December 6, 2025 • 43 mins
In this hour of the Garden with Ron Wilson, Ron chats with Laura Konkle, the executive director of America in Bloom, a program celebrating 25 years of helping communities become their best selves. They discuss how America in Bloom connects communities with horticulture professionals to create vibrant and sustainable spaces. Laura shares the program's new initiative, Gardens Across America, which allows property owners to certify their properties for environmental stewardship and community vitality. Monica Brubaker talks about the importance of bird-friendly landscaping and how to provide for birds during the winter months.
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Speaker 1 (00:33):
Our toll free number eight hundred eight two three eight
two five five. Good morning. I am run Wilson, your
personally yard boy, talking about yarding America in Bloom. Are
you familiar with America in Bloom. We've had them on
our show in the past, trying to keep you updated
what they do, and they do such a great thing
for all the communities around the United States. But uh uh,
(00:53):
sometimes I bring that up and folks just aren't familiar
with it. We want to continue to push America in
Bloom so you know more about it and maybe you
get them involved with your community as well. Go to
the website it's America in Bloom dot org. That's America
in Bloom dot org and to talk to us a
little bit more about what they're doing, what they do,
and what they're going to be doing. In twenty twenty six,
(01:13):
a new program launching celebrating twenty five years the Growing
vibr Communities is the executive director, Laura Konkle.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Good morning, good morning, Thank you so much for having
me today.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Well, we appreciate you getting up and talking with us
so early on a Saturday morning. So America in Bloom
twenty five years, I can't believe it.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I can't either. I was around from day one when
this organization was created. So it's quite a quite a
journey twenty five years. We're excited to be celebrating twenty
five years of helping community become the very best that
they can be.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Who is there one person or was Eric? How did
America and Bloom get started?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
So began twenty five years ago. Before twenty five years
am I maybe twenty seven years ago was a group
of horticulture professionals got together and they were big wigs
in the horticulture industry, and they would fly into Cleveland, Ohio,
and they sort of talked about spent about two years
thinking how can we connect better at the grassroots level
about the benefits of plants. We know that plants are pretty,
(02:15):
but they are more than pretty. There's economic benefits, environmental benefits,
and human health benefits. So they spent about two years
developing this plan on creating an organization called America in
Bloom on doing just that, connecting at the grassroots level
about the benefits of plants. So twenty five years ago
the organization was launched, and I'm really proud to have
(02:35):
been involved since day one.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Wow, that's that's crazy. Twenty I's still twenty five years
is nuts. So again, at go to their website, check
it out and you can learn more about it. Americaanbloom
dot org. So folks understand this, so okay, so you
like it out and teach folks about the beautification of
their communities and how important it is, et cetera, et cetera.
But you guys have taken this to all new levels
as far as categories and awards and training in programs
(03:01):
in a whole nine yards.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Yeah, we really have. So you know, we do know
and your listeners know that communities that are more welcoming
and vibrant have a competitive advantage in attracting tourists, in
stimulating economic development, and creating a thriving place for people
to work and live. So American Bloom really believes that
(03:25):
we can help build vibrant and sustainable community through volunteerism,
through education which emphasizes flowers, plants, trees, heritage, environmental and
lifestyle enhancements. We want American Bloom communities to be the
best examples of welcoming in vibrant places to live, work
and play. So for twenty five years, we've been doing
(03:47):
this program where in fact we've had in three hundred
and eighty communities in forty four states, and we send advisors.
We send a two person team of advisors into a community.
These are specially trained professionals. They tour a community, they
meet leaders and volunteers, they provide coaching and mentoring, and
(04:10):
then they provide this detailed report. It's really an action
plan that offers comprehensive recommendations for community transformation. So our
advisors are really the rock stars of the American Balloom program.
We have landscapers, we have heritage architects, we have city managers,
we have mayors, we have horticulture professionals. They bring such
(04:33):
a breadth and depth of knowledge to communities. So as
you did reference the categories, the registration fee is based
on your population, so it is scaled. Smaller communities would
certainly pay less than a larger community, but American Balloon
pays for the advisors to fly into each community. While
(04:55):
the registration fee does help us just offset some of
the fees. It's really cool about the program. In addition
to getting this remarkable report, which we've been told consult
you'd pay consulting about fifty thousand dollars. You're going to
do that with us for about a fraction of the
cost cracks around seventeen hundred dollars. But the cool thing
also that you are communities are eligible to win national awards.
(05:18):
Communities are doing remarkable things. Municipal staff are doing great things,
volunteers are doing great things. The awards program allows them
to get national recognition for the great things that they're doing.
And let's face it, you know, the mayors like to
brag about the awards that the community wins. Come with
election time or when you're trying to recruit new business,
(05:38):
new residents to come to your community, you're going to
brag about those awards that you won, like, hey, we
are voted the best place for kids, or coolest downtown,
best community garden program, whatever the award is that a
community wins. Those are bragging rights, and those things are important.
It's a great way for people to be recognized and
(05:59):
also a great recruitment tool for business.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Sure, and of course that's you all. What you're offering
them is then a start. You know, let's take a
look at it. Here's what we think you can do.
As somebody looks at this Laura and again their website
America in bloom dot org. Check it out. If a
community has you come in and sit down with them,
can they actually set a budget of what they're able
to spend? Or is that how you start that out?
(06:23):
Like Okay, we've got so much money we can spend.
Now we'll try to increase that down the road, or
how does that? How do you work with that community?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Well that's how. We don't come in with a budget
per se. What we do is we come in with
an outsider's perspective and we're going to let our team
of advisor has about one hundred and fifty different metrics
or questions if you will, that they look at, how
is the question? How is a community doing in these
one hundred and fifty ish metrics? And so you give
you give a spore on that so you have a baseline.
(06:53):
But really the meat of the visit is the recommendations
that they're going to provide. And they've looked at one
hundred and fifty different things, and here's recommendations on how
to get better in each of these things. So some
will be very easy, very easy projects that a community
could check off and perhaps low budget or much much
more resources required. Some are going to be longer term ideas.
(07:16):
Some are going to be so aspirational that you think
you can't do it, but I promise you can't do it.
So we don't come in really saying this is what
it's going to cost. Like, we come in and say
this is what we think you can do with what
you have and how to go from good to great, and.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Then of course the community could take it from there,
take it back to the community, present that and then
you know, a lot of communities have local nurseries, local
garden centers, landscape firms. Maybe then start to tie in
with them as well to be a part of that.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Exactly, yes, exactly, we would love for horticulture businesses in
a community, landscapers, garden centers, growers as you've mentioned, to
really be a partner in the community's efforts. It's a
business building opportunities certainly for those companies, but it's a
it's another way to show your commitment to the community
and and horticulture businesses bring experience and knowledge and a
(08:09):
professionalism to it. They will help a community do their
projects correctly. You know, we right plant, right place, that
sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And not too bad if you're in the community putting
your name behind that as well.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Exactly, it's definitely a business building opportunity. I'm not you know, certainly,
let's acknowledge that.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Yeah, absolutely, talking with Laura Conkle, she's the executive director
of America in Bloom. Go to the website America in
bloom dot org. If you think your community would want
to do this, and this is something that you know,
it's if you came out there, you know, March January, Fairrary,
March whatever. This is something you're going to look at
for the next you know, to get going, probably a
year or two to get everything in place and then
(08:49):
get this program going. I mean there's a little bit
of time involved there before you really get it up
and running right.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Well, we want communities to jump in. The registration deadline
for the twenty twenty six program is February twenty eighth.
We we want every community to just go ahead and register.
