After a long absence from our garden, the birdfeeder went back up yesterday.  It has been ‘in the shop’ for the better part of a year awaiting a new floor and a new perch… and, as it turned out, a new location

This particular birdfeeder has been in our east garden since my folks retired to this house in the early 1970s.  I believe their friend Art Matthews made it and gave it to them or, perhaps, my dad bought it from him.  I have forgotten the story attached to it but our neighbor Sue recently said that her folks had a similar one that was made by Art and so my memory of the circumstances makes sense.

What doesn’t make sense is where my dad placed it – about four strides ahead and two strides south of the east porch, plunk in the lawn.  If it had been outside a window where someone could sit and watch the bird activity, that would have made sense.  But it wasn’t.

It was in the way when the lawn was mowed; it was enough out-of-sight-out-of-mind so we forgot to refill it; it clotted up all the group pictures taken in the ‘traditional place’ at family reunions.  We talked for years about moving it…

Finally, the post on which it sat – an old porch post, though not in the same style as those on our porches now – began to show serious signs of rot.  Nyel removed the feeder, post and all, and put them in the garage to work on.

Several other projects, not the least of which was the west fence, took priority but little-by-little the bird feeder was attended to.  The no-good bottom part of the post was cut off and the post repainted; the rotten ‘floor’ of the feeder was replaced; all the parts were re-nailed, re-screwed and made sturdy once more.  I was relieved that the graceful lichen-encrusted roof, fashioned from driftwood, was still in good condition sand could remain exactly as it was.

We stewed about where to place it and finally decided that it should go in the flower bed nearest the vegetable garden.  We can see it from our north windows.  Most importantly, we can see it as we have our morning coffee during the time of the year that it’s light early enough.

It looks almost perfect.  I think the shorter post improves its proportions and even I can refill it without standing tiptoe.  It would look better, though, if its surroundings were weed free, a little matter I promise myself will occur shortly.  And, of course, it will look best of all when the birds discover it.  I can almost hear Mary Poppins:  Feed the birds, tuppence a bag…”