Seed Shortages Loom

This just in from the local garden center’s e-newsletter:

Based on very reliable information we have received at Wedel’s Garden Center, there is a real expectation that garden seeds will be in short supply in the United States this year due to a number of factors.

Lovett’s Guide to Horticulture cover clipart — Spring 1895

The last two years saw a huge increase in the number of new home gardeners as well as larger plots being developed by veteran gardeners. Demand for seed soared. Less than favorable weather conditions might have discouraged some, especially the new gardeners but those weather conditions had an effect on all growers including those supplying the seed companies. Poor yields resulted in fewer seeds being available this year. Coupled with the poor yield is the fact that there have been fewer farms growing crops for seed due to the increased value of corn which is used in the production of ethanol.

Another increase in the number of first-time gardeners is expected again this year and an increase in demand for seeds by European countries is expected to add to the shortage once again.

According to a Chas. C. Hart Seed Company representative, his company was not able to get any sugar snap peas and he expects that other seed companies, who do have some available, will sell out quickly. Some popular varieties of cucumbers and carrots will also become difficult, if not impossible to find. Other seeds may become as scarce.

Our best advice is plan early and get your seeds early in order to ensure you are able to grow the healthful garden vegetables your family will enjoy.

What do you think? Are you finding your seeds or having some problems?

The Trouble with Cardinals

This was the winter I was going to get the perfect cardinal photo. The problem is that they tend to visit the birdfeeder just before dusk. The light changes quickly, so there is only about 20 minutes to 1/2 an hour to get the perfect shot before it gets too dark.

They are notoriously shy birds. Where chickadees will continue to fly up to the bird feeder to get seed, even while standing within 3 feet of them, cardinals won’t come to the feeder at all if you are outside, and when inside, as soon as you move to the window to get a shot, they get skittish and keep their distance.

Their favorite landing spot is in an ornamental pear tree near the birdfeeder. They can land, scope out the territory for predators, then swoop in to grab some seed. It’s also my favorite spot to try to get a picture. However, they refuse to sit still and pose for me. It’s as if they purposely turn their back or make sure a branch obscures my sight line or hop to another branch just as I’m clicking the shutter.

I’m also finding that the windows, double-paned to keep the cold north winds out, can create blurry shots as the light fades and neutralizes the bright red color.

So far, I have good number of really bad shots, several okay shots and one really good one of a female cardinal. I figure I’ve still got another month and a half to get it right.

Some of the better photos:

The first three pictures have problems with a lack of sharpness, branches in the way and the birds simply refusing to sit still.

I’ve done a whole series of the birds at the feeders. When they eat, they tend to have an angry look about them, like, “don’t mess with me”.

My favorite of the feeder shots. See now, the chickadee is posing nicely. The cardinals could take a lesson.

Finally, a lovely pose. Still slightly out-of-focus. I blame the window and the dusk coming in fast, which forced me to keep my lens open longer to let in more light.

How did this happen? The best shot of the bunch, looking like a picture postcard.

Bonus picture: This last Sunday we were surprised by a small flock of cedar waxwings and robins (they seemed to be traveling together). They flew in, filled up on berries from the Hawthorne tree, drank some water and moved on. I do occasionally see robins in winter but never waxwings. I was able to get 4 quick photos. This was the only good one of those I took. What a beauty!

It’s a Photo Finish

Me, being a little confused and a little cold

I’ve just found out that I’m a finalist in a photo contest put on by Midwest Living Magazine. A Fed-Ex packet was left at my door on Friday. I saw it when I came home from work, and all I could think of, was that I had ordered something online, but forgot what I had ordered.

Inside was a letter stating that I was a potential prize winner and that to qualify as a prize winner I had to fill out  all the enclosed forms. So, what do you think? Am I a winner, but they can’t call it until the forms are filled out? Or will filling out the forms make it clear that I am a potential winner, along with the other potential winners that have also filled out their forms? I can’t decide which.

The forms included a publicity release, an ownership/liability release and a W-9 form for tax purposes. They then stated “Upon timely receipt, confirmation, and verification of  your executed affidavit and releases, we will send you the prize.” Okay, that does sound like I really did win. Now I’m really confused.

I entered six different photographs of autumn in Southwest Michigan but they didn’t really say which one was the winner – or perhaps the potential winner. So I’m giving the link to the magazine here, so anyone reading this blog can go visit, then tell me which one they think is the winning picture. Since I took the photos, I’m very fond of all of them.

I tried to get a direct link right to the photos, but the magazine won’t let me. I’ll get any who visit the magazine to the closest link, then give directions on how to access my pictures – step by step.

• First click on this link.
• Immediately to the left is a list of Photo Categories
• Click on the first labeled MWL Photo Contests
• Scroll down to the Box labeled My Midwest November
• Click on the photo in the box
• type in jigglestaro in the search box at the top of the page

That will pull up the six photos that I entered. You can click on the thumbnails to get enlargements.

So which do you think is the one?