Let's get those advisors to come out to you and
they would come in the summer May to July ish,
depending on your climate. Okay, and so let's get the
advisors out there, get this this report so you can
(09:16):
already go ahead and get the recommendations and start working
on them, and then you know, just keep building the
momentum year after year after year, right, so actually send
the lane.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yeah, so actually you're looking you would be looking at
twenty twenty seven as far as really getting and starting
to get the program going.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Well, I guess i'd say twenty six get your program going, yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Yeah, but I mean you know you might.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Right think ahead.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
I'm just going to say to you know, by the
time you get all the planning in place and all
your sponsors and everything together, it wou'd be looking. Yeah.
I still you want to get it going as quick
as you can, but you'd really be rolling for twenty
twenty seven. All right, let's take a quick break because
then I'm going to let folks know what kind of
programs you're launching for twenty twenty six. How to get
more involved or you get in touch with again. Go
(10:04):
to the website is America in bloom dot org. I
think you're gonna find out that this is something your
community probably should be doing. If they're not, they should be.
Check it out more with Laura Kunkle. Here in the
Garden with Ron Wilson.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
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Speaker 1 (13:05):
Welcome back. He're in the Garden with Ron Wilson's special
guests this morning. Laura Cuncle. She is the executive director
for America in Bloom growing vibrant communities and talking about
how you can get your community involved with America in
Bloom as well. So go to their website America in
Bloom dot org and learn more about it, you know,
community wise, and again it's a great thing. I if
(13:25):
folks are listening this morning, take this to if you're
not doing this, take it to your community and present
this because I think all the benefits would have not
just to make your community look better, but last Laura
was saying earlier, inviting new residents, inviting new businesses, making
you feel better, the community feel better, and bottom line
is they have all kinds of categories that you can
(13:46):
actually win. The category winners that and the towns that
you work with. I mean there are small towns like
thousand people population to as big as Topeka, Kansas are larger.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Right, We've been as I mentioned earlier, three hundred and
eighty communities and they are from across the country, the
Pacific Northwest down the southern Florida and all points in between.
And we had communities of fewer than two hundred people
and the largest community ever to participate would have been Chicago.
(14:18):
So you know, our advisors can do small communities and
large communities and communities of all resources. You know, we've
our advisors have been to Calabasas, California, that's you know,
a wealthy community and along in California, but we've been
in communities that are that are much smaller, have far
fewer resources. But you know, all communities that are involved
in American Bloomers are the same in one way. They
(14:40):
care deeply about where they live and they wanted to
be better. And that's what we do. We come in
and help you get better.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
And you can tell when you visit that community that
you folks have been helping. Again, go to their website
America and bloom dot org to learn more about it.
So looking at ahead to twenty twenty six, it's your
twenty fifth anniversary, also a very specific cell for the
United States, so kind of a great thing. You've got
some new expanded programs and research and all kinds of
(15:06):
stuff going on for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yes, it's you know, we're super excited to be celebrating
twenty five years. You know a lot of organizations don't
make it that long, and so we're we're doing very
well in twenty five years, and we're looking for what
the next twenty five years looks like. But it is
fun to do this in tandem with America's.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Two fifty celebration this year.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
This year meeting twenty twenty six, we are going to
launch a new program called Gardens Across America. This is
a way that property owners can show their commitment to beautification,
environmental stewardship, and community vitality. We use the Gardens Across
America program uses a easy to use self assessment tool
where you certify your property. Properties eligible for the Gardens
(15:50):
Across America program include residential properties, business schools, places of worship,
even municipal or government properties or public gardens. And just
I want to be very clear that your garden doesn't
have to be fancy, eye popping or magazine worthy. This
is a program for everyone. It's just a program that
(16:12):
allows you to show your support for the ideals of
environmental stewardship, beautification and community vitality. It's only twenty dollars
to get your property certified. You have to go through
the self assessment and then you know the answer some
questions that you you know, I agree to this, this, this,
and this, and it shows your commitment. And then you
also have the option to buy a sign that you
(16:35):
can install in your gardener preps, put it on your
garden shed that promotes your involvement and your successful completion
of the Gardens Across America certification program.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
So when these entries all come in and I know
I've been on your website and seeing that when you
always send me an email about the winners and I
get to see what they've done. But if folks go
to the website, will pictures of all of these guards
and that be posted that folks can see examples of
what's going on.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I think what you'll see on our Facebook page more
than our website, would be a photo examples Instagram too.
We use more and more Facebook Candidly, you'll see more
pictures from communities. I'd love to be able to make
our website more robust and really show those examples from communities.
But you certainly please visit our Facebook page and Instagram
(17:23):
so you can see some really remarkable examples. We also
have a YouTube channel where communities submit YouTube videos that
show through video their transformation and those are some really impactful,
beautiful storytelling of how they've gotten involved in American Bloom
and what it's done.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
So make your community step up to the play. Let's
let's get them out there and if we get if
we can get everybody involved, will be absolutely outstanding. But
learn more about it and then take you know, get
to your community members, your community heads of the community,
your mayors or whatever, your township trustees, take a look
at this and see how it can benefit your community
and get America in Bloom involved. And of course at
(18:06):
a personal level, you can do it also individual businesses,
municipalities with the gardens across America. Again, to learn more
about it, to get started anyway, you can go to
their Facebook page, Instagram, or also go to the website
America in Bloom dot org. Check it out. I highly
encourage this. Get yourself involved, get your community involved. Everybody
(18:27):
will certainly appreciate what they can do for you to
help out your community. It's a wonderful program celebrate in
twenty five years. Congratulations, Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Roll honor to be with you today.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Ron, it's a pleasure having you on. Laura Concos again
the executive director America in Bloom dot org. Have a
good day. Thank you, Sing to you all right, take care.
America in Bloom Growing Vibert Communities. Great program. We've had
them on our show before, we talk about it. I
think it's one of those programs that kind of flies
under the radar times and they do promote it a lot,
(19:02):
and we try to promote it here through the professionals.
They know about America and Bloom. But this is a
great way if you're you know, you say, man, I
wish I could get our small town, our big town,
whatever be our community more involved with this uh to
make it look nice for street tree plantings and the
baskets and the colors and the gardens and all of that.
All of the things. Is so many categories that that
(19:24):
they can help you with. Here's a group that can
come in, it's not very expensive, sit down with you,
take a look at your community and give you some
direction as far as what you can do to make
it in Bloom. Being a part of the America in
bloom uh and really increase the value and feeling of
your community. It's pretty simple. And then you get the
(19:46):
nurseries and garden centers and master gardeners and everybody involved.
It can really really be a cool thing. Again, go
to the website check it out America in bloom dot org.
All right, winners, right around the corner, birds are hungry.
What do we do about the birds? Well, we talk
to our bird expert, our wild winged wonder Monica Brewbaker
(20:08):
from wild Birds on Lemono would be with us next.
Tell us what to do with those birds during the wintertime.
Here in the garden with Ron Wilson. Help.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
So let's do it yourself, gardener at one eight hundred
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Speaker 1 (22:33):
Welcome back here in the garden with Ron Wilson and yep,
winner has sprung upon us. It's unbelievable snow out there,
it's cold. What do you do about the birds? You
look out there, You don't see too many of them
right now because they're kind of hiding out because it's
cold out there. Wild one, it is time to figure
out what to do for our birds, no matter what
the season, we go to our wild winged wonder from
(22:53):
wild Birds Unlimited, Ladies and gentlemen. She knows more about
birds than birds know about birds. Monica brew Bigger.
Speaker 5 (23:03):
Good morning, we're on. Good morning.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Get off the ledges, away from the windows. Oh, they're
lined up this morning. I've never seen so many different
kinds of birds along the windowsills ever.
Speaker 5 (23:19):
You're funny.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
You feel like the Kenwood tower's tilting a little bit.
There's so many birds. Yeah, they're so excited. They're so
excited because you're going to be on the radio talking
foul language. That's how I that's how I get Monica's
attention when I email her, would you like to talk
some foul language on the radio?
Speaker 5 (23:37):
Yeah? And also talking about what else? Or you know,
what's the first thing you want to bring up today?
