Backyard Birds and Garden Frills honored for inspired "Winter Woodland"
YORK - Even amidst the throngs of people who visited the 17^th Festival of Trees in Portsmouth, N.H., when you stepped into the dining room of the "Antique Cape" at the Urban Forestry Center, a tranquil oasis delighted the senses.

York's Backyard Birds and Garden Frills, a shop located on Route 1, had magically transformed the dining room into a wintry wonderland, featuring majestic white deer and other woodland creatures, that earned them first place among the displays in the Antique Cape as voted by this year's attendees - some 5,400 people - who had an opportunity to choose their favorite displays.

"We were thrilled. It was our first year participating in the festival and we've never done anything like it before," said Judy Lambert of Backyard Birds and Garden Frills, who owns and operates the shop with the help of her husband Rex, daughter Kelly Dignam and granddaughter Madelyn, an 11-year-old York student who has inherited their love of nature.

Backyard Birds and Garden Frills initially drew attention from the Portsmouth Garden Club, the organizers of the Festival of Trees, when a member visited the shop and felt that they were a perfect fit to participate in the celebration.

"When I first approached Judy about participating, she was a little apprehensive, but it's obvious when you visit their shop that they have a very good eye for choosing really nice things that you don't see everywhere else and we felt that it would translate perfectly to the festival," said Portsmouth Garden Club member and festival organizer Judy Wall.

The store itself is inspired by nature and the things the trio loves - wild birds and gardening. They carried that focus through their entire display during the Festival of Trees, with snow, woodland scenes and tranquil lighting. 

"The room was striking. Everyone really loved it," Wall said. "It had such a lovely woodland feel and was so unusual.

The Lamberts and Dignam opened the shop, which is located behind the Lambert's long-established antique store, Bell Farm Antiques, nearly two years ago. They focused on creating an experience filled with the beauty of nature, including unique birdhouses, classical garden statuary, a wide array of feeders, gems from the sea, decorative art and even birdseed. 

"Birds and gardens bring so much color and life to your backyard," Judy Lambert explained. "It can be as simple as hanging a feeder to attract birds or planting a small container garden. So many people get bitten by the bug once they attract their first birds or see the blooms in their first garden."

Birds need water to quench their thirst and also to groom their feathers and keep them in flying condition. The feathers must be kept clean and healthy to insure proper insulation and mobility. Maintaining a water supply is the very best way to attract birds to your yard.

And, Lambert said, that enjoyment can continue into the winter months by following a few simple guidelines. Make sure that birds have a fluid water supply as providing ice-free water for drinking and feather maintenance can be lifesaving for birds because it takes a lot of energy for birds to process snow as water and depletes them of the energy they need to weather the cold temperatures. A birdbath heater can keep water supplies from freezing. Place your birdbath near a feeder and, preferably, within six feet of a tree, for a place where the bird can fly to if threatened. The bath itself should be no more than two and a half inches deep, and colored aquarium gravel or marble chips can be used to help birds get a better footing. The water should be changed every few days to insure a fresh clear supply, and washing the bath with water and white vinegar will help prevent algae growth and keep the bath fresh.

For more information and tips on winter birding, visit Backyard Birds and Garden Frills at 244 US Route 1 in York, call 363-8181 visit fine them online at http://www.backyardbirdsandgardenfrills.com/.

Make your own suet

Provide a food supply and the birds will come!
Backyard Birds and Garden Frills offers the following recipe for Homemade Winter Suet.
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup lard (not Crisco or shortening)
2 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups cornmeal
1 1/2 cups birdseed (sunflower hearts and chips)
1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar