To beautify the front of your home and enhance your landscape, why not use the magical benefits of wind chimes? They come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and price ranges, and are sure to be the perfect compliment, regardless of exterior design.

Small nondescript houses are especially flattered by such yard features as trellises, decorative mailboxes, birdhouses, and wind chime designs that add a distinct country home décor charm.

Outdoor southwest décor can be enhanced by a more natural looking landscape, one harmonious with the eco-system. Use large wooden tubs of ornamental cactus or interesting semi-succulent flora, strategically placed in a section of the yard made up of ornamental stones, bark chips, or native ground cover.

Areas within the garden and along the perimeter can be planted with tufts of ornamental grasses. Drifts of native plants that flower at different times of the year will add color and give balance to the landscape design.

A stone or cement bird bath, garden bench, and perfectly tuned wind chimes suspended from the branch of a tree not only make the yard look more appealing, but more inviting as well. Hear the haunting "vocals" tapped from each pipe as the wind passes by, and enjoy the tranquil setting where harmony kisses the sun.

This type landscape design is not only unique and attractive, but low-maintenance; an added bonus that busy homeowners will surely appreciate.

Wind chimes can be used as an enhancement and to create a certain mood or compliment design in a variety of ways. A set of small diameter pipe wind chimes suspended from an elaborate hanger by the front door can replace a doorbell or door knocker during mild weather months. A small polished brass plaque beside it could announce a formal "Ring for service," or a more playful, "Ring my chimes."

Such an arrangement could enhance an otherwise plain porch. A natural wood or painted lattice or fan trellis, embraced by flowering vines, could complete the quaint scene. If positioning of the porch allows, place the trellis on the north end to reduce force of air current. That way, when the chimes "sing" you know you have a visitor.

Use decorating ideas that compliment the front of your yard, beautifying what you have to work with, instead of competing against it. Finely tuned wind chimes are a sure way to add a relaxing note; complimentary, therapeutic, and feng shui enhancing.

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Grass, trees and flowers are the typical items that make up a landscaped yard, but a yard isn't truly finished until its been accessorized, from natural products such as birdfeeders, or rocks or boulders, to man-made products such as statues or fountains.

Your backyard consists of lush green grass, a few stately trees, and a flower garden. You enjoy it from your back deck, on which you have a set of wicker furniture and a patio table. But is your landscaping complete?

Landscape "accessories" can offer many unique complements that will really set off your yard. Consider your yard to be just another room of your house...only without a ceiling! Just as you have various knickknacks scattered around to give each room a homey feel, so you can scatter knickknacks around your yard as well.

Before doing so, give a thought to who uses the yard and for what purpose. If you have a lot of kids running around, you won't want to have a lot of fragile stuff lying around where it can easily get broken...or even no-so-fragile stuff that can get run over and end up breaking the kid!

Large buildings - such as turning your deck into an enclosed sunroom, count as landscaping accessories. If you have a constant problem with insects ruining your outdoors picnics and barbecues, consider foiling them with an all-glass enclosed room. It will serve the purpose to keep out excessive heat, and rain, as well.

You can build a conservatory close to the house, or out in the yard, as well, depending on how big your yard is. There's nothing quite like a conservatory to add elegance to a backyard, and give you a place of quiet retreat.

Just as you use sculpture and ornaments to accessorize the rooms in your house, so you can use them to accessorize your back yard. Of course you don't want to stick a statue just anywhere - the ornamentation must fit in with the design of your landscaping and set if off, rather than call attention to itself.

Birdhouses, birdbaths and bird feeders are always a popular accessory, because they encourage our fair-feathered friends to pay us visits. However, be careful of what type of birdfeed you use. Certain birds only like certain types of feed - so if you want to attract cardinals you'd use one kind of feed, for example. Hummingbirds require a specially designed feeder to meet their needs. Birds make a colorful and volatile addition to your backyard, but you'll want to place these accessories near your windows so that you can view them from inside.

If you're of a nautical bent, pieces of driftwood can make interesting conversation pieces, as they are twisted by nature into the most interesting of shapes. Boulders and rocks will serve the purpose as well - single boulders and rocks, as opposed to a collection of rocks for a rock garden, of course - which is a nice accessory in itself.