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Well, if by chance birds would accidentally poop on something
you don't want them to poop on, is there a
product to get rid of it?
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Yes? Yes, yes, what is it called.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Poop off? I mean it's hard to get off of
things sometimes, I mean, face it.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
And it is.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
No, it really is, and it is a great product.
So there you go for your.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Bird baths, whatever may be. Hoop off is available for you.
All right, there you go. What's your website?
Speaker 5 (24:12):
All right, WBU dot com slash Westchester or Springboro.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
There you go, so you can check it out. All
kinds of great information there as well. So winter is
not only coming, it's it's moved in. And I look
out there right now, I don't see a lot of
birds happened for the last several days flying around too much.
They've been kind of hanging out, are you always? You
know about the Evergreen Heads that I play at many
many many years. I call it the hotel. It's a
(24:37):
little bed and breakfast. I throw slices of oranges and
apples and stuff back in there, and there's birds coming
in out all the time. But they're kind of what
do they do right now? There's kind of hanging out
waiting for the weather to change.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
Well, they're hunkering down and you know they're they're coming
off their caching season when you know they were hiding
all of their food to have when it's cold. But
you know in the mornings especially, it's they're slow to
you know, come around when it's this cold. So yeah,
(25:10):
you're going to you know, it's picking up more and
more every day, and they're certainly going to benefit from
that supplemental food like like bees.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Are our birds like bees. And the fact that you know,
there's a certain temperature that they just don't get out,
I mean, is there a limiting factor that well, I.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
Mean, you know, I would say that, you know, they're
going to have to find food.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
So so no matter what, you got to do something
to find food, they do.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
They do, and they're able to you know, insulate you know,
under their feathers to tolerate the temperatures. And at night
when they sleep, they can you know, lower basically they're
lowering their heart rates so that they can maintain heat.
So yeah, I mean generally in our area, the birds
(26:04):
that are here, I mean, of course our hummingbirds have gone,
but you know most of them stay here because you know,
they can handle.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
It, except the hummingbirds obviously.
Speaker 5 (26:17):
Except the hummingbirds. And then we also have you know,
birds that come in for the winter, right because they
don't want to spend the winters up up north like
in Canada and the and then it depends on how
the forests up there produced their nuts and if like
this year, we're seeing a lot of red breasted nuthatch
(26:39):
come in from up north because there's not enough food
up there, so they're moving down here for the winter.
So we benefit from the temperatures here in that way.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
You know, we talk about the decline and pollinators all
the time, these and all the pollinators and bats and
all of those, but birds fall right into that same
category we do.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
You know, it's sad, I mean there, you know, there's
lots of science going on, lots of studies going on
that even you know, we've got what Project feed or
watch going on right now, We've got the Christmas bird
counts coming up, you know, for people to participate to
help scientists understand, you know, what is happening with the
(27:26):
populations and the health of our local birds. So you
can take a part in that.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
And uh and we're so if we go to your website,
you'll direct yes, you can, that'll direct us to well
to any of those links. Okay, good, Yeah. Talking with
Monica Brubacker from wild Birds Unlimited about our birds and
of course the winter has moved into our area, cold temperature, snow,
the whole nine yards, and so what should be doing
at this stage for our birds and the fact that
(27:53):
birds are are suffering, just like the pollinators and the
bees are suffering as well. And again, you know, more
and more what I read a number one issue, and
there are other issues out there, but really high is
the lack of First of all, lack of habitat. You know, we're,
like you said, the source of nuts up north and all,
so they're moving down here to get to get more food.
But I think we're seeing now that when folks are
(28:16):
looking at first of all, with their landscaping and their gardens,
not only are they replanting for the pollinators, but also
using the birds and doing landscape friendly bird planting as well.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
Yeah, anything you're doing for pollinators, you're you know, you're
going to be helping birds as well. It's you know,
there's a lot you can do. But even without having
to plant new plants, you know, leaving your yard messy
during the winter is always a good idea. Having piles
of brush provides great cover for the birds. You know,
(28:53):
we hear more and more, you know as the season progresses.
Here about about hawks, right, there are hawks that eat birds,
and the birds do need cover to protect themselves from
the hawks. But you know, when you're if you're thinking
about buying a live Christmas tree this year, you know,
(29:13):
keep it, put it out in your yard after Christmas
and just let us stay there, you know, throughout the winter,
and that'll provide great cover.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
It's amazing. I'll even take that and take a few
branches out to open it up a little bit so
it's easier for him to fly out in and out
of it. Hang a couple of feeders in there, and
sooitcakes and that works really nicely. And you're right, they
love that thing a little bit of protection. But you know,
there are many ways that we can landscape to work.
But there are also which you've been involved with for
(29:45):
a long long time, supplementing that with our bird feeders,
our bird waters and things like that. Let's take a
let's take an earlier break, because when we come back,
I want to know what should we be feeding right now?
What are the best feeders out there?
Speaker 4 (29:57):
Right now?
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Christmas is right around the corner. You're looking to get
some involved. These make great Christmas gifts as well. Minica
Brubaker our wild Winged Wonder from Wildbird's Unlimited. After the
break here in the garden with Ron Wilson.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
Landscaping made easier with your personal yard boy. He's in
the garden and he's Ron Wilson.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
Soon we're going to be spending more time inside our
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(30:54):
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eight two two seventy three twenty eight or visit easybreed
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Rotor Ruter plumbing and water clean up. If you experienced
frozen or burst pipes this winter, Rota Ruter's expert team
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(31:15):
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Speaker 1 (31:47):
Welcome back. You're in the garden with Ron Wilson talking
foul language. And you know if we're talking foul language,
you know who we're talking with. That's right, our wild
winged wonder Monica Brubaker from wild Birds Unlimited. Their website is.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
WBU dot com last Westchester or Springborough.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
Lots of great information there and of course their their
stores as well. If the folks that are the other
staff absolutely well trained, trust me, Monica Brubaker, make sure
that they know what they're talking about when it comes
to birds. All right. You know what's funny is you
love it. We have had you on our show as
our bird expert for many, many years and you have
(32:26):
always said this time of the year about leaving the
leaving the brush, leaving the perennials up, leaving the looking
messy in your gardens for the for the pollinators and
the wildlife and the birds. You know what's hot now
in the garden over the last two years, leaving it
alone and cleaning it up in the spring.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
See, you've been preaching it for years, always said, Monica,
you're nuts. You got to clean it up. Nope, you
got to leave it all there, let the wildlife enjoy it,
clean it up in the spring.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
Yes, you were right all along, a lot of benefits there,
just like just like.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Using poop off all right. See, you know you know
what you're talking about.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
All right.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
So we are now looking at going into the winter time,
and there are a lot of folks out there that
do feed the birds and they know what they're doing. CEA.
But there are a lot of folks out there that
may be saying, you know what I really do, I'd
like to get involved with this, But how do I
know to choose the right winter friendly seed out I
know which one of the feeders are the best and
the most inviting, and which one should I use? Tell us,
(33:27):
Monica brew Baker, what do we use this time of
the year.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
If I've never done this before, if you've never done
this before, you need to come into our stores for sure.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Yeah. Well, yeah, you know.
Speaker 5 (33:39):
Our number one selling bird feeder really any time of
the year, but most definitely this time of the year,
are our cylinder feeders. It's a little different. It's not
the traditional loose seed, you know, throwing it in a
feeder and calling it good the cylinder feeders are that
(34:00):
the cylinders are compacted seat and they're all the high fat,
high protein seats that your bird needs right now, and
that goes slides onto a feeder. Very easy to use.
But what's wonderful about it is it lasts for days,
sometimes weeks, and you're not having to trudge outside and
(34:23):
fill your feeders right right.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
And as you know, I have used those. As matter
of fact, I shut my grandsons up for that so
that they could watch the birds. And that is a
piece of cake.
