outmybackdoor

By Terry W. Johnson

I can remember years ago that I was surprised to hear a man say, "The only good sweetgum is a dead sweetgum." Although I knew that sweetgum had its detractors, until then I hadn’t realized that some folks passionately hated the tree.

By Terry W. Johnson

I consider the strawberry bush (Euonymous Americana) one our most beautiful native shrubs, and deserving of a place in home landscapes across the state. If you are not familiar with this plant, all it would take is for me to show you one laden with its attractive seed capsules and you would immediately agree with me.

By Terry W. Johnson

By Terry W. Johnson

There is an amazing array of wildlife that live in our backyards. Beyond a shadow of a doubt the two groups of animals that garner most of our attention are birds and butterflies. However, this is slowly changing as more Georgians are beginning to focus their attention on dragonflies. These people have discovered that dragonflies are every bit as beautiful and fascinating as the headliners of the wildlife show staged daily in their backyards.

By Terry W. Johnson

Now that we have celebrated Memorial Day, Georgia hummingbird enthusiasts know the time is drawing near when the numbers of hummingbirds visiting their feeders will soon be rising. They also realize that more ants, yellow jackets, honeybees and wasps will be converging on hummingbird feeders in search of a sugary meal. This can cause problems for hummingbirds and humans alike.

Knowing what lies in store, let's take a quick look at some strategies you can employ to thwart the advances of these insects.

By Terry W. Johnson

We enjoy all sorts of parties. There are pool parties, birthday parties, retirement parties, Christmas parties, office parties … the list goes on. However, there is one party you will never be invited to – the puddle party.

By Terry W. Johnson

There are many reasons why we are so fond of the eastern redbud tree. I suspect our affection for this small, native tree is largely based on its beauty and not what I consider to be one of its most endearing features.

By Terry W. Johnson

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the one piece of equipment that can have the greatest impact on your enjoyment of your backyard neighbors is a fine pair of binoculars.

Since all binoculars look pretty much the same, it is easy to assume that they all perform in a similar manner. The truth of the matter is that such is not the case.

By Terry W. Johnson

Chances are, if you are reading this column, one of your favorite winter pastimes is feeding birds. As such, each year you spend hundreds of dollars on feeders and foods in hopes of attracting birds within easy viewing distance of your home.

So far, much of winter 2015-2016 has been disappointing for those of us who enjoy seeing white-throated sparrows, cardinals, dark-eyed juncos and a host of others dining at our backyard bird cafes.

By Terry W. Johnson

Chances are if you made a health-related New Year's resolution, it probably involved vowing to eat less salt. The harmful effects of a high-salt diet on humans are well documented. But is the same true for the birds that visit our backyard feeders?