from Maxwelton Valley Gardems,

Whidbey Island, Washington

* If you tend to leave buckets or other containers that hold water outside that can fill up with rainwater, add a stick or twig to give any bird or chipmunk that might stop for a drink something to help them get out if they fall into the water.

* Although normally a tree will survive a mild infestation of tent caterpillars, they can retard the tree's growth, and are just unpleasant. If you remove the egg cluster before the insects hatch, you will prevent a nest from developing. Look for grayish metallic-looking clusters encircling branches in the winter. Use a fingernail or sharp object to scrape the cluster off the branch and discard it.

* When planting, create a berm around the plant to direct water directly down to the roots. Rootbound plants may have the roots gently pulled apart, and a soaking in a bucket of water for an hour prior to planting could help the soil retain water once it is planted. Watering a newly-planted tree or perennial (or anything) is critical to its survival, no matter what time of the year. And careful watering the first "dry" season is important to get the plant through that first stressful year.

If you have a companion dog that has a heavy undercoat (like Malamutes or Samoyeds), recycle that hair you brush out by placing it outside for birds or burrowing creatures to use to line their nests for warmth during breeding season.