Speaker 5 (34:34):
You know.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
You buy four or five of those cylinders, put a
store it away and just you know, and take one
out every time you need one. You just slide it
on that post and you're hanging up and you're good
to go.
Speaker 5 (34:45):
It is yet, you know, we can't recommend it more.
But the birds, you know, they come on and they
peck off what they want. You're getting good views of
the birds. Everybody's happy. We have no mess cylinders where
there's absolutely no shells in the seeds, so you're not
going to have any mess under your feeders. So there's
(35:05):
lots of benefits to it.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Sure, And don't you also have one with a pepper
in the cylinder to keep the squirrels off.
Speaker 5 (35:12):
Yep, yeah, you bet you. Yep. Mammals taste hot pepper,
but birds do not. So squirrels raccoons are going to
taste that and then ask you for a glass of
milk and run away.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Bana. You heard you heard Monica say you bet you?
When I email her and ask her if she's ready
for this Saturday, she says, you bet you. That's what
you emailed me back. I always think, I always think
of you when I hear that talking with Monica brew Baker. Wow,
birds unlimited about what we should be using. So those
cylinder feeders, you're right, is absolutely it's a piece of cake.
Speaker 5 (35:48):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
And speaking of a piece of cake, I still I'm
still one with the suitcakes. I still liked. I mean,
that's not as easy as it can get. Slide that
cake in that cage and hanging up somewhere.
Speaker 5 (35:58):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
You get everything on that thing, from woodpeckers to you
name it there on it.
Speaker 5 (36:03):
Yes, yes, I mean you can get literally every bird
on there, and they are again, that lasts a long
time and it's so easy to use. I know, our
suet is a little you know, our sewit is a
lot different than what you're going to get a big,
big box just because of the quality of the products
in it. You're not getting fillers, just like in loose
(36:27):
bird seed when you get a lot of filler in
there when you're going to big box. But you know,
all the products in our suits, all of our food
is just the high quality. It's what the birds need.
They're going to eat it. They're not going to be
throwing it out and throwing it, you know, onto the ground.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
So there you go. And as Monica has taught us
over the years, you know, you get what you pay for.
And it's true when you're buying bird seed and you
look at the bag and it's a fifty pound bag
for six ninety nine, look what's in it, and you
know it's all the stuff that they're going to throw
out on the ground. And then you're like, well, why
don't do you know they're throwing stuff everywhere? Well, it's
because it's not a high quality mix a bird seed.
(37:06):
And that's that's what you get what you pay for.
That's when the birds are saying cheap, cheap, cheap cheap, because.
Speaker 5 (37:11):
You exactly and you know right right now, you know,
we do have the Daily Savings Club. We have that
year round where you can save fifteen percent on all
of your bird food every day and it's twenty five
dollars to join. But this month the gift for joining
is a cylinder feeder and a cylinder.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
So there you go outstanding talking.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
With money birds.
Speaker 5 (37:34):
What one stone?
Speaker 1 (37:36):
There you go talking with Monica brew Baker wild Bird's unlimited.
If if if I have a bird feeder that handles
this regular bird seed then or bird feed Yes, is
there one seed that I want to if I just
said I just want one seed rather than buy a
mix or whatever, I just want one one thing to
dump in narrow over the wintertime? What would it be?
Speaker 5 (37:58):
The black oil sunflower would be? Or that's that's the
food that is most liked I guess by you know,
the most variety of birds. It is going to you know,
the shells are going to be dropped, but it is
you know, a good high protein food. I mean there's
lots of options. You can you know, go with you know,
(38:20):
bark butter. Hey, how about bark butter bits?
Speaker 1 (38:23):
Bark but.
Speaker 5 (38:25):
Yes, yes, I think to your robins right now too,
with bark butter bits throw those on the ground, you know,
scattered around, so maybe robins can can get some suets
and high fat.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
Because they're usually on the ground kind of hiding out
right now. Yeah, they don't all they don't leave here.
They a lot of them hang around for the winter times,
but they stay kind of load on that.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
Yeah, they do. They don't typically come up to feeders.
So we've got a lot of ground feeders in the
area right now. So you'll see you know, junkos, our
little snowbirds they're here for the winter, and some spars
and nice sparrows. So there's a good variety of birds
out there.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
So if we look at the Brewbacker property and I
look out at your one hundred and twenty five different
feeders that you have hanging throughout your yard, is there
one that's your favorite? I mean, is their most popular?
What about the fly throughs? I mean I see it
fly throughs all the time.
Speaker 5 (39:22):
Yes, yes, and that's that's what I have. I have
a platform feederka that is my number one, my foundational
feeder that I have in the center of my yard.
It's protected by a baffle and away from the trees,
so the squirrels and raccoons can't get to it. But
you know, I cheat a little bit on that, and
(39:42):
I put my cylinders in the fly through on the platform,
and so it lasts a long time. But it is
a great feeder. The birds, you know, they'd like an
open feeder. They can see, they can watch for predators,
you know, that kind of thing. They don't like to
be price. So it's a great feeder.
Speaker 1 (40:02):
So you actually put the cylinder in the fly through,
in the fly Yeah, that's pretty smart.
Speaker 5 (40:09):
Yeah, a little cheat, huh, you're right. And the fly
through is that I have that fly through. Well, I
think most of them nounceto. We may have still have ceedar,
but they're made out of the recycled milk jukes. So
you know, those stay looking beautiful for yeah many years.
Speaker 1 (40:26):
Yeah, the old red wooden ceedar and all that was
out there, but boy, you don't see much of that anymore. No,
these things last forever, and you can put them in
the dishwasher. Ione, I understand exactly.
Speaker 5 (40:37):
You can.
Speaker 1 (40:37):
One last thing here. We've been talking about the feeders
and the fee and the suit cakes and all of that,
but what about water. I mean to me, I guess
that's one of those things that we we we don't
mention enough. But that's as important as the food, it is.
Speaker 5 (40:52):
And you know, it can be as simple as just
putting you know, a small tray out, you know, maybe
close to closer to your door, within three feet of
your windows, and then you know, if it freezes, of course,
bring it in, dump it out, put some new we've
got you know, at the store, we've got heaters to
put in your bird baths to keep the water from freezing.
(41:14):
And then we also have actual heated bird baths themselves
that will keep it from freezing. So there's lots of options.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
Yeah, and I know a lot of folks email and say,
you know, we put a pan out in the morning,
it lasts for a couple three couple hours before it freezes,
and they usually enjoy that. Yeah, dump it out later,
put it, put a second one, maybe a third one
out and that takes care of them through the day,
and do it again in the morning. It's no big deal, right, Yep,
it hard.
Speaker 5 (41:42):
You know.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Crows. Crows are my favorite birds. I know it sounds weird,
I CROs. Why are why are those things so smart?
Speaker 5 (41:51):
I know, it's amazing, it's amazing. I love watching them.
I love beating them. Maybe five years ago, I had
nuts on the ground that they were and we'd run
over our nuts in the driveway and it would crack
them open. I mean they have a strong beak, but
(42:11):
they would come in and take the nuts. And I
had so much fun because then I started putting out
all kinds of tree nuts for them and watching them
and watching them store them. They're amazing.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
They are amazing birds. I have some pigeons I need
you to. I'm gonna put you in the car with
me sometime and take you over to fields Irdle and
Mason Montgommy roaders. Pigeons that hang out there all the
time and they circle around the fly and it's the
craziest thing. And I need you to explain to me
what in the heck they are doing. All right, so
I'll call you know being crazy. I'll take you over
there with Monica brew Baker wild birds.
Speaker 5 (42:43):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (42:44):
At one last time, your website.
Speaker 5 (42:46):
WBU dot com, slash Westchester or Springboro.
Speaker 1 (42:50):
Have a great holiday season.
