The feeder has been full all winter and not a seed has been scattered, not a junko, not a nuthatch, not a chickadee, not even a pine siskin has danced about.
It has been a very lonely feeder, and lonely mountain ash. And lonely me, without my feathered friends.
But robins? Goodness.
So I made a phone call to a friend to share the excitement of the moment. He assured me that when the falls are mild there are a small number of robins that will winter over, but it was still fair to be impressed. We chatted about our mutual lack of bohemian waxwings, and birds at the feeder. The mountain ash in his garden also are heavy with fruit waiting for the elegant beauties that failed to show up for the feast.
Still comparing notes, here they came, sweeping in with a tremendous flourish, at least 100 waxwings, right among the robins (yes, 32 robins). Then the feeder was shaking with the weight of dark-eyed junkos and pine siskins. The seeds were flying, wings were beating, chirping, twittering, the sound alone will not be forgotten any time soon.
All within 10 minutes.
Dazzling.
Where there was nothing, there was everything. The whole show lasted about 40 minutes. Off and on over the next three days the scene was repeated but not with the multitudes, not with the sheer force of that first 10 minutes.
When we first moved here in the fall of 1998, there was one spruce tree, a very small, scrawny, defeated-looking tree that escaped the "dozer" when the excavation happened. A tree looking for love, if ever I saw one. We added a companion spruce, and now they are taking on the elegance that well cared for native spruce can acquire. A majesty. A presence. And a really good place for small birds to seek refuge.
Which brings me to the painfully obvious fact that easy-to-grow trees, easy-to-protect-from-the-moose trees, are sorely lacking here in the city of Homer neighborhoods. Look around. What do you see? Houses that have been here for 20 years and not a thing has been planted. Why ever not? What is the big deal? I was planting trees here as the house was under construction. It is not ever too late to plant a tree.
Don't go on about how long it takes a tree to grow and that you will probably not be around to enjoy its full glory. Someone will.
The logical choice to start with is our native spruce. With the amount of construction happening there are far too many spruce trees being shoved aside to make way for new buildings. Be aware of potential construction sites and, come spring, take a few trees home with you.
The ease of digging up spruce is surprising. They are shallow-rooted trees. All you need do is scoop up the surface of the soil and most of the tree's roots will come along. When you get it home, dig a very shallow hole and just set the tree into it. Five gallons of water a week throughout the spring and summer will see it through until the rains come in August (if they come). I have seven spruce here and they are growing between 16 and 27 inches a year. They are looking quite fine, and the moose won't eat them.
The mountain ash is a fast-growing tree that is readily available. It is elegant and lovely, blooming in the spring and displaying bright red berries all fall and into winter, until the waxwings come and strip them.
Be aware that fast-growing trees also are short lived. And not very strong. A good heavy snow while the leaves are still on can split a tree effortlessly.
My intention is to have a grove of mountain ash. I have three that I bought at about 15 feet high and then there are two that were about 12 inches. The effect, I hope is trees of varying ages, with a more natural look to the "grove." But the 12-inchers are growing so fast that they are catching up to the more mature trees. Interesting.
If you do not have a fence, caging the young trees will protect them from the moose that will most definitely use them for browse and you will always and forever have a stunted, deformed, struggling tree. Caging is a terrific idea. Once the trees get tall enough you can take the cages down, the moose will look for something easier to destroy.
Here are two trees that will make your life sing. They are easy to grow and available. What could be more simple? And the robins (32) will come.
Note: The Homer Garden Club will meet at 2 p.m. Feb. 27 downstairs at City Hall in the council chambers. A panel of three long-time Homer gardeners — Jeannie McArthur, Ahna Iredale and me — will answer your questions.
Rosemary Fitzpatrick has been gardening with gusto in Homer for 26 years.
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