March 25, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 31 Home Improvement & Gardening (NAPS) Gardening and birding are two of the most popular hobbies in the United States. Combine both pastimes by creating a backyard bird garden. According to Michigan State University, a well-landscaped yard can increase your home’s value by 5-11 percent. “Choosing what to plant to create a bird garden is easy and takes only a few steps,” says Wingscapes Birding Expert Stephen Kress, author and co-author of numerous birding books, including “The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds” and “The Audubon Backyard Birdwatch.” You only need to consider a few basic plants. Begin Spring Create an easy and practical backyard bird garden with a front row of wildflowers and nectar-bearing flowers, such as yellow black-eyed Susan and purple echinacea. Consider adding three-foot-tall stakes for vines, such as the hummingbird-friendly trumpet vine and morning glory. Then add four or five taller flowering and berry-producing bushes, such as blackberry, blueberry, holly, and winterberry. Complete the landscape with two small trees that produce berries and give birds a perch, such as flowering dogwood, hawthorn, crab apple, or serviceberry. Feeders will also attract birds to your garden and make birding easier. Consider a large pole feeder and choose a high-quality birdseed mix that includes sunflower seeds. Spread some of the seed on the ground. Birds like to splash in birdbaths all year. The key consideration is to select a shallow bath just an inch or two deep and to keep it clean. You can enjoy watching all the birds in your garden even while you are away. Wingscapes BirdCam is a weatherproof, motion-activated digital camera that captures highresolution photos and videos of birds. Images and videos can then be viewed on a home computer or TV. For more information, visit www.wingscapes.com. R&S Landscaping of Midland Park and Backyard Living of Ridgewood will launch their free 2009 seminar series on April 8. The 10-week series will provide homeowners with much needed information to ensure beautiful, environmentally responsible and cost-effective properties. All seminars will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Backyard Living, 235 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood. The series will begin April 8 with “Landscape Planning,” a seminar with tips from professionals on where to start, what works best for each property, and how to plan and manage costs. The ensuing seminars will be: •April 15: Decorating and Accessorizing Your Deck or Patio in Time for Your Next Backyard Party •April 22: Environmentally Friendly R&S Landscaping and Backyard Living launch 2009 seminar series Lawn & Garden Care May 5: Service Provider Meet and Greet: Landscapers, Masons, Architects, Designers and more •May 6: Hands-On Pruning Workshop with a Master Gardener May 13: Annuals & Summer Color •May 20: Container Gardening with a Master Gardener (for beginners) May 27: Landscape Lighting •June 3: Hands-on Workshop – Container Gardening with a Master Gardener and a Floral Designer June 10: Hands-on Perennial Care All the seminars are free, but pre-registration is required. To register, please call R&S Landscaping at (201) 447-6205 or Backyard Living at (201) 689-9111 or register online at www.backyardlivingnj.com. R&S Landscaping is located at 27 Greenwood Avenue, Midland Park. For over 25 years, the company has offered highend, quality service to residential, public, and commercial properties in the areas of design/build, grounds maintenance, irrigation, snow/ice removal, lighting and plant health care. R&S Landscaping has continued its commitment to environmental balance through innovative technology and the green practices it employs. Eco Earth Design collaborates with architects, building managers, contractors, engineers, green consultants and business and property owners to create an integrated approach to landscape development. The company’s goal is to create ecologically sensitive outdoor solutions. For more information, please call 201-447-6205 or visit us at www. rscape.com or www.ecoearthdesign.com. ����������������������� ��������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ���������������������� �������������������� ������������������������������ ����������������������������������������� ������������������������� �������������������� ��������������������� ������������������ ����������������� ���������������� �������������������� �������������������� ��������������� ����������������� ������� ���������������� ��� ����������� ��� ����������� ��� ������������ ������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������� ������������������ ����������� ������������������� � ������������������ � �������������������� � ���������� ��������������� ������������� ����������������� � �������� �������������������� ���������� � ������� ������������������ Landscape Maintenance Services ����������������������� �������������������� ���������������������� ������������� �������������� ������������� ~ Since 1978 ~ ���������������������� ����������� �������������������� ���� ������������������������� �������������������� ������������������� ��������� ���������� ����������������������� ��������������������� Design Center ��������������������������� ������������� ����������������������������� Total Design & Maintenance Service ������� ������������������������������������������� LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES �������������� 201-891-1199 413 Godwin Ave. • Midland Park, NJ Landscape Gallery ����������������������������� www.jacobsenlandscape.com 201-825-4440 11 Barnstable Ct. • Saddle River, NJ