Food For Thought

By now, I hope you’ve had time to read my article from last week and found some motivation in the to-do list. As I’d indicated, I plan on sharing my thoughts on how we collectively can do better for our gardens and by extension the world at large.

I’m tackling #3 from that list which reminds one to keep bird feeders well supplied. Now, I firmly believe that if one lives in an area already rich in natural food supplies for the birds, then that is the best situation for them. Well planted gardens will not see a shortage of plumed visitors. Bird feeders are artificial food sources. More often than not, they are put up so we humans can enjoy observing the avian antics. If one were totally honest, a certain self-righteousness also comes into the picture – how kind and thoughtful we are by providing for them.

If the birds do not have adequate natural food sources, it’s because we, humans, have removed/changed their habitats to accommodate our needs for homes, industry, recreation and such. So, it is incumbent upon us to first provide for them by way of what we plant in our gardens, what sort of gardening practices we employ and by way of sound city/town planning, recreating green spaces such as woodlands, meadows and parks. Then, and only then should we consider bird feeders to augment their food supply. We mean well but birds are wild creatures and must be allowed to remain so. Otherwise, maintaining the delicate balance of a healthy environment will be untenable.

Having feeders in winter is about giving the non-migrating birds some food security. A helping hand of sorts. Keep in mind that the typical blend of seeds is meant to serve a mix of bird species. In nature however, different types of birds do not mingle or feed together. So, feeders create competition and/or aggressive behavior that is not seen in the wild. Therefore, understand that observations made by watching feeding birds is not of their typical behavior.

I have deep reservations regarding feeders put up at other times of year. We want to have our gardens and green spaces to fulfill the needs of the birds. They need to forage the way Nature intended for them. Additionally, in spring and summer when most birds are feeding their young, bird seeds do not provide the high amount of protein those baby birds require to grow healthy and strong. Insects and worms do that. Data shows that when feeders are around, the parent birds go the easy route because foraging is very hard work! We really aren’t doing them any favors by altering their natural habits. Gives pause for thought I hope.

If (winter) feeders are put up, then, they must be kept replenished continuously. If one is going away on vacation or for the holidays, then it is crucial to make suitable arrangements to keep the feeders in service. We cannot have dependent birds suddenly do without can we?

All of this is to say that if we are to feed our birds, we must always have their best interests at heart. Planting a diverse array of native plants, shrubs and trees should be our highest priority. Applying organic practices is non-negotiable. Like the well known saying “Give a man a fish, he eats for one day. But teach him how to fish and he eats for life”, lets be mindful, intentional and deliberate about how and why we support our birds. The fact is that humans need and depend on their service in pollinating, seed dispersal and pest control. In an ideal world, the birds do not need us. At all.

Full disclosure – Due to my own schedule of winter travel, I no longer put up feeders. The only feeders I put up are for hummingbirds because these tiny creatures need copious amounts of nectar not always in adequate supply if the climate affects the bloom time of flower or the heat causes flowers to die too soon. Of course, aforesaid feeders are installed when the diminutive ones return in mid to late spring until they depart in late summer/early fall.

Note: where you put up feeders matters. I once had an infestation of rats attracted by all the spilled seeds (birds are messy eaters). As a result, the rodents decided to check out my warm home very close by. I still shudder thinking of that experience.

(c) 2025 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Press Reset

While I’ve given myself a garden hall pass this month, it doesn’t mean I’ve stopped thinking about all matters of gardening. It’s been really nice to do the bare minimum in the garden as the weather has improved – gives one the freedom to bask in the sunshine without guilt. That’s a really rare thing as gardeners are perpetually filled with guilt because there is always and forever several things wanting attention. Having decisively given myself permission to take it easy has been liberating. It’s so much more fun to be amidst the plants and observe the goings on sans reservation.

However, the mind is always working. In a good way. By letting the garden sort of do its own thing, I see how it’s quite apparent that we gardeners, need to reset our artistic expectations of our gardens. Rather than wielding a strict hand on the aesthetics, we must loosen up to work more with nature and changing climate. Our gardens should reflect an awareness of environmental and sustainable requirements, be sympathetic to the needs and habits of native flora and fauna.

I’ve often referred to my meadow as an area of controlled chaos. This is primarily because the native plants have a tendency to look wild as they are let to self-seed and edited only when a plant is trying to overpopulate itself in a thuggish manner. With the knowledge that the fittest, the ones most suited to the conditions offered here do best, I learn from the plants. As much as I might desire a more varied array of natives, and I’m willing to trial them all, I have learned to acquiesce to the workings of nature. What thrives supports a happy number of pollinators and is an ecologically beneficial environment. That is after all the whole point of what I have attempted.

On the other hand, I had originally designed the beds in the front garden to be more traditional – tidier and charming like a cottage garden. More in keeping with what might be universally appreciated by viewers from the street. This is pretty much still true through spring when the bulbs are the principal players. However, over the years, I have replaced the more demanding/cantankerous yet popular summer perennials with natives. I did so for two reasons – one was that the native plants are hardy, reliable and low maintenance. The other was to give a visitor a preview of what is to come as they gradually make their way to the meadow in the far back. Design-wise, it provided continuity instead of giving the garden a split personality. Consequently, the beds take on a wild look in summer and fall. But how they hum, buzz and flutter with pollinators! There is so much more life and movement than ever before.

Both, the front beds as well as the meadow don’t require watering except in times of severe dry spells. A dose of compost and cedar mulch keeps the front beds relatively weed free and helps the soil retain moisture longer. The meadow requires no such applications whatsoever. All in all, so much better for the environment as well as the gardener.

It’s true that many perennials peter out early. This point occurred to me every year until more recently I accepted that I must use annuals to fill in those gaps of color in certain places like the terrace and around the side porch. This is no different from the window-boxes and pots that are filled with annuals to pep up the aesthetics.

Keep in mind, those perennials that have finished blooming, continue to serve. The seed heads ripen and feed the birds and other creatures as they prepare for the cold season ahead. In addition, their intricate designs and shapes have inspired me to paint them. I have a wonderful series going!

Ultimately, the looser, wilder native plantings, respond best to the dire calls for longevity, sustainability and sound ecology while still looking beautiful. It really is time to reconsider our gardens and adapt our design sensibilities accordingly. A shift in mindset makes us winners all around.

Fall is a good time for planting native perennials – get cracking!

Note: Last Saturday, I visited the gardens at Hay Honey Farm in New Jersey. I was thrilled to see that they too have a meadow similar to mine and even the other borders have the same natural sensibilities as mine. Except, theirs are far more extensive and better maintained!

My wild show: One gardener’s paradise and anothers hell?!

(c) 2021 Shobha Vanchiswar

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