Speaker 5 (42:51):
Monica brew Baker, Hey you too, Ron, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (42:54):
All right, quick break, we come back. Phone lines are
going to be open for you. At eight hundred eight
eight two five five. Don't forget our website, it's Ron
Wilson online dot com and our Facebook page. In the
Garden with Ron Wilson, it's all happening here in the
garden with Ron Wilson.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Not gardening questions. Ron has the answers at one eight
hundred and eighty two three Talk. You are in the
Garden with Ron Wilson.
Our toll free number eight hundred eight two three eight
two five five. Good morning. I am run Wilson, your
personally yard boy, talking about yarding America in Bloom. Are
you familiar with America in Bloom. We've had them on
our show in the past, trying to keep you updated
what they do, and they do such a great thing
for all the communities around the United States. But uh uh,
(00:53):
sometimes I bring that up and folks just aren't familiar
with it. We want to continue to push America in
Bloom so you know more about it and maybe you
get them involved with your community as well. Go to
the website it's America in Bloom dot org. That's America
in Bloom dot org and to talk to us a
little bit more about what they're doing, what they do,
and what they're going to be doing. In twenty twenty six,
(01:13):
a new program launching celebrating twenty five years the Growing
vibr Communities is the executive director, Laura Konkle.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Good morning, good morning, Thank you so much for having
me today.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Well, we appreciate you getting up and talking with us
so early on a Saturday morning. So America in Bloom
twenty five years, I can't believe it.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I can't either. I was around from day one when
this organization was created. So it's quite a quite a
journey twenty five years. We're excited to be celebrating twenty
five years of helping community become the very best that
they can be.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Who is there one person or was Eric? How did
America and Bloom get started?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
So began twenty five years ago. Before twenty five years
am I maybe twenty seven years ago was a group
of horticulture professionals got together and they were big wigs
in the horticulture industry, and they would fly into Cleveland, Ohio,
and they sort of talked about spent about two years
thinking how can we connect better at the grassroots level
about the benefits of plants. We know that plants are pretty,
(02:15):
but they are more than pretty. There's economic benefits, environmental benefits,
and human health benefits. So they spent about two years
developing this plan on creating an organization called America in
Bloom on doing just that, connecting at the grassroots level
about the benefits of plants. So twenty five years ago
the organization was launched, and I'm really proud to have
(02:35):
been involved since day one.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Wow, that's that's crazy. Twenty I's still twenty five years
is nuts. So again, at go to their website, check
it out and you can learn more about it. Americaanbloom
dot org. So folks understand this, so okay, so you
like it out and teach folks about the beautification of
their communities and how important it is, et cetera, et cetera.
But you guys have taken this to all new levels
as far as categories and awards and training in programs
(03:01):
in a whole nine yards.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Yeah, we really have. So you know, we do know
and your listeners know that communities that are more welcoming
and vibrant have a competitive advantage in attracting tourists, in
stimulating economic development, and creating a thriving place for people
to work and live. So American Bloom really believes that
(03:25):
we can help build vibrant and sustainable community through volunteerism,
through education which emphasizes flowers, plants, trees, heritage, environmental and
lifestyle enhancements. We want American Bloom communities to be the
best examples of welcoming in vibrant places to live, work
and play. So for twenty five years, we've been doing
(03:47):
this program where in fact we've had in three hundred
and eighty communities in forty four states, and we send advisors.
We send a two person team of advisors into a community.
These are specially trained professionals. They tour a community, they
meet leaders and volunteers, they provide coaching and mentoring, and
(04:10):
then they provide this detailed report. It's really an action
plan that offers comprehensive recommendations for community transformation. So our
advisors are really the rock stars of the American Balloom program.
We have landscapers, we have heritage architects, we have city managers,
we have mayors, we have horticulture professionals. They bring such
(04:33):
a breadth and depth of knowledge to communities. So as
you did reference the categories, the registration fee is based
on your population, so it is scaled. Smaller communities would
certainly pay less than a larger community, but American Balloon
pays for the advisors to fly into each community. While
(04:55):
the registration fee does help us just offset some of
the fees. It's really cool about the program. In addition
to getting this remarkable report, which we've been told consult
you'd pay consulting about fifty thousand dollars. You're going to
do that with us for about a fraction of the
cost cracks around seventeen hundred dollars. But the cool thing
also that you are communities are eligible to win national awards.
(05:18):
Communities are doing remarkable things. Municipal staff are doing great things,
volunteers are doing great things. The awards program allows them
to get national recognition for the great things that they're doing.
And let's face it, you know, the mayors like to
brag about the awards that the community wins. Come with
election time or when you're trying to recruit new business,
(05:38):
new residents to come to your community, you're going to
brag about those awards that you won, like, hey, we
are voted the best place for kids, or coolest downtown,
best community garden program, whatever the award is that a
community wins. Those are bragging rights, and those things are important.
It's a great way for people to be recognized and
(05:59):
also a great recruitment tool for business.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Sure, and of course that's you all. What you're offering
them is then a start. You know, let's take a
look at it. Here's what we think you can do.
As somebody looks at this Laura and again their website
America in bloom dot org. Check it out. If a
community has you come in and sit down with them,
can they actually set a budget of what they're able
to spend? Or is that how you start that out?
(06:23):
Like Okay, we've got so much money we can spend.
Now we'll try to increase that down the road, or
how does that? How do you work with that community?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Well that's how. We don't come in with a budget
per se. What we do is we come in with
an outsider's perspective and we're going to let our team
of advisor has about one hundred and fifty different metrics
or questions if you will, that they look at, how
is the question? How is a community doing in these
one hundred and fifty ish metrics? And so you give
you give a spore on that so you have a baseline.
(06:53):
But really the meat of the visit is the recommendations
that they're going to provide. And they've looked at one
hundred and fifty different things, and here's recommendations on how
to get better in each of these things. So some
will be very easy, very easy projects that a community
could check off and perhaps low budget or much much
more resources required. Some are going to be longer term ideas.
(07:16):
Some are going to be so aspirational that you think
you can't do it, but I promise you can't do it.
So we don't come in really saying this is what
it's going to cost. Like, we come in and say
this is what we think you can do with what
you have and how to go from good to great, and.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Then of course the community could take it from there,
take it back to the community, present that and then
you know, a lot of communities have local nurseries, local
garden centers, landscape firms. Maybe then start to tie in
with them as well to be a part of that.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Exactly, yes, exactly, we would love for horticulture businesses in
a community, landscapers, garden centers, growers as you've mentioned, to
really be a partner in the community's efforts. It's a
business building opportunities certainly for those companies, but it's a
it's another way to show your commitment to the community
and and horticulture businesses bring experience and knowledge and a
(08:09):
professionalism to it. They will help a community do their
projects correctly. You know, we right plant, right place, that
sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And not too bad if you're in the community putting
your name behind that as well.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Exactly, it's definitely a business building opportunity. I'm not you know, certainly,
let's acknowledge that.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Yeah, absolutely, talking with Laura Conkle, she's the executive director
of America in Bloom. Go to the website America in
bloom dot org. If you think your community would want
to do this, and this is something that you know,
it's if you came out there, you know, March January, Fairrary,
March whatever. This is something you're going to look at
for the next you know, to get going, probably a
year or two to get everything in place and then
(08:49):
get this program going. I mean there's a little bit
of time involved there before you really get it up
and running right.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Well, we want communities to jump in. The registration deadline
for the twenty twenty six program is February twenty eighth.
We we want every community to just go ahead and register.
Let's get those advisors to come out to you and
they would come in the summer May to July ish,
depending on your climate. Okay, and so let's get the
advisors out there, get this this report so you can
(09:16):
already go ahead and get the recommendations and start working
on them, and then you know, just keep building the
momentum year after year after year, right, so actually send
the lane.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yeah, so actually you're looking you would be looking at
twenty twenty seven as far as really getting and starting
to get the program going.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Well, I guess i'd say twenty six get your program going, yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Yeah, but I mean you know you might.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Right think ahead.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
I'm just going to say to you know, by the
time you get all the planning in place and all
your sponsors and everything together, it wou'd be looking. Yeah.
