Hi Barbara

I was just going through Gardeners index and recognized your name. Nice to see you here.

I bet you are getting excited for spring. I look forward to hearing how your project is coming along.

Sherrie @ The Seed Basket

B Brookie if you go to my Photos and search for Eagles you will find more Eagle pictures and I will be adding more as the winter goes on. I usually go to the River a couple of times during the week and some times go on road trips looking for what evers!

Oh and keep the mulch a couple of inches away from the stems of the plant so mice don't use it to hide in while they chew on the base of the plant. That can ruin an entire stand of Sky Pencils. (Experience talking on this one).

Depends on when you put them in. If you put them in this fall before the freezes began then just give them about two or three inches of hardwood mulch (which is the most prevalent mulch for your zone). Down here in zone 7 we use a lot of pine straw for mulch. Also if you put them in this autumn then remember to water them until the spring rains start. Most people think dormant woodies (short for woody ornamental plants) don't need supplemental moisture during winter but that is not true. If you don't get an inch of rain during a 7 to 10 day period then water them. If there is insufficient moisture in the ground during the dry windy days of winter the tops will desiccate and at the very least set them back in spring if it does not kill them outright. They need the ground moisture to replenish the tops when the ground thaws. Watch for heaving caused by freezing and thawing, if you notice them heaving get them back down immediately! If you put them in in spring, don't worry so much about the water but be sure and get the mulch down to protect the roots from wild temperature swings.

I love the turkey feather tree and all of that pewter! If it's old I like it.