Small Memories

Put Some Spring In The Air
By Jemetha Clark

March may have come in like a lion but springtime is fast approaching; a time of year when the stark winter landscape gives way to an explosion of color and fragrance blooms in abundance. The fresh green aromas of grasses and leaves are punctuated with bright floral fragrances, and juicy citrus fruits ripen on their bushes.

Daffodils herald the dawn of spring with their bright color and sweet succulent aroma. Some varieties even begin blooming towards the end of winter. The daffodil is considered an auspicious flower by the Chinese who display it for Chinese New Years celebrations.

Hyacinth is rich honey-sweet bloom from the Mediterranean and Middle East. The hyacinth flower is a traditional Persian symbol for the arrival of spring and is part of the Persian New Year celebration which occurs on the Spring Equinox.

Lemon is a bright and enlivening aroma, sharp and balancing. It is an uplifting scent by itself or lends a fresh top note to fragrance blends. The scent of lemon is also known to ward of insects.

Roses are embraced by cultures around the world and have become symbols for love, beauty, innocence and purity. The voluptuous sweet fragrance of the rose is soothing, stimulating, and romantic; the true Queen of Flowers.

Oranges are the sweet siblings in the citrus family, crisp and refreshing but not tart. Varieties run from sweet and juicy to bitter-sweet and everything from the rind, flowers, and leaves can be used for fragrances. The Orange flower, also known as neroli, has a rich, warm, and sweet aroma. Orange-derived aromas are anti-depressants and can be mildly sedative.

Violets, symbols of purity and modesty, have a delicate and sweet aroma. The flower modestly guards its beautiful aroma, making pure violet essence expensive to the point of extinction. Fortunately the aroma has mimicked with great success.

Embrace the coming of spring and enjoy the wide variety of wonderful fragrances that the season brings.

J.K. Clark -

The Fifth Sense - http://www.thefifthsense.com
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This article reminded me of all the backyard gardening that will be going on soon. Here is an item that will brighten any room and your yard if you choose to replant them for next year. Order from our Family Favorites Shop now and bring home a room of sunshine. ~ Kit

Basic Tips for Backyard Bird Watching and Bird Stalking
By A Chatfield

For those of us who like to spend as much time as we can quietly stalking and watching other creatures, we may find that it’s impossible to do so with your fellow human beings. Birds however, being infinitely smaller and unaware of the forces that follow and watch them are perfect for backyard viewing.

There are some basic rules and procedures to make your back yard bird watching sessions as enjoyable as possible. Birds are surprisingly predictable creatures, not unlike you or me. You find a place where there’s ample food, water, and sunlight and one will surely find its way there eventually. Finding a nearby spot to stake out the eventual arrival of your fine feathered friend is as easy as a hollow beside a tree or a well-groomed pad behind an untrimmed hedge.

Once you’ve found your quiet, empty place to hide, in which you’re sitting quietly, not making any loud sounds, and most assuredly wearing something not too bright, you’re ready to stalk some birds. One tip that’s been offered a few times is the old switcheroo routine. Birds aren’t quite able of adding past one or so. If you set up a nice alcove or box within which you can hide and watch your birds feeding you can trick them into thinking you’re not really there.

Simply supply food in a bird feeder every day. As soon as you walk away, your subject will fly in and take the offered food. Now, take a friend with you and quickly hide inside your box, or alcove, or whatever enclosed area you choose, and have that friend walk away. The bird should be sufficiently fooled by your trick and fly in for the food, leaving you within prime viewing distance to watch him feed.

Another common stalking trick is to make bird-like noises, a kind of squeak or hiss. Known as splishing, the sound will occasionally draw a bird near, intrigued by your attempt at its language. While this doesn’t always work, it’s very successful when it does.

The art of bird stalking starts on a very simple level with the wits and know how to outthink a bird and make them think they’re safe in your presence long enough for you to watch them. Once you get started you find there are hundreds of little aspects of how birds think and act that you can learn from and eventually exploit to get a better view.

Anthony Chatfield provides information on birdwatching for For the Birds, where you can find information on birding binoculars as well as tips on creating a bird haven in your own yard.

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