By Reba Kocher

Listen to this post here: bird_seed_speech.mp3

Instructor Jodi Shrimplin mixing the suet.

Thank you all for your enthusiasm for our bird seed ornament workshops! We completely filled TWO workshops. For those of you who wanted to attend but couldn’t we have some instructions to feed the birds at home! As you may know, winter is a hard time for non-migrating birds. The cold, harsh winter kills so many of the plants that they rely on for food. We want to make bird seed ornaments to support our local bird populations, so we can continue to see and enjoy all the birds Ohio has to offer. Here are some fun and easy ways to help ease this difficult feeding time. All recipes are family friendly, and can be made with simple, accessible ingredients that most of us have in our pantry (with the help of some birdseed).

Birdseed ornaments:

How it’s made:

1. 1. Use ½ the water as called for to dissolve the gelatin (this makes the mold more solid)
2. 2. Add 2-3 cups birdseed per 1 cup gelatin (birdseed does not need to be saturated, just coated)
3. 3. Stir and coat all birdseed
4. 4. Scoop seed/gelatin mixture into molds (scooping from bottom of bowl)
5. 5. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours
6. 6. Pull from refrigeration, remove from molds/ flip ornament and let dry overnight
7. 7. Hang your ornament or place in a suet cage and enjoy the birds that will visit!

Pinecone Birdfeeders:

How it’s made:

1. 1.Collect pinecones
2. 2.Spoon/ smear peanut butter on pinecones
3. 3.Roll pinecones in birdseed
4. 4.Use string to tie and hang pinecones in a bird accessible area

Ice Cream Cone Birdfeeder:

How it’s made:

1. Stick pipe cleaner through pointed end of ice cream cone (this is your hanger, do this first to avoid a peanut butter mess!!).
2. Cover cone in peanut butter
3. Press on wheat o’s throughout
4. Roll in bird seed
5. Hang using pipe cleaner in a visible tree/shrub/feeder

Other Tricks & Tips!

*Pipe cleaners can be strung with wheat o’s and shaped into all different shapes and easily hung for a quick bird snack!

*String popcorn, dried fruit, wheat o’s, etc to drape on trees and shrubs.

*Leave whole peanuts in another area to deter squirrels from raiding your feeders.

**Get a bird identification book to discover all the different types of birds that visit your feeders.

November is the month of giving thanks. At Clary Gardens, we spend the month reflecting back on the year and we'll begin planning and preparations for 2020. We want to thank each and every one of you for all of your support and dedication to the gardens. Our program and event attendance has skyrocketed, and we love how much you love the gardens! Coshocton is such a generous and supportive community, and we know that we could not do what we do without all of you.

It's also time for our Annual Membership Campaign. We are sustained by the Clary Garden Foundation and the generosity of its members, friends, and neighbors. You can keep this beautiful garden growing by becoming a member or gifting a membership! As a member, you not only directly contribute to garden programs, but you'll also receive some awesome perks. For example, our members receive either free or discounted rates to our programs and events. They also receive early ticket sales for special events, like our adult Easter egg hunt. We'd love for you to join our team! Please contact us at 740-622-6524 or info@clarygardens.org.

If you would like to make your donation via Paypal, you can do so here: paypal.me/ClaryGardens

You can also mail checks to:

The Clary Garden Foundation

588 W. Chestnut St.

Coshocton, OH 43812

Thank you all for everything that you do for us! You made 2019 a success, and we are excited for 2020. We think you are going to love some of the programming we have in store for you!

By Reba Kocher

Listen to this post here:

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We are so excited that October is FINALLY here! We have lots of upcoming events this month that we want to share with you. If you have signed up for our new email newsletters, you will be receiving an email from us today! If you haven't signed up for them, but you would like to, please click the link above!

As you all probably know, Coshocton IS Scarecrow Town All October!

Bigfoot made by The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum

By Reba Kocher

Listen to this blog post here:how_to_scarecrow.mp3

As many of you know, IT’S SCARECROW TIME! This post will explain Scarecrow Town to you, show you how to register, and give you tips on building a scarecrow. 3-in-1!

CRMC Family Physicians Clinic Scarecrow Entry 2018

WHAT IS SCARECROW TOWN?

