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By Clare Mendez, Resident In September, some SDV residents rode down to Mission San Juan Capistrano on a Metrolink train from Riverside. First on the agenda was lunch at the Cedar Creek Inn where we sat outside on the patio under the cover of shade and then walked across the street to view the mission. Our docent gave us a history tour of the mission as well as a brief summary of the gardens. As she explained, the beautiful gardens we can see today are not what would have been growing during the time the mission was occupied in earlier years when the Spanish soldiers and Native Americans grew plants for food, trade and medicinal purposes. The soft colorful blooms and green leaves juxtaposed against the white stone mission walls made for some beautiful photographs. Garden Club Trip to Mission San Juan Capistrano By Sherrie Chaparro, Resident The Good: Among the many reasons you might choose to attract birds to your yard, probably the most important is that you enjoy the sight and sound of them. All other reasons pale in comparison to the amount of enjoyment you'll get from simply having various bird species visiting your yard. But there are other reasons as well. Many bird species eat insects such as aphids, mosquitoes, spiders and grasshoppers, possibly eliminating the need to use pesticides. They also help with weed control, eating large amounts of weed seeds, and who doesn't want to do less weeding? Finally, hummingbirds can serve as efficient pollinators. If your citrus trees aren't producing, you might try a hummingbird feeder. The Bad: Empty and/or dirty bird baths and feeders are of no use and may be harmful. So, keep the water topped up and the feeders clean and filled. I like to use nyjer seed. Not only do finches love it, but when, inevitably, the seed falls to the ground it will not sprout into weeds. Our Design Guidelines prohibit more than two backyard birdseed feeders, or three total feeders. Additionally, feeders may only be placed where they will not be a nuisance to your neighbors. This means feeders should not be placed near fences nor on the ground where they will attract varmints like rats, mice and squirrels. Contrary to popular opinion, dryer lint as nesting material is a bad idea. Even organic laundry products have enough chemicals to be harmful to birds, and long strands of hair or threads in the lint can be tangle hazards. Nor is stale bread a healthy diet for birds. Too many carbs are as bad for the birds as they are for you, and over time can lead to growth deformations, obesity and other avian health problems. The Ugly: Let's go ahead and say it: Bird poop on your patio, exterior walls or outdoor furniture is unsightly. To remove, scrape off as much as you can, then sponge the stain with a mixture of mild liquid dishwashing soap and water. Scrub with a brush, then rinse with water. If you want to keep birds from perching or nesting along outdoor ledges, you can install bird spikes. Equally effective (and less visually intrusive) is to place a couple of the clear plastic containers (which previously contained salad greens or spinach from the grocery store) on the ledge. Another good reason to eat your greens. For the Birds: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2018 15

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