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PRINTMarch – Spring & Birds
We have turned the corner on winter. With March comes a sun that is a little higher in the sky and a bit warmer. It is still a major month for snow in northern states but the melting process has begun. With March come the arrival of birds. If you enjoy birds in your backyard, keep in mind that what you plant plays a part in persuading songbirds to visit. Birds need food, safety and shelter, just as we do. Flowering shrubs and plants that provide seeds, berries and/ or nuts are appetizing to our feather friends. Junipers, yews and cedars offer refuge and food supplies. Sour berries, such as the American cranberry and holly might also be appealing to birds.
Honeysuckle, roses and mulberries are also good, as they provide privacy, nesting areas and food. So as you prepare for the arrival of Spring (March 20th) and birds, keep in mind natural ways to invite birds to your home.
As you think about seeds, keep in mind my friends at Johnny’s Selected Seeds. They are a private Maine company that offers quality seed and service. Check them out at www.johnnyseeds.com.
Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. Read his full biography here.Free Weekly eNewsletter
Farmers' Almanac Long Range Weather
February 8th - February 11th
- Northeast U.S.
Wet snow mixed with rain Mid-Atlantic north through New England; slushy accumulations of 4+" possible.
- Midwest/Great Lakes U.S.
Accumulating snows Kentucky, Ohio, then clearing. Fair elsewhere.
- Southeast U.S.
Wet snow Tennessee, western North Carolina; wintry mix northern Mississippi, Alabama. Elsewhere, rain, then clearing.
- North Central U.S.
Drier, much colder.
- South Central U.S.
Snow parts of Arkansas, then clearing, cold. Clear, much colder elsewhere.
- Northwest U.S.
Drier, but colder.
- Southwest U.S.
Drier, but noticeably colder.
• View entire Long Range Weather Forecast »
• Farmers' Almanac 2011-12 Winter Outlook »
• View the Almanac Daily Planner »
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.