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| Cedar Waxwings Photographed by Minette Layne http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cedar_waxwing_Courtship.jpg |
If you happen to be a Cedar Waxwing, or a Grey Catbird, then you are always
on the hunt for wild grapes. You know
how to stab the fruit with your beak and then tip your head so that the
delicious juice runs into your beak and down the hatch. This is a treat that just can’t be beat!
Even in the wintertime, wild grapes continue to sustain hardy birds. Those that have not been plucked earlier in
the season will remain on the vines as a frozen delicacy. Loaded with vitamins and minerals, the fruits
offer lots of antioxidants to strengthen a bird’s immune system and help maintain
energy levels. The fruits are much
smaller than that of domestic grapes, but the tart flavor is concentrated to
pack a major grape punch when used in wine, jelly and jam.
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| Grey Catbird Photographed by Matthew Petroff commons.wikimedia.org |
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| Wild Grapevine growing in my ditch! by Grandma Pearl |
Vitis riparia, or Riverbank Grape is native to North America, and is used
to hybridize other varieties to create hardier (some to -70 degrees F.), and
more disease resistant fruits. And it
grows everywhere, quickly and profusely; but being riparian, it does best in
sunny riverbank habitats, and appreciates rich soil with a slightly acidic
ph: 5.5 to 6.0, but will tolerate a range
from 5.0 to 8.0 .
In some parts of the country wild grapes are considered noxious
weeds. In fact, we had a wild grape vine
growing on one of our 75 foot maple trees.
It competed for the available nutrients and light, and eventually won the
battle. Wild grape vines like sunshine and moderately moist conditions. However, judicious pruning and training on an
arbor or trellis can keep this fast-growing vine under control.
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| Learn How to Make My Autumn Hummingbird Feeder Wreath from Grandma Pearl |
Old dead grape vines can be used to make decorative wreaths for both indoor
and outdoor seasonal decorations. I don’t
mind if there are leaves and tendrils still attached to the vines. I think they add to the rustic natural
feeling this type of wreath evokes. The longer the lengths of vines, the fuller
your wreath will be. Wear gloves and use
pruning shears or long handled loppers to cut them. To more easily work with the stiff vine
material, be sure to have a bucket of warm water on hand for soaking. Allow to soak for several hours.
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Either use a metal wreath form from the craft store, or wind 6 to 8 of the
grape vines around the proper-sized form--such as a metal bucket that has been
inverted. Make a regular old overhand
knot with the vines, removing the wreath shape from the bucket; and then
interweave each vine end in and out around the wreath. Poke the end inside the wreath where it won’t
show, and
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Secure by wrapping 22 gauge paddle wire several times around the wreath in
3 or 4 different places.
Video showing how to make a grapevine wreath
Video showing how to make a grapevine wreath
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Fashion a loop for hanging from the paddle wire, and secure it to the back
of the wreath.
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You can maneuver the wreath to make sure it is the shape you prefer. Decorate it with seasonal silk flowers, acorns,
pine cones, interesting dried grasses, wheat or oat stems, etc.
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Another way to make a grapevine wreath from crafts.creativebug.com
If you prefer not to make your own, grapevine wreaths can be found for sale at craft shops and discount stores.
Grandma Pearl
Grandma Pearl
Learn how to prune wild grapes and train them along a fence, trellis or old tree stump.
Make this feeder wreath to help fuel hummingbirds for their autumn flight back to South America!
Make this feeder wreath to help fuel hummingbirds for their autumn flight back to South America!
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| This easy-to-make wreath can decorate your window long after you have removed the hummingbird feeder! by Grandma Pearl |
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