I still you want to get it going as quick
as you can, but you'd really be rolling for twenty
twenty seven. All right, let's take a quick break because
then I'm going to let folks know what kind of
programs you're launching for twenty twenty six. How to get
more involved or you get in touch with again. Go
(10:04):
to the website is America in bloom dot org. I
think you're gonna find out that this is something your
community probably should be doing. If they're not, they should be.
Check it out more with Laura Kunkle. Here in the
Garden with Ron Wilson.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
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Speaker 1 (13:05):
Welcome back. He're in the Garden with Ron Wilson's special
guests this morning. Laura Cuncle. She is the executive director
for America in Bloom growing vibrant communities and talking about
how you can get your community involved with America in
Bloom as well. So go to their website America in
Bloom dot org and learn more about it, you know,
community wise, and again it's a great thing. I if
(13:25):
folks are listening this morning, take this to if you're
not doing this, take it to your community and present
this because I think all the benefits would have not
just to make your community look better, but last Laura
was saying earlier, inviting new residents, inviting new businesses, making
you feel better, the community feel better, and bottom line
is they have all kinds of categories that you can
(13:46):
actually win. The category winners that and the towns that
you work with. I mean there are small towns like
thousand people population to as big as Topeka, Kansas are larger.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Right, We've been as I mentioned earlier, three hundred and
eighty communities and they are from across the country, the
Pacific Northwest down the southern Florida and all points in between.
And we had communities of fewer than two hundred people
and the largest community ever to participate would have been Chicago.
(14:18):
So you know, our advisors can do small communities and
large communities and communities of all resources. You know, we've
our advisors have been to Calabasas, California, that's you know,
a wealthy community and along in California, but we've been
in communities that are that are much smaller, have far
fewer resources. But you know, all communities that are involved
in American Bloomers are the same in one way. They
(14:40):
care deeply about where they live and they wanted to
be better. And that's what we do. We come in
and help you get better.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
And you can tell when you visit that community that
you folks have been helping. Again, go to their website
America and bloom dot org to learn more about it.
So looking at ahead to twenty twenty six, it's your
twenty fifth anniversary, also a very specific cell for the
United States, so kind of a great thing. You've got
some new expanded programs and research and all kinds of
(15:06):
stuff going on for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yes, it's you know, we're super excited to be celebrating
twenty five years. You know a lot of organizations don't
make it that long, and so we're we're doing very
well in twenty five years, and we're looking for what
the next twenty five years looks like. But it is
fun to do this in tandem with America's.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Two fifty celebration this year.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
This year meeting twenty twenty six, we are going to
launch a new program called Gardens Across America. This is
a way that property owners can show their commitment to beautification,
environmental stewardship, and community vitality. We use the Gardens Across
America program uses a easy to use self assessment tool
where you certify your property. Properties eligible for the Gardens
(15:50):
Across America program include residential properties, business schools, places of worship,
even municipal or government properties or public gardens. And just
I want to be very clear that your garden doesn't
have to be fancy, eye popping or magazine worthy. This
is a program for everyone. It's just a program that
(16:12):
allows you to show your support for the ideals of
environmental stewardship, beautification and community vitality. It's only twenty dollars
to get your property certified. You have to go through
the self assessment and then you know the answer some
questions that you you know, I agree to this, this, this,
and this, and it shows your commitment. And then you
also have the option to buy a sign that you
(16:35):
can install in your gardener preps, put it on your
garden shed that promotes your involvement and your successful completion
of the Gardens Across America certification program.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
So when these entries all come in and I know
I've been on your website and seeing that when you
always send me an email about the winners and I
get to see what they've done. But if folks go
to the website, will pictures of all of these guards
and that be posted that folks can see examples of
what's going on.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I think what you'll see on our Facebook page more
than our website, would be a photo examples Instagram too.
We use more and more Facebook Candidly, you'll see more
pictures from communities. I'd love to be able to make
our website more robust and really show those examples from communities.
But you certainly please visit our Facebook page and Instagram
(17:23):
so you can see some really remarkable examples. We also
have a YouTube channel where communities submit YouTube videos that
show through video their transformation and those are some really impactful,
beautiful storytelling of how they've gotten involved in American Bloom
and what it's done.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
So make your community step up to the play. Let's
let's get them out there and if we get if
we can get everybody involved, will be absolutely outstanding. But
learn more about it and then take you know, get
to your community members, your community heads of the community,
your mayors or whatever, your township trustees, take a look
at this and see how it can benefit your community
and get America in Bloom involved. And of course at
(18:06):
a personal level, you can do it also individual businesses,
municipalities with the gardens across America. Again, to learn more
about it, to get started anyway, you can go to
their Facebook page, Instagram, or also go to the website
America in Bloom dot org. Check it out. I highly
encourage this. Get yourself involved, get your community involved. Everybody
(18:27):
will certainly appreciate what they can do for you to
help out your community. It's a wonderful program celebrate in
twenty five years. Congratulations, Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Roll honor to be with you today.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Ron, it's a pleasure having you on. Laura Concos again
the executive director America in Bloom dot org. Have a
good day. Thank you, Sing to you all right, take care.
America in Bloom Growing Vibert Communities. Great program. We've had
them on our show before, we talk about it. I
think it's one of those programs that kind of flies
under the radar times and they do promote it a lot,
(19:02):
and we try to promote it here through the professionals.
They know about America and Bloom. But this is a
great way if you're you know, you say, man, I
wish I could get our small town, our big town,
whatever be our community more involved with this uh to
make it look nice for street tree plantings and the
baskets and the colors and the gardens and all of that.
All of the things. Is so many categories that that
(19:24):
they can help you with. Here's a group that can
come in, it's not very expensive, sit down with you,
take a look at your community and give you some
direction as far as what you can do to make
it in Bloom. Being a part of the America in
bloom uh and really increase the value and feeling of
your community. It's pretty simple. And then you get the
(19:46):
nurseries and garden centers and master gardeners and everybody involved.
It can really really be a cool thing. Again, go
to the website check it out America in bloom dot org.
All right, winners, right around the corner, birds are hungry.
What do we do about the birds? Well, we talk
to our bird expert, our wild winged wonder Monica Brewbaker
(20:08):
from wild Birds on Lemono would be with us next.
Tell us what to do with those birds during the wintertime.
Here in the garden with Ron Wilson. Help.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
So let's do it yourself, gardener at one eight hundred
eight two three talk You're in the garden with Ron Wilson.
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(21:07):
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(21:29):
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Speaker 1 (22:33):
Welcome back here in the garden with Ron Wilson and yep,
winner has sprung upon us. It's unbelievable snow out there,
it's cold. What do you do about the birds? You
look out there, You don't see too many of them
right now because they're kind of hiding out because it's
cold out there. Wild one, it is time to figure
out what to do for our birds, no matter what
the season, we go to our wild winged wonder from
(22:53):
wild Birds Unlimited, Ladies and gentlemen. She knows more about
birds than birds know about birds. Monica brew Bigger.
Speaker 5 (23:03):
Good morning, we're on. Good morning.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Get off the ledges, away from the windows. Oh, they're
lined up this morning. I've never seen so many different
kinds of birds along the windowsills ever.
Speaker 5 (23:19):
You're funny.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
You feel like the Kenwood tower's tilting a little bit.
There's so many birds. Yeah, they're so excited. They're so
excited because you're going to be on the radio talking
foul language. That's how I that's how I get Monica's
attention when I email her, would you like to talk
some foul language on the radio?
Speaker 5 (23:37):
Yeah? And also talking about what else? Or you know,
what's the first thing you want to bring up today?
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Well, if by chance birds would accidentally poop on something
you don't want them to poop on, is there a
product to get rid of it?
