When I go to work each day in my office, or my kitchen, or my easy chair (or wherever my laptop takes me), I feel blessed.
After college, I worked first as a legal secretary and then as a legal assistant in offices and firms for over 15 years. I loved that too, but being a writer fulfills my greatest artistic longings. An honorable profession, I wish it paid more. However, like the commercial says, the other benefits are priceless.
Through my work, I am constantly learning. Although I gardened from the age of 21 or so, once I began to write about plants, a twinkling universe opened itself to me.
Besides, learning keeps us young, and I fully intend to stay young in here (I say as I tap my chest) where it counts, until I draw my final breath.
This past week I wrote two articles about birds. One was a shortie for Oklahoma Gardening Examiner; the other a more extensive article to be published in a magazine. Before researching my subject, I knew very little about birds, their habits and habitats. Now, I know a lot.
Because they were gardening articles, I wanted to impress upon my readers the part plants play in sheltering and feeding birds. Like so much of what we read about gardening and the environment, I discovered that diversification is the key.
- Grow a variety of plants which flower and fruit at different times of the year.
- Grow grasses, and perennials, shrubs and trees.
- Grow evergreens so that birds have winter protection.
Before learning about the importance of evergreens, I never thought about hollies except in terms of Christmas cards or carols. Now, I’m planning to buy two or three for my front yard next year. I already have some deciduous ones, but I need to grow a few which remain green all year and have berries. Birds love berries. I even discovered that the invasive, native Juniperus virginiana, or eastern redcedar, has some worthwhile qualities because it is loved by the Cedar Waxwing.
Did you know that Oklahoma is smack dab in the middle of the migratory bird flight path? That is one of the reasons Oklahoma has so many different birds throughout the year.
Did you know the American Robin never leaves our state? It simply moves to the southeastern part where it has more tree cover and the weather stays warmer.
Neither of these facts are in the two articles I wrote, but that doesn’t matter.
The best gift any writer has is his or her insatiable curiosity about the world and his or her fellow human beings.
Like I said, I feel blessed.
Great post! I love learning new things too.
I’m so glad that my backyard neighbor planted shrubs and trees all around his backyard; he definitely created a great bird habitat. I’ve been slower to add shrubs and trees, but between the two of us we provide plenty of food and shelter. It has been such a joy to see the different birds showing up.
Robin´s last blog post..Autumn Around Robin’s Nesting Place
Thanks, Robin, for stopping by. You are the queen of birds, and if I ever need another bird expert, you’re the one I’d call. I’m always stunned by your photos too.~~Dee
Honey-bunny– we are all blessed that you write– and also take photographs. Both display beauty. I learn so much from your blog, and from you.
Big hugs,
CurtissAnn
CurtissAnn´s last blog post..Hopeful Friday — Seeking Beauty
Dee I didn’t know you were going to have an article in a magazine. That is awesome! I knew you wrote for the examiner with some grand articles–but didn’t know you were in a magazine too. Which one? I’ll got get it so I can own a copy.
I planted an Emerald Green Arborvitae that I love. I get so caught up in the bloomers that I have to remind myself to buy the evergreens too.
When we see the Robins–we know it’s spring. Didn’t know you got to keep them all the time. Lucky you. And how grand that you keep them in mind and provide some protection and food for them.
Anna´s last blog post..My 1600’s Old Salem, NC Album
Hi Dee, your post about books, research and learning is fortuitous! If you have a moment visit my blog, you’ve been “tagged” and its about BOOKS! Only if you want to play
take good care.
Lorene
Just had to come by and see what Red Dirt Ramblings was about, since I live in Red Dirt myself, but up here in Wyoming! I was born in Ardmore, though, with relatives scattered around Oklahoma. Gardening is done here except for cleaning out the garden and flowerbeds, but I’ll be back to check up on things!
Carol´s last blog post..Green leaves and snow
This is the first time I have visited your site. The heading is pretty! I enjoyed the post and agree with your appreciation of learning new things all the time about the plants, trees, grasses, insects and on and on that I had taken for granted before I started gardening.
Shari´s last blog post..Thanks you guys!
Most interesting, Dee, and fun to learn more about you. Enjoying my birds is a huge part of my love for gardening. Interesting fact about robins! A ROBIN’S WINTER is the name of my brother’s book that our family published posthumously after his sudden death. Thank you for your fine post.
joey´s last blog post..‘HARMONY IN AUTUMN’ ~ SPICED PUMPKIN MUFFINS
Hi Dee, you are always a treat. I love the thought of twinkling anything! Might I suggest some Foster’s Hollies? They do not need the male pollinator so every bush will yield lots of berries for your enjoyment as well as the birds. Don’t forget the Viburnums too. You are indeed very lucky to work at home and also to be on the flight path of those magical migrators, the cedar waxwings, my favorite bird. And we are lucky you write for us, too.
Frances
Frances´s last blog post..Kodak Versus Canon Or Do We Really Need A New Camera?
