Uh-oh! Here They Come

After a long and cold winter, the bluebirds have become active here at DSBG. We can just imagine they have been waiting for us to start peeking into (intruding?) their space. When they hear the golf cart approaching, they know we’ll be knocking on the doors. Yes, it’s always polite to knock before entering but, in this case, it’s to make sure a bird isn’t in the box when we open the front panel. Knock- knock and if a bird is in there, it usually flies out so that we can take a look inside.

The Eastern bluebirds spent many nights cuddling up for warmth in the nestboxes along the bluebird trail and, now, they are thinking about the future generation. This is the fourth week of March and there are three complete nests ready for use and several more that are under construction. The birds are active and have staked out territory for hunting and gathering. They are sitting on the boxes and lamp posts. They are singing. These are the signs of the season. Life is glorious!

This year a suggestion was made to try nestbox inserts to encourage the birds to use the boxes. Last year sixty-three percent of the boxes were used by the “blues”. Since there was not enough time before nesting season to order the inserts, make-shift ones were made from the tops of egg cartons. These are the cardboard ones, not the styrofoam ones. The tops were cut in half (like a half dozen size) and a couple of snips with the scissors were made to fold the end up to make it fit in the nestbox. It’s a trial and it remains to be seen if it increases box use. However, three of the nests that are ready for use are constructed in the egg carton inserts, as can be seen in the picture. We’ve had a few laughs about the birds’ laying eggs directly into egg cartons. It’s a different twist, but we do have fun with our “assignment.”

There is one box in which a tufted titmouse is setting up housekeeping. At least we think it’s a titmouse. It could be a Carolina chickadee as the nests are very similar. This nest is quite different from the ones bluebirds make. As to the cardboard insert, the bird attacked it and tore it into small pieces but a nest is being built in it. The nest is made up of shredded dry leaves and lots of green moss as well as other unidentifiable material. At this point it isn’t ready for use as more depth is needed before the nesting cup is shaped. We’ll keep an eye out for which bird flies into it and give you an ID later.

Most nests of the Eastern bluebird here at the garden are made up of pine needles as there is an ample supply of them. However, in the past there have been a few that were made with dried grass. It depends on what’s available.

So we’ve hit the trail for the season and with good weather and some luck, there will be a new generation of little bluebirds fledging over the next few months.

Orchid Tips

There are a large variety of orchids that bloom during the fall and winter and with this in mind, feed with a fertilizer higher in phosphorous, this can aid an orchid in flower size and flower count.This is also a good time to spray for insects before bringing them inside for the winter. Insecticides can be confusing with directions for orchids not listed. Follow directions given for "ornamentals"and if scales or mealy bugs are present, you will need to treat the potting medium as well. If you still not sure what to do, look up your local orchid society, they can be a very useful guide in growing orchids.

Orchid Spectacular Planned

Garden staff is hard at work preparing for Orchid Spectacular that begins Jan. 15.

This is our annual showcase of orchids that opens with the NC Piedmont Orchid Society’s judged show and sale. The event continues through March 14 with a presentation of the best of the Garden’s collection of nearly 5,000 orchids, continuing education classes, lectures and more.

The NCPOS show runs through Jan. 17 and begins with the American Orchid Society’s judging of hundreds of varieties from the intriguing bulbophyllums to the colorful cattleyas presented in the theme of “Orchids in the Trees.” It’s an appropriate theme given that a vast majority of orchids are epiphytic, which means they grow upon rocks or trees, receiving nutrients from rainfall or from the humid air around them. The event includes the sale of orchids and orchid supplies from the region’s most respected growers and informal talks by members of the orchid society.

Friday night, Jan. 15, the event ramps up with “An Evening of Orchids,” an elegant celebration of orchids from around the world. In addition to the magnificent display of orchids, the evening will feature an auction of unique orchid packages, food and more. Tickets for the event are $55 or $85 for the Patron Level. Reservations must be made in advance by calling 704-829-1252.

“Orchid Spectacular” and the Garden’s ongoing lecture series continues Jan. 23 with “The Road Less Traveled: New Orchid Hybrids for Warm Climates,” a lecture by Milton Carpenter, owner of Everglades Orchid, of Belle Glade, Florida. An internationally recognized speaker with 42 years experience in growing and breeding orchids, Carpenter rarely lectures now. The results of his orchid breeding have enabled people in warmer climates to grow previously cold-preferrent orchids. Admission to the lecture is $15 for Garden members and $20 for non-members. The lecture begins at 10 a.m.

Throughout the ongoing event, Garden guests will be able to view some of the world’s most stunning varieties of orchids in The Orchid Conservatory. Here the garden displays fascinating orchids from around the globe in an incredibly creative and artistic fashion. More than 22,000 species of orchids exist on all but one of the earth’s continents and hybrids number in the hundreds of thousands. The orchids displayed at the conservatory represent the great diversity of temperate and tropical species, from the hot, humid lowlands to the cool mountain regions.

There is more, including a quilt display and continuing education classes, so come back to the Garden Blog later to learn more or check out the website at www.DSBG.org.