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Yes? Yes, yes, what is it called.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Poop off? I mean it's hard to get off of
things sometimes, I mean, face it.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
And it is.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
No, it really is, and it is a great product.
So there you go for your.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Bird baths, whatever may be. Hoop off is available for you.
All right, there you go. What's your website?
Speaker 5 (24:12):
All right, WBU dot com slash Westchester or Springboro.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
There you go, so you can check it out. All
kinds of great information there as well. So winter is
not only coming, it's it's moved in. And I look
out there right now, I don't see a lot of
birds happened for the last several days flying around too much.
They've been kind of hanging out, are you always? You
know about the Evergreen Heads that I play at many
many many years. I call it the hotel. It's a
(24:37):
little bed and breakfast. I throw slices of oranges and
apples and stuff back in there, and there's birds coming
in out all the time. But they're kind of what
do they do right now? There's kind of hanging out
waiting for the weather to change.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
Well, they're hunkering down and you know they're they're coming
off their caching season when you know they were hiding
all of their food to have when it's cold. But
you know in the mornings especially, it's they're slow to
you know, come around when it's this cold. So yeah,
(25:10):
you're going to you know, it's picking up more and
more every day, and they're certainly going to benefit from
that supplemental food like like bees.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Are our birds like bees. And the fact that you know,
there's a certain temperature that they just don't get out,
I mean, is there a limiting factor that well, I.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
Mean, you know, I would say that, you know, they're
going to have to find food.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
So so no matter what, you got to do something
to find food, they do.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
They do, and they're able to you know, insulate you know,
under their feathers to tolerate the temperatures. And at night
when they sleep, they can you know, lower basically they're
lowering their heart rates so that they can maintain heat.
So yeah, I mean generally in our area, the birds
(26:04):
that are here, I mean, of course our hummingbirds have gone,
but you know most of them stay here because you know,
they can handle.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
It, except the hummingbirds obviously.
Speaker 5 (26:17):
Except the hummingbirds. And then we also have you know,
birds that come in for the winter, right because they
don't want to spend the winters up up north like
in Canada and the and then it depends on how
the forests up there produced their nuts and if like
this year, we're seeing a lot of red breasted nuthatch
(26:39):
come in from up north because there's not enough food
up there, so they're moving down here for the winter.
So we benefit from the temperatures here in that way.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
You know, we talk about the decline and pollinators all
the time, these and all the pollinators and bats and
all of those, but birds fall right into that same
category we do.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
You know, it's sad, I mean there, you know, there's
lots of science going on, lots of studies going on
that even you know, we've got what Project feed or
watch going on right now, We've got the Christmas bird
counts coming up, you know, for people to participate to
help scientists understand, you know, what is happening with the
(27:26):
populations and the health of our local birds. So you
can take a part in that.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
And uh and we're so if we go to your website,
you'll direct yes, you can, that'll direct us to well
to any of those links. Okay, good, Yeah. Talking with
Monica Brubacker from wild Birds Unlimited about our birds and
of course the winter has moved into our area, cold temperature, snow,
the whole nine yards, and so what should be doing
at this stage for our birds and the fact that
(27:53):
birds are are suffering, just like the pollinators and the
bees are suffering as well. And again, you know, more
and more what I read a number one issue, and
there are other issues out there, but really high is
the lack of First of all, lack of habitat. You know, we're,
like you said, the source of nuts up north and all,
so they're moving down here to get to get more food.
But I think we're seeing now that when folks are
(28:16):
looking at first of all, with their landscaping and their gardens,
not only are they replanting for the pollinators, but also
using the birds and doing landscape friendly bird planting as well.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
Yeah, anything you're doing for pollinators, you're you know, you're
going to be helping birds as well. It's you know,
there's a lot you can do. But even without having
to plant new plants, you know, leaving your yard messy
during the winter is always a good idea. Having piles
of brush provides great cover for the birds. You know,
(28:53):
we hear more and more, you know as the season progresses.
Here about about hawks, right, there are hawks that eat birds,
and the birds do need cover to protect themselves from
the hawks. But you know, when you're if you're thinking
about buying a live Christmas tree this year, you know,
(29:13):
keep it, put it out in your yard after Christmas
and just let us stay there, you know, throughout the winter,
and that'll provide great cover.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
It's amazing. I'll even take that and take a few
branches out to open it up a little bit so
it's easier for him to fly out in and out
of it. Hang a couple of feeders in there, and
sooitcakes and that works really nicely. And you're right, they
love that thing a little bit of protection. But you know,
there are many ways that we can landscape to work.
But there are also which you've been involved with for
(29:45):
a long long time, supplementing that with our bird feeders,
our bird waters and things like that. Let's take a
let's take an earlier break, because when we come back,
I want to know what should we be feeding right now?
What are the best feeders out there?
Speaker 4 (29:57):
Right now?
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Christmas is right around the corner. You're looking to get
some involved. These make great Christmas gifts as well. Minica
Brubaker our wild Winged Wonder from Wildbird's Unlimited. After the
break here in the garden with Ron Wilson.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
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(31:15):
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Speaker 1 (31:47):
Welcome back. You're in the garden with Ron Wilson talking
foul language. And you know if we're talking foul language,
you know who we're talking with. That's right, our wild
winged wonder Monica Brubaker from wild Birds Unlimited. Their website is.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
WBU dot com last Westchester or Springborough.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
Lots of great information there and of course their their
stores as well. If the folks that are the other
staff absolutely well trained, trust me, Monica Brubaker, make sure
that they know what they're talking about when it comes
to birds. All right. You know what's funny is you
love it. We have had you on our show as
our bird expert for many, many years and you have
(32:26):
always said this time of the year about leaving the
leaving the brush, leaving the perennials up, leaving the looking
messy in your gardens for the for the pollinators and
the wildlife and the birds. You know what's hot now
in the garden over the last two years, leaving it
alone and cleaning it up in the spring.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
See, you've been preaching it for years, always said, Monica,
you're nuts. You got to clean it up. Nope, you
got to leave it all there, let the wildlife enjoy it,
clean it up in the spring.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
Yes, you were right all along, a lot of benefits there,
just like just like.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Using poop off all right. See, you know you know
what you're talking about.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
All right.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
So we are now looking at going into the winter time,
and there are a lot of folks out there that
do feed the birds and they know what they're doing. CEA.
But there are a lot of folks out there that
may be saying, you know what I really do, I'd
like to get involved with this, But how do I
know to choose the right winter friendly seed out I
know which one of the feeders are the best and
the most inviting, and which one should I use? Tell us,
(33:27):
Monica brew Baker, what do we use this time of
the year.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
If I've never done this before, if you've never done
this before, you need to come into our stores for sure.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Yeah. Well, yeah, you know.
Speaker 5 (33:39):
Our number one selling bird feeder really any time of
the year, but most definitely this time of the year,
are our cylinder feeders. It's a little different. It's not
the traditional loose seed, you know, throwing it in a
feeder and calling it good the cylinder feeders are that
(34:00):
the cylinders are compacted seat and they're all the high fat,
high protein seats that your bird needs right now, and
that goes slides onto a feeder. Very easy to use.
But what's wonderful about it is it lasts for days,
sometimes weeks, and you're not having to trudge outside and
(34:23):
fill your feeders right right.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
And as you know, I have used those. As matter
of fact, I shut my grandsons up for that so
that they could watch the birds. And that is a
piece of cake.
Speaker 5 (34:34):
You know.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
You buy four or five of those cylinders, put a
store it away and just you know, and take one
out every time you need one. You just slide it
on that post and you're hanging up and you're good
to go.
Speaker 5 (34:45):
It is yet, you know, we can't recommend it more.
But the birds, you know, they come on and they
peck off what they want. You're getting good views of
the birds. Everybody's happy. We have no mess cylinders where
there's absolutely no shells in the seeds, so you're not
going to have any mess under your feeders. So there's
(35:05):
lots of benefits to it.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Sure, And don't you also have one with a pepper
in the cylinder to keep the squirrels off.
