St Petesburg Fun with BirdsThis Is For the Birds!

Bird Feeder window mount

Give Your Porch a Facelift

You've probably already found yourself spending more time out on the front porch. Or perhaps you're selling your home and understand the importance of curb appeal. Whatever the reason, it's time to clean up your front porch and give it a fresh look for the season.

Start by removing all the shovels, hoses, garbage cans or other items that have collected up over the winter, and then proceed to give every inch of your porch a good cleaning. You many decide to use a pressure washer for the floor and walls. Otherwise mix up a gallon of warm water combined with 2 tbsp. of Dawn dish soap and give the windows, furniture and soffits a thorough wiping.

Repair any loose boards or balusters, touch up caulking, and check the railings and columns for signs of wear. If they are in need of repainting, now is the time to do it.

Replace any burnt out bulbs in your light fixtures and consider updating the lights entirely if they are dated. If it's not in your budget, just clean out all the cobwebs and make them shine.

Now the fun begins. The quickest way to add punch to a front porch is by adding color. Add some hanging planters with bright full blooms. Assess your lawn furniture – instead of replacing, maybe all it needs is a facelift. A new paint job and a set of colorful floral cushions will have an old set looking like new.

Visit your favorite garden center and replace your old doormat with a new one that shouts "spring".

The latest trend is to make your outdoor spaces an extension of the indoor spaces. Consider purchasing an outdoor area rug and arrange your furniture around it. Hang sheer curtains and gather them together, tieing them back at the posts or letting them hang free. It reinforces the living room look and can add a splash of color as well.

Assess your front door – touch up the paint if necessary and add a colorful spring garland or wreath.

When you're sitting outdoors, nature is your entertainment, so do what you can to build on it. Add some bird baths, small birdfeeders and a Hummingbird Feeder. Just the addition of some red flowers will probably attract those little guys. If you don't have the trees for hanging, add a decorative post or wrought iron hanger.

Consider adding plants especially suited for butterflies. They like sun, but require shelter from the wind, and a nearby mud puddle to drink from. Plants that provide good sources of nectar for butterflies include Aster, Dogbane, Mallow, Dogwood, Wild Rose, Butterfly Bush, Marigold, Sunflowers, and Purple Coneflower.

Consider adding a focal point to your front porch for added interest. This may include an unusual planter, urns, sculpture or trellis. If your porch is protected, there are some beautiful framed or mounted prints that look wonderful in an outdoor setting.

Finally, tidy the area around your porch by edge trimming, raking, sweeping or whatever is necessary to create an inviting walkway. Now poor a cool drink and sit down and enjoy this delightful space you've created.

About the Author

Search Smyrna real estate listings at TinaFountain.com, the home of Smyrna real estate experts.

Feeding birds?

I really enjoy wild birds. I live in Florida where birds are in abundance so I decided to purchase a bird feeder that mounts on a glass window pane with a suction cup.

I also live in Florida and feed birds like crazy! I put one of those on my mothers window and birds go to it most of the time. All the birds are just now coming back around this time of year. Try a mix, not all birds eat sunflower seeds. Dove are the easiest to attract and they like the millet and miso. Cardinals and bluejays like sunflower but cardinals prefer to eat off of a flat surface. Try putting some on the ground or on the sill to lure then in. Good luck.

WoodLink Audubon Mixed Treat Window Bird Feeder - Nature $10.99 Attracts a variety of bird typesSticks to glass surfacesHolds oranges, bird seed and jellyAttract a variety of beautiful birds right to your window with this WoodLink Audubon Mixed Treat Window Bird Feeder. This unique Bird Feeder sticks to glass surfaces and holds oranges, bird seed, jelly and more. This WoodLink Window Feeder makes a great gift for birdwatchers and outdoor enthusiasts! Clean periodically with soap and water. Measures 7" x 3" x 7.5". Manufacturer model : NAWFDR. Attracts a variety of bird typesSticks to glass surfacesHolds oranges, bird seed and jellyAttract a variety of beautiful birds right to your window with this WoodLink Audubon Mixed Treat Window Bird Feeder. This unique Bird Feeder sticks to glass sur

Perky Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone II Home Style Wild Bird Feeder $34.82 This innovative squirrel proof feeder keeps squirrels from raiding the birdseed. The home style appearance of this delightful feeder will attract birds - and birdwatchers, too!! The Perky Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone II wild bird feeder features a weight activated perch bar that closes to prevent squirrels from accessing the seed supply. Adjustable springs can be calibrated to accommodate different birds sizes and keep away nuisance birds as well as squirrels.