Statuary adds an elegant finishing touch to your lawn. Surf the web to find a vast array of statues to choose from. http://Statue.com is a site that has thousands of statuary on offer. They range from the traditional garden statuary of Greek and Roman gods to the more exotic statues of dragons, 'humorous pigs,' and the like. Garden Fountains is another site with a vast range of not only statuary but fountains to choose from.

Give a thought to lighting. If you have a lot of people visiting your house for parties, for example, you might want to line the path or sidewalk to your door with lamp posts. Silicon Solar is one company of many that offer garden and yard lights for the discriminating customer. Another, unique company is Firefly Magic, which offers lighting and sounds of fire flies. Check them out.

So for the finishing touch to your lawn, give a thought to the accessories.

They're here, they're here. Finally, well it seems like forever, some of my migrating feathered friends have returned to their favorite bird feeders, at least to my favorite bird feeders. The youngest pair of evening grosbeaks were the first to return. I find this interesting because they were the last to leave by several weeks. They brought a friend whom I have never seen before, a variegated thrush. A few days later the rest of the grosbeak flock landed. They are still some of my favorite birds with their bright colors and high pitched whistles. Some of them will even talk back to me if I get the notes right.

Unfortunately along with the song birds come the darn bears so in order to save my beautiful bird feeders from destruction I must bring them in at night. Friday the dogs announced the first influx of bears I ran out and harvested the wooden bird feeders but left one of the less expensive ones out as an experiment. Yep, next day it had bear all over it. Well not really but it had been grabbed and tweaked just enough so that the evidence of large varmint was recognizable. They can do so much damage to the bird feeders it can cost me a fortune to replace them all.

I am still expecting more snow (seems like it snows forever up here) we really only had 2 big storms this year. It might be time to worry about drought conditions again. Wherever you can use grey water to irrigate landscape plants, this really helps conserve. Grey water is the stuff that comes from showers, washing dishes and laundry. If you use a good biodegradable soap it does no damage what ever to the plants or the water table. Make sure it's legal in your neighborhood, if it isn't them speak up and get it legal! There is only so much fresh water and we need to be wise.

Time to get out the garden water fountain, check the pump and scrub the bowl real good. Then the bird bath needs restoring. Until then the pond is almost up and running, well it has fresh water which is a start for me. I think I am going to tell my friends that I want some new ornamental birdhouses for my yard and maybe a few of those fun wooden bird feeders too. I only lost 6 to the bears last fall.

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For centuries now, images of the high seas and the wealth of treasures that they contain have graced the dens and living rooms of countless homes. There is just something that is very calming and relaxing about looking at a beautiful seascape. The popularity of nautical decor has been growing through the years, with many stores now specializing in providing unique nautical-themed merchandise to their customers.

Nautical decor can consist of just about anything that relates to the sea. Many individuals incorporate items relating to boats and ships into their decor, such as anchors, bells, and ship clocks. Others opt to primarily utilize those types of items that relate to the water, such as seashells, fish, and beach rocks. There isn't a wrong way to arrange decorative nautical items and each arrangement should reflect the personal style of the people living in the home.

Decorative Lighthouses

Lighthouses are one of the most popular items found in nautical themed decor. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors to blend with any decorator's scheme. Many decorative lighthouses are used as small statuettes and figurines that are displayed on shelves or in curio cabinets. Individuals can also purchase birdhouses or wind chimes that are designed to look like a lighthouse. A number of companies even create lighthouse items meant to be used in the kitchen, such as cookie jars, sugar canisters, salt and pepper shakers, and napkin rings. There are also lighthouse planters that can be purchased to hold your favorite plants.

Many artists create beautiful lighthouse paintings, photographs, and silk screens that can be displayed in the home or office. These art pieces come in many different styles, classes, and price ranges. A unique lighthouse painting can cost anywhere from 0 for a small piece created by an up and coming artist to many thousands of dollars for a large work done by a master artist.

Nautical Themed Fabrics

Nautical themed printed fabrics are also very popular in nautical decor themed homes. These prints are available from most major manufacturers and can be used for nearly anything. It is not uncommon to find nautical themed curtains, bed sheets, comforters, and rugs in many homes that are implementing a nautical theme. These prints can also be found on towels, shower curtains, table cloths, and cloth napkins. Far less common are couches, loveseats, chairs, and ottomans covered in a nautical print, but they are commonly covered in one of the few colors associated with nautical decor, such as white or navy blue.