Speaker 5 (35:12):
Yep, yeah, you bet you. Yep. Mammals taste hot pepper,
but birds do not. So squirrels raccoons are going to
taste that and then ask you for a glass of
milk and run away.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Bana. You heard you heard Monica say you bet you?
When I email her and ask her if she's ready
for this Saturday, she says, you bet you. That's what
you emailed me back. I always think, I always think
of you when I hear that talking with Monica brew Baker. Wow,
birds unlimited about what we should be using. So those
cylinder feeders, you're right, is absolutely it's a piece of cake.
Speaker 5 (35:48):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
And speaking of a piece of cake, I still I'm
still one with the suitcakes. I still liked. I mean,
that's not as easy as it can get. Slide that
cake in that cage and hanging up somewhere.
Speaker 5 (35:58):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
You get everything on that thing, from woodpeckers to you
name it there on it.
Speaker 5 (36:03):
Yes, yes, I mean you can get literally every bird
on there, and they are again, that lasts a long
time and it's so easy to use. I know, our
suet is a little you know, our sewit is a
lot different than what you're going to get a big,
big box just because of the quality of the products
in it. You're not getting fillers, just like in loose
(36:27):
bird seed when you get a lot of filler in
there when you're going to big box. But you know,
all the products in our suits, all of our food
is just the high quality. It's what the birds need.
They're going to eat it. They're not going to be
throwing it out and throwing it, you know, onto the ground.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
So there you go. And as Monica has taught us
over the years, you know, you get what you pay for.
And it's true when you're buying bird seed and you
look at the bag and it's a fifty pound bag
for six ninety nine, look what's in it, and you
know it's all the stuff that they're going to throw
out on the ground. And then you're like, well, why
don't do you know they're throwing stuff everywhere? Well, it's
because it's not a high quality mix a bird seed.
(37:06):
And that's that's what you get what you pay for.
That's when the birds are saying cheap, cheap, cheap cheap, because.
Speaker 5 (37:11):
You exactly and you know right right now, you know,
we do have the Daily Savings Club. We have that
year round where you can save fifteen percent on all
of your bird food every day and it's twenty five
dollars to join. But this month the gift for joining
is a cylinder feeder and a cylinder.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
So there you go outstanding talking.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
With money birds.
Speaker 5 (37:34):
What one stone?
Speaker 1 (37:36):
There you go talking with Monica brew Baker wild Bird's unlimited.
If if if I have a bird feeder that handles
this regular bird seed then or bird feed Yes, is
there one seed that I want to if I just
said I just want one seed rather than buy a
mix or whatever, I just want one one thing to
dump in narrow over the wintertime? What would it be?
Speaker 5 (37:58):
The black oil sunflower would be? Or that's that's the
food that is most liked I guess by you know,
the most variety of birds. It is going to you know,
the shells are going to be dropped, but it is
you know, a good high protein food. I mean there's
lots of options. You can you know, go with you know,
(38:20):
bark butter. Hey, how about bark butter bits?
Speaker 1 (38:23):
Bark but.
Speaker 5 (38:25):
Yes, yes, I think to your robins right now too,
with bark butter bits throw those on the ground, you know,
scattered around, so maybe robins can can get some suets
and high fat.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
Because they're usually on the ground kind of hiding out
right now. Yeah, they don't all they don't leave here.
They a lot of them hang around for the winter times,
but they stay kind of load on that.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
Yeah, they do. They don't typically come up to feeders.
So we've got a lot of ground feeders in the
area right now. So you'll see you know, junkos, our
little snowbirds they're here for the winter, and some spars
and nice sparrows. So there's a good variety of birds
out there.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
So if we look at the Brewbacker property and I
look out at your one hundred and twenty five different
feeders that you have hanging throughout your yard, is there
one that's your favorite? I mean, is their most popular?
What about the fly throughs? I mean I see it
fly throughs all the time.
Speaker 5 (39:22):
Yes, yes, and that's that's what I have. I have
a platform feederka that is my number one, my foundational
feeder that I have in the center of my yard.
It's protected by a baffle and away from the trees,
so the squirrels and raccoons can't get to it. But
you know, I cheat a little bit on that, and
(39:42):
I put my cylinders in the fly through on the platform,
and so it lasts a long time. But it is
a great feeder. The birds, you know, they'd like an
open feeder. They can see, they can watch for predators,
you know, that kind of thing. They don't like to
be price. So it's a great feeder.
Speaker 1 (40:02):
So you actually put the cylinder in the fly through,
in the fly Yeah, that's pretty smart.
Speaker 5 (40:09):
Yeah, a little cheat, huh, you're right. And the fly
through is that I have that fly through. Well, I
think most of them nounceto. We may have still have ceedar,
but they're made out of the recycled milk jukes. So
you know, those stay looking beautiful for yeah many years.
Speaker 1 (40:26):
Yeah, the old red wooden ceedar and all that was
out there, but boy, you don't see much of that anymore. No,
these things last forever, and you can put them in
the dishwasher. Ione, I understand exactly.
Speaker 5 (40:37):
You can.
Speaker 1 (40:37):
One last thing here. We've been talking about the feeders
and the fee and the suit cakes and all of that,
but what about water. I mean to me, I guess
that's one of those things that we we we don't
mention enough. But that's as important as the food, it is.
Speaker 5 (40:52):
And you know, it can be as simple as just
putting you know, a small tray out, you know, maybe
close to closer to your door, within three feet of
your windows, and then you know, if it freezes, of course,
bring it in, dump it out, put some new we've
got you know, at the store, we've got heaters to
put in your bird baths to keep the water from freezing.
(41:14):
And then we also have actual heated bird baths themselves
that will keep it from freezing. So there's lots of options.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
Yeah, and I know a lot of folks email and say,
you know, we put a pan out in the morning,
it lasts for a couple three couple hours before it freezes,
and they usually enjoy that. Yeah, dump it out later,
put it, put a second one, maybe a third one
out and that takes care of them through the day,
and do it again in the morning. It's no big deal, right, Yep,
it hard.
Speaker 5 (41:42):
You know.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Crows. Crows are my favorite birds. I know it sounds weird,
I CROs. Why are why are those things so smart?
Speaker 5 (41:51):
I know, it's amazing, it's amazing. I love watching them.
I love beating them. Maybe five years ago, I had
nuts on the ground that they were and we'd run
over our nuts in the driveway and it would crack
them open. I mean they have a strong beak, but
(42:11):
they would come in and take the nuts. And I
had so much fun because then I started putting out
all kinds of tree nuts for them and watching them
and watching them store them. They're amazing.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
They are amazing birds. I have some pigeons I need
you to. I'm gonna put you in the car with
me sometime and take you over to fields Irdle and
Mason Montgommy roaders. Pigeons that hang out there all the
time and they circle around the fly and it's the
craziest thing. And I need you to explain to me
what in the heck they are doing. All right, so
I'll call you know being crazy. I'll take you over
there with Monica brew Baker wild birds.
Speaker 5 (42:43):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (42:44):
At one last time, your website.
Speaker 5 (42:46):
WBU dot com, slash Westchester or Springboro.
Speaker 1 (42:50):
Have a great holiday season.
Speaker 5 (42:51):
Monica brew Baker, Hey you too, Ron, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (42:54):
All right, quick break, we come back. Phone lines are
going to be open for you. At eight hundred eight
eight two five five. Don't forget our website, it's Ron
Wilson online dot com and our Facebook page. In the
Garden with Ron Wilson, it's all happening here in the
garden with Ron Wilson.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Not gardening questions. Ron has the answers at one eight
hundred and eighty two three Talk. You are in the
Garden with Ron Wilson.
In The Garden with Ron Wilson News
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