Image Credit Birds & Blooms

Two days ago, I was thrilled to see that a Carolina Chickadee was checking out a birdhouse that was hanging idly from an arbor in my garden.

Jacki Kellum House in Water Valley, MS, May of 2023

I moved to my current house just after nesting time last spring, and at that time, my yard was devoid of flowers, shrubs, or anything that might look like home for a bird.

I began building my Water Valley garden wall on about June 1, 2023. By June 7, I had added a few plants.

Jacki Kellum Garden in Water Valley, MS, March 28, 2024

Most recently, I created the privacy screen and added the raised beds for my lavender and pollinator plants. ’ll plant lavender in the beds fronted with wattle. Climbing roses are planted on the hoop. At this point, I’ve planted Peggy Martin, Lady Banks, and a Zephirine Drouhin Rose. I’m planting an herb garden in front of the wattle. I’m planting milkweed and other native pollinators behind the lavender. After I get a huge infusion of soil, I’ll plant my veggies beyond these beds. Strawberries are within a circular brick walkway in front of the herbs

It might seem that I have changed the conversation and that I am talking about my garden now and not about the birds in my yard, but creating a garden has been an important step toward creating a space where birds will want to live and breed.

I’m planting strawberries within the circular brick walkway and an herb graden behind the bricks. I’ll plant Lavender in the raised beds that are fronted with wattle. This is a corner bed. 8’ on two sides. 2′ deep. 32 square feet of lavender. Native Pollinators will be planted behind the lavender along the right side. Roses are already planted on the hoop. Peggy Martin, Lady Banks, and Zephirine Drouhin. The roses will crawl along the horizontal poles on the screen. My veggies will be planted beyond the pollinators.

How to Attract & Identify Backyard Birds in Mississippi Gardens

Beginning in early February, I also began a concerted effort to create a vital bird feeding station in my yard. Almost two months later, my bird population has increased.

Bird and Butterfly Sightings in My Mississippi Garden by Date – 2024

Today, I saw my chickadee fly in and out of the birdhouse several times, and I could see her little head poking out of the entrance. My chickadee had moved into her new home. While I cannot see into the birdhouse, I feel sure that eggs will hatch, and soon, new baby chickadees will be darting around my backyard.

Carolina Chickadee Bird Nest
Image Credit: BirdOculars

I discovered that Chcikadees add animal fur to their nests, and I imagine that my birds’ nest looks like the one above.