The day I stop learning is the day my brain starts to rot. Your remark about the robins’ migration reminds me of my visit to the Desert Museum in Tucson. I laughed so hard when I saw robins in one of thier exhibits. I never thought of them as desert creatures & they were such a contrast to all the exotic animals. I guess the Squirrelhaven robins like to winter in AZ.
I’ve long been aware of the birds’ need for winter shelter. I hope they like the Thujas I’ve planted for them to replace the oversized Pines we had to cut down. Too bad evergreen Hollies don’t like the Midwest.
Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog post..Design Dilemma
I’m making an effort to learn more about birds, too, Dee. I just subbed to a blog called Round Robin that looks promising. Thanks for the reminder to accommodate the birds when planting, too!
jgh´s last blog post..Mel Bartholomew, Mother Wonderful and Me
Dee! Hello, what a very nice post! I have Juniperus galore…but I do need to think about the birds more and plant even more berries. The Robins are in this garden all year long….thee is one guy who sits on the same branch everyday and chats to whomever will listen. Thanks for the reminder to plant for our other garden visitors! Gail
Gail´s last blog post..On Behalf Of Our Friends, The Bees….
Thanks, Gail. I bet you do have a lot of the junipers. I love the robins, and I’m glad they are here to greet me.~~Dee
That was a great post. I learned something. I thought the robins would need to go farther south than OK to overwinter. That is interesting.
Marnie
Marnie, I did too until I did an interview with a bird expert in Oklahoma City. She was fascinating.~~Dee
Great post, Dee. We are on the migratory path too and occasionally we see interesting birds. Sadly, we are completely ignorant about bird types. If you know about things you’re much more likely to notice them when they happen, just like plants.
Elizabeth, I bet you’re right. I noticed I put out seed earlier once I finished the article.~~Dee
I loved this post and it’s so true for us all, writers and non-writers alike: learn as if you will live forever, as Plurkette GardenPunk said to us the other night. I’ve written it on a post-it note and put it up on my armoire door to remind me how important it is.
Cindy´s last blog post..How To Get Ready for A Day In The Garden
And you are blessed. As well as an excellent writer. You “take me with you” on your writing journeys due to your visionary way of apt descriptions. I have the hollies in my courtyard that have the red berries and stay green. I love them, except when pruning. Ouch! Wanted to mention to others that http://www.nwf.org is a good place for reference in terms of habitats.
Brenda
Brenda Kula´s last blog post..Six Quirky Facts
Thanks, Brenda. I forgot to mention that website, and I meant to do it. I bought a book on garden wildlife published by them I think.~~Dee
I’ve been working over the past couple years to make my garden more bird friendly. We have a few pine trees (planning on planting some more). We put up bird feeders in the winter and a heated birdbath as well. I need to get a birdbath for summer. Those little birds do a great job keeping my spider population down.
Susy´s last blog post..A Little Appreciation
Pine trees are great because they are evergreen and have those lateral branches. I have a pond, but a heated birdbath would be nice too.~~Dee
I’m not sure Eastern Red Cedars are considered invasive up north, Dee. She might not be joking. And I never think of hollies when I think of evergreens, because only the deciduous ones are hardy here. Climate certainly affects what you can plant and what birds you can expect to see.
Kathy´s last blog post..How do I winter over hardy plants in containers?
Kathy, that is so true, and it’s important for me to remember what is invasive here isn’t always elsewhere. Maybe your weather keeps the little darlings in check. Fire once did for us.~~Dee
Hear, hear.
Susan Tomlinson´s last blog post..Pet sock wars.
Hi Susan and thanks.~~Dee
You are mightly blessed Dee and so are we since you share you knowlege and love of writing with us in the blogging world.
Thanks, Lisa. I’m also blessed to have you as a friend.~~Dee
You expressed it beautifully, Dee—I know I feel blessed that I get to learn so much through the research I do for my articles. Life is never boring when you’re continually learning.
Beautiful post! (And I would kill to have a cedar waxwing visit my garden—maybe I should plant some eastern red cedars!)
Now, Colleen, I know you’re kidding about the redcedars. You simply must be joking.~~Dee
You are so right, lifelong learning keeps you young and when you write about plants or gardening or birds, I hope you never lose that feeling of wonder about how amazing the natural world is. I hope I don’t! I wish I knew more about birds in my garden. I think I’ll do some research and writing!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog post..Happy Do Nothing in the Garden Day
Carol, I don’t think I ever will.~~Dee
Hi Dee, Very interesting stuff. I have focused on butterflies in our yard. Right now we have an albino gulf fritillary caterpillar in the kitchen in a jar. We are going to watch it pupate and emerge. I have always wanted to learn more about our local bird. Maybe this winter I will have time.
Hi Deb, how cool is that? I can’t wait to see photos when it emerges.~~Dee
I often tell my children that now that they know how to read they can learn anything they want to. Being able to write about it too is the icing on the cake 🙂
We’ve been picking away at planting a “hedgerow” along one side of our backyard for privacy and for wildlife.
Amy´s last blog post..I Have A Date!
Amy, I think my parents told us that too. Words full of wisdom.~~Dee