Perky Pet Copper Sip And Seed Wild Bird Feeder with Seed Scoop $31.87 This classy bird feeder with its beautiful seed and water containers allows you to offer both food and water to wild birds in your yard. The Perky Pet Copper Sip and Seed bird feeder is made of glass and antiqued copper finish. The unique double silo design is sure to compliment any backyard décor. It is exclusive to Perky Pet; none of our competitors have anything like this product! The silos of the Copper Sip and Seed Bird Feeder feature a patent-pending collar that twists to feature a seed opening or a water opening. This innovation allows the consumer to serve seed and water, or when winter approaches and water will freeze, to fill both silos with seed. The feeder hangs from a decorative copper-finish scroll hanger. It holds 1.15 lb of seed and 22 oz of water. Comes with a FREE seed scoop.

Birdscapes Squirrel-Be-Gone I Squirrel Proof Wild Bird Feeder, 350 $33.99 The anti-squirrel technology of this squirrel proof birdfeeder makes this one of the best on the market. Birds eat from 8 ports. Includes FREE 23? metal hook. The Birdscapes Squirrel-Be-Gone I wild bird feeder features 8 U-shaped perches, 8 feeding ports and a 6 lb. seed capacity. The interior seed tower is surrounded by metalwork. The clear, shatter-proof plastic reservoir makes it easy to monitor seed levels.

Perky Pet Break Away Bird Feeder and Squirrel Repellent $31.99 This squirrel proof birdfeeder plus squirrel repellent spray kit makes this combination one of the best ways to keep the squirrels from raiding the feeder while allowing the birds to eat to their hearts' and stomachs' content! he Perky Pet Fortress Breakaway Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder features 4 feeding ports, a 3.5 lb. seed capacity and an easy-fill wide mouth top. The perches ?break away? under the weight of a squirrel and the seed ports shut simultaneously, as a result. This model is for hang mounting and features a quick release metal top. The clear plastic reservoir makes it easy to monitor seed levels. These innovations makes this squirrel proof birdfeeder one of the most economical and convenient on the market!

Perky Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder with Free Metal Hook $28.99 A classic among squirrel proof feeders, this one has ports that close under a squirrel?s weight, preventing the squirrel from raiding the seed supply. Includes FREE 23? metal hook. The Perky Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder features six feeding ports, U-shaped perches and a 2 lb. seed capacity. The feeding ports have sturdy metal perches that allow birds to feed comfortably but, when the squirrels perch on them, their weight causes the entire metal casing to slip down, completely blocking the feeding ports and their access to the seed. The interior seed tower is surrounded by rustic metalwork.

Birdscapes 2-in-1 Triple Tube Wild Bird Feeder, 329 $53.07 The Birdscapes 2-in-1 Triple Tube Feeder features an exclusive design allowing for easy switching from a mixed/sunflower setting to a thistle/finch mix position?the variety in food choice allows for variety in wild birds stopping by to feed. The feeder has an 11 lb. of seed capacity and 9 feeding stations. A triple tube system allows for three different types of seed to be dispensed and a tray catches seeds and shells. The clear, shatter-proof plastic reservoir makes it easy to monitor seed levels.

Birds at Bird Feeder $19.99 Birds at Bird Feeder - Premium Poster

Perky Pet Squirrel Resistant Easy Feeder $23.99 Safeguard your feeder, and eliminate squirrel damage with the Easy Feeder! Includes free 23? metal hook. The Perky Pet Easy Feeder features a wire barrier that protects against squirrel damage and holds 4 lbs. of seed. This squirrel proof feeder is inch-for-inch the best in the business at keeping squirrels out and letting birds in!