix baking soda and powdered sugar. (Keep away from children and pets.)
    Ant killer: Use chili powder to hinder entry.
  10. Start an organic garden! - Start with Espoma Organic Products

And Finally a word about Summer Vacations:

Think a road trip is not exactly eco-friendly? Well it may not be perfect, but according to Terrapass, a family of four heading from NYC to LA in their gas-guzzling 2007 Ford Explorer (4WD) would save 20,462 tons of CO2 over that same trip by air. Of course they may not be sane when they get there, but they’ll certainly have done their part to help cool the planet!

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Friday, May 2, 2008  

Great Gifts Ideas for Mother's Day- CLICK HERE!


Did you know that in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made an official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday and that it would be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.


Mother's Day is May 11 and it is time to buy a Mother's Day gift NOW! If you mom is like me, she will love having a gift that will make her think about you every time she uses or sees it. Spring is here, the sun is shining and the birds are out. You cannot go wrong with a bird feeder for a present.

Why not get your mom a beautiful Triple Tube Copper Bird Feeder? This 12 port feeder has a lifetime warranty. There are three separate seed tubes so your mom can attract a mix of species by varying the seed mixes. Best of all - an integrated guard keeps squirrels at bay, built in seed funnels make for easy filling, and a quick-release feed tray to make cleaning a snap. A huge 10 lb. capacity reduces time spent refilling.


I love the Spiral Seed Bird Feeders that are 17 inches tall. The patented spirals allow more birds to feed as the birds like to perch on the spiral. There are 7 seed ports and it is delightful to watch the birds "run the spiral". The Spiral Seed Bird Feeder is great for large songbirds, like cardinals. I have the black Spiral Seed Bird Feeder and the red cardinals look awesome running up and down the spiral. This feeder is easy to clean with its "Twist & Clean" easy-clean bottom that twists completely off for easy cleaning and it has a lifetime warranty. The feeder is available in copper, silver, green, red, and black.

If you mom is a hands on gardener, then the Garden Rocker Stool is a perfect gift. This is a totally unique gardening seat that allows you to “rock” in any direction to reach your garden work, at the same time reducing strain on your knees and lower back. This can be used while sitting or kneeling. The Garden Rocker Stool is ergonomically designed to reduce strain and stress on the lower back and has an comfortable contoured over-sized seat. The curved base provides a full range of motion and lets you move comfortably in any direction. If you get the stool, you really should get the Garden Rocker Cushion which is the perfect compliment to
the Garden Rocker. A great cushion for the rocker and it has an easy to carry handle for moving around the yard and pouches to carry tools or a favorite beverage.




Doesn't you mom deserve something special for Mother's Day? The time is now to send her a great gift.

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