So whether you have the heart of a sailor or just enjoy the visions of the sea, there are many types of nautical themed decor that can be used to decorate your home. Choosing the right items is simply a matter of personal preference and should reflect your own unique style and personality. With the vast amount of nautical decor pieces available at retail stores, finding the items you like should be relatively easy.

Your local garden center or online retailer is likely to have a massive selection of bird feeders to choose from in various sizes, shapes, colors and prices and it can be difficult to know which bird feeder will be the best for the birds in your garden or backyard. Regardless of the type of bird feeder you decide to purchase it should be built of sturdy material, easy to clean and squirrel proof!

The most popular choices are tubular bird feeders and platform feeders. Tubular feeders are built using a plastic or metal tube with various holes to allow the seed to come out. Many of these feeders have perches for birds to rest on while feeding. Look for a tubular bird feeder that has a solid hook or chain to hang it from a tree or pole, a large tube so you are not refilling everyday and a mesh or dome to protect your food from squirrels.

Platform feeders can be simply be a sheet of plywood raised off the ground and covered with seeds, fruit or other food.  A platform feeder about one foot off the ground is perfect for attracting birds that feed on the ground such as sparrows, doves or juncos. You can also hang a platform feeder from a tree or mount on a pole to attract a vast array of different birds. Again remember to look for protection of squirrels and ensure any wooden surfaces have been protected from the weather.

Hopper feeders are a bit more expensive but are usually easier to look after and come in a variety of interesting styles, including a Victorian house!  The main advantage is this type of feeder automatically restocks the feeder until the feed has been exhausted from the hopper – this means you don’t have to refill the feeder every day. Look for hopper bird feeders which hold a decent amount of seed and are easy to clean. You’ll attract many kinds of birds with these feeders including woodpeckers, cardinals and jays.

Window feeders attach to a pane of glass and allow you to see the birds while they are feeding from the comfort and warmth of your house. It may take slightly longer for the birds to feel comfortable feeding in this way but soon you’ll have a variety of birds feeding right next to your living room window!

The final types of bird feeders are the suet feeder and nectar bird feeders. Suet feeders are usually consist of a wire cake that suet cakes are attached to – suet feeders can be difficult to clean but do attract a variety of birds in winter and summer. Nectar bird feeders are diesgned to attract hummingbirds and Orioles. The birds ‘suck’ a sugary water from an inverted bottle or from a saucer that drips the liquid through the feeder.

It’s often worth having a selection of bird feeders in your garden to attract different types of birds at different times of the year. If you buy bird feeders that have been built well, they should last for a number of years and bring you lots of pleasure.

Providing food and water will attract some birds to your yard; offering the shelter of birdhouses will attract others.

About fifty species of cavity-nesting birds will use birdhouses, thirty-five of them do so on a regular basis. Man-made nesting boxes provide important cavities for many of these species, because natural cavities in snags (dead trees) and large live trees are, more and more, in short supply in city and suburban yards. The birds don’t find much in the way of housing in these areas, so if you provide artificial holes for them and give some attention to detail, you’ll be able to attract the wild birds you want and exclude those that are less desirable. If you provide a place for them to nest, you’ll have the pleasure of seeing them frequently at close range.  Also, birds that use nesting boxes tend to be prodigious eaters of insects, which is an added reason for attracting them with birdhouses.

Choose the site for putting up a birdhouse carefully. Nesting boxes for forest species like chickadees and woodpeckers must be mounted directly on trees. Otherwise, those hung in or fastened to trees should be clear of the main trunk and placed where sunshine can reach them. It’s a good idea to position new birdhouses in the autumn before the leaves fall so you can be sure the spots won’t be too dark and gloomy. Baby birds, like all growing things, need sunshine.

Nesting time will vary with the bird species, as well as your geographical location. For same year occupancy, nesting boxes should be in place no later than January in the southern tier of states, February for the middle tier and March in the northern states and Canada. If birds seem to be ignoring the houses you’ve installed, be patient. Sometimes a brand new house is viewed with suspicion, and the birds will be more likely to accept it once it has weathered a bit – another reason why fall is a great time for putting up new houses.