Each October since 2015, the Clary Gardens Foundation has hosted the Scarecrow Trail fundraiser. Businesses and organizations register with the Gardens, build a scarecrow to place in the Gardens, and then enter into a contest where people get to vote for their favorites. This year, we are excited to announce that, with the help of the Coshocton Visitors Bureau, we are expanding the trail into a city-wide Scarecrow Town! Businesses, organizations, and even residents are encouraged to register for the contest and place their scarecrows outside their store-fronts and homes. If they do not have a physical location, like a school-group, or if their location is outside Coshocton city limits, they are still encouraged to participate! We will still be accepting scarecrows at the Gardens. Scarecrows need to be up by September 26th, 2019, and are to remain up for all of October. Scarecrows will be entered into a contest where they can win in the following categories: Traditional, Creepy, Pop Culture, and the coveted People’s Choice. Winners will be announced at a Scarecrow Town Festival on October 26th (find more info about the festival here: https://www.facebook.com/ScarecrowTownOhio/).

HOW TO REGISTER

To register your scarecrow, click on this link https://forms.gle/9ZDtVseddk4PPL25A and fill out the information. After your registration information has been received, you will receive a confirmation email with an attachment of considerations and expectations for your scarecrow. You will then decide how you will pay the registration fee (either via Paypal invoice or check). The registration fee is $10 for residents, $15 for non-profit organizations, and $25 for businesses. Please note that this is the price per scarecrow, so if you want to have two scarecrows for your business, you will pay $50 total.

SCARECROW BUILDING TIPS

We want this to be an interactive experience for all participants, so we would love all scarecrows to be outside if possible. We want people to be able to take selfies and see your scarecrow even after hours. If your storefront is lacking a grassy area to anchor your scarecrow, fear not! There are some really fun, creative ways to participate. You can always create a scene for your scarecrow. Put down some hay bales or some pumpkins for your scarecrow to sit on. This is also a great idea to bring people in for photos! Maybe your space isn’t big enough for a scene. You can get a big flower pot and stake it inside the pot--be sure to make the base heavy enough that your scarecrow won’t be blown over by the wind! Do give some thought about the frame of your scarecrow. It has to be outside in the elements until the end of October. Ohio weather is not very predictable, so thick wooden frames or metal frames will be study enough to withstand wind, rain, snow, and whatever else we might endure. Also think about the weight of the scarecrow itself. Will it be too light to stand outside for a month? Will it be too heavy to move into place? There are lots of how-to guides online if you run into any problems! Here is a simple how-to guide from DIY Network to help get you started https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/gardening/making-a-scarecrow

To be considered a scarecrow, you MUST incorporate straw into some aspect of your design. You do not have to build only using straw though! Check out Pinterest for inspiration and get together with members of your business or organization to come up with really fun, creative ideas! The sky's the limit! We are SO EXCITED to see this year’s entries. You guys never disappoint!

If you have any questions, please email us at mothgirl@clarygardens.org :)

By Reba Kocher

Listen to this blog post here:scarecrow_town_announcement_.mp3

2018 Beacon Scarecrow

As many of you know, each year we do a scarecrow trail at the gardens. The scarecrow trail started in 2016, and that year it was so small--less than 20 people participated. As the years went on, people got so excited and last year we had over 70 scarecrows set up in the gardens! That’s why we have decided to expand the scarecrow trail into Scarecrow Town. Businesses, organizations, and residents are encouraged to register for the contest and place their scarecrows outside their store-fronts and homes. If they do not have a physical location, like a school-group, or if their location is outside Coshocton city limits, they are still encouraged to participate because we will still be accepting scarecrows at the Gardens. Scarecrows will be entered into a contest where they can win in the following categories: Traditional, Creepy, Pop Culture, and the coveted People’s Choice.

We invite all of you to register and enter the contest! Registration can be done through www.scarecrowtown.com. All scarecrows must be up and registration fees must be paid by September 26, 2019. Then during October, visit www.scarecrowtown.com to see a map of where all of the scarecrows are. You’ll be able to see scarecrows all over Clary Gardens, Roscoe Village, West Lafayette, and the city of Coshocton. The fun doesn’t end there! October 26th will be an exciting Scarecrow Town Festival. There will be Newpointe Church’s trunk and treat event, food, a pet parade, games, art, and lots more! Check out www.scarecrowtown.com and Scarecrow Town’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ScarecrowTownOhio/) for updates and more information! Email me at mothgirl@clarygardens.org if you have any questions.