I do enjoy our birds in the garden, and I'm fortunate that Tom doesn't ask me how much I spend on birdseed each month for our 14 bird feeders!  

I remember my mom taking me to Wing Haven as a young girl to visit Mrs. Clarkson and watch her feed mealworms to the birds from her hand.   That is such a vivid memory, and I would love nothing better than to be able to do the same with our birds here.  

Various birds are already conditioned to my ringing of a bell and whistling.  They will come to the platform feeder outside our sunporch where I put their mealworms every morning.  

I have an adirondack chair positioned right behind the platform feeder where I am now sitting every morning when I call the birds to get them accustomed to me.  This is my first step in my process to hand feeding... I hope!

Just came in from a quick walk in the garden and happened upon this gem:  'Kramer's Beauty'

Camellia japonica

You never know what you may find as you move leaves around during the winter.  Don't know why this little guy is tied up in a knot ... I guess he was all snuggled down in the leaves and I disturbed him.  I said, "Sorry to disturb you," and covered him back up.

Helleborus niger 'Jacob'
The first of our hellebores to bloom this winter

After years of being happy, Daphne can just up and die with no warning, but we feel they are worth it.  We lost one this size in this exact spot.  When we lose a plant, Tom and I say, "Well, we have another planting opportunity!" We planted another Daphne in the same spot several years ago, and all seems well ... at least for now.  

Daphne odora 'Marginata' is heavily budded and ready to burst into bloom

A new purchase this year is 

Camellia japonica 'Hilda Honeycutt'

One of the new beds Tom has created this fall is planted with
Sedum 'Lemon Ball'

Some of our camellia japonicas are blooming early as is
Camellia japonica 'Tama Vino'

Fatsia japonica with its tropical looking foliage

Developing seed pods
Black fleshy fruit will appear in winter

Many years ago I purchased a home that had the driveway lined

with Mahonia aquifolium.  I used to curse this plant as I would forever stick myself on the prickly leaves whenever I got in or out of my car.  

How could I have had such disparaging thoughts about this plant as I now rate Mahonia as one of my favorite winter bloomers with their clusters of yellow blooms followed by  dusky blue berries.  I no longer find their prickly leaves nearly as annoying. 

Matteuccia struthiopteris

This entire bed is filled with Ostrich ferns.  They provide interesting winter interest in the garden.

Nandina domestica 'Alba'
I don't have to fight the birds for the berries of
Nandina domestica (both the cream and the red) as the birds don't seem to like them ... Hmm