It’s easy to provide features that will make the nesting boxes more attractive as residences. Birds might spook if they fly to an entrance hole and find the inside of the box pitch black, so choose boxes with ventilation holes near the top of the sides (or drill your own) to provide some light as well as fresh air. Wood chips and shavings on the bottom of the box will be gladly accepted, and for chickadees and small woodpeckers you can completely fill the box with shavings and let the bird make its own cavity. Don’t use sawdust as it doesn’t ventilate and dry out as well as chips. Offer nesting materials where the birds can find them without trouble if you really want to make them happy!

Make sure you can get to the box easily, as it should be cleaned out each fall when the nesting season is over to cut down on parasites like mites and lice, and discourage mice from nesting there. Clean between broods as well if your birds are the kind that raise more than one family per season.

Pick a quiet area and avoid having the entrance to the nesting box face a busy road. Make sure to place it near trees and shrubs so fledglings can hide and avoid being eaten by the neighborhood cat while developing their flying skills. In southern regions, it makes sense to have the entrance face north to avoid heat buildup in the box; in northern regions, having the entrance face south might help to keep it warm.

Four to five houses per acre is about right as you don’t want to create a bird slum.

Predators, such as cats, squirrels, raccoons, rats and snakes, will always be a problem, so in most areas complete protection is probably not possible. However, there are several things you can do to help keep the nest safe:

Perches aren’t needed on a nesting box and will only serve to attract house sparrows and starlings. Mount a cone-shaped metal guard beneath the birdhouse if it’s mounted on a pole; if the nesting box is mounted on a post that cats or squirrels can climb, wrap the post with sheet metal. Be precise with the entrance hole size necessary for the birds you wish to attract.

Attach a block of wood 1 inch thick with a hole the same size as the entrance hole over the front of the box, creating a short tunnel which will help prevent squirrels or raccoons from reaching into the nest. Make sure to sand the hole in the block so it is smooth.

Of course, it’s hard to predict what birds will like when it comes to their nesting boxes, but it is generally assumed that most birds prefer a natural-look, so use brown, tan or grey stain or paint for the exterior finish. On the other hand, some studies have indicated that wrens prefer red or green houses. The interiors of nesting boxes should always be left unfinished.

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There are such a variety out there these days to choose from. There are wood houses for chickadees, finches, blue birds and various wild birds. Robins and Blue Jays love to make their own nests out of sticks, grass and moss.

Other types of houses are the edible kind. Where there is seed all over the house. You never need to fill the birdhouse with seed. It is all ready to go. Just hang and watch the birds come flocking. They first construct it of wood. Then they apply various types of bird seed, sunflower seed, ornamental corn, popcorn and corn grits. They even have some with Dried Apple and Orange slices. All you would have to do is hang it, giving the birds a cozy and warm home and food without the fuss. Blue birds, sparrows, chickadees, wrens and various other wild birds would love this type of house.

Suet feeders are kind of a neat idea. That way you can keep away predators. Bird Cookies are really beautiful, too. They come in all different shapes like, watering cans, apples, cats, giraffes, turtles, stars and squirrel's. Many more varieties are available, too.

There are even houses that are made of stone. That must take a long time to make one of those. I bet they are expensive. The other day, in someone's yard, I saw a lighthouse built out of stone. What an awesome sight that was. There was a lot of time put into making that one. The light on the top even worked.

Bird watching is fun for the whole family. It gives you solitude, health, family, satisfaction as well as companionship. Nature can be so beautiful. Below are some things to look for in a birdhouse or feeder.

When looking for a birdhouse, look for one that has the proper dimensions. Different types of birds have different requirements. Some things to look for are to check the birdhouse specifications, such as the inside area, the entrance hole, the height of the whole from the floor. These are just some of the things that attract a bird to your feeder.

Make sure it has enough ventilation and a drainage whole or slats to prevent overheating or drowning of baby birds.

Use proper materials when building or buying. Use only non-toxic materials. You would not want to danger the birds.

Make sure you use a sturdy hanger as well.

Keep in mind where you are going to place the birdhouse, what type of squirrel shield you are going to use, and that the cost is within your budget.

If you really want to attract more birds, get a birdbath. Birds love birdbaths, especially when it is warm outside.

You could create your own birdhouse today? You can find a kit that is pretty simple to put together or you can go to the extreme and make a great project out of it. Another option is to just buy one and enjoy.

Just remember some birds will avoid certain birdhouses since they can be very fussy about where they nest. Sometimes you just have to change the location of you feeder. Make sure you put your feeder in a safe place, away from people.