The Avant-Garden Shop: Your Garden & Bird Store

The Birds and the Beans

Bird Friendly Coffee If you’re wondering what coffee would taste like if it were Smithsonian approved, we can help you find out. We carry 340g bags of beans and ground coffee from Birds and Beans, all of which bear the gold seal stamp of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, the highest environmental … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 294 – Father’s Day Ideas (June 7, 2024)

Fathers Day is this Sunday, June 16th. We’ve got many unique items for Dad in the shop including locally made bat houses! Bats consume a tremendous number of mosquitoes nightly and are a great option for pest control. Ask us for more fun facts about bats in the store, or grab a book on bats … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 293 – Fun stuff for kids! (May 24, 2024)

Recently we brought in some neat toys and tools for the kids. Many of these items can help kids get interested in the outdoors! Help them build and paint their own birdhouse or feeder, or get them helping in the garden with their own set of gloves and tools! There are many nature themed items, … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 292 – Feeders For Baltimore Orioles (May 10, 2024)

With spring comes the migration of the Baltimore orioles! These brightly coloured birds visit our area during their breeding season. They don’t stay very long, usually raising one brood then taking off some time in August. However short and sweet, they’re a treat to see and hear in our backyards. We have many different feeders … Read more

Attracting Hummingbirds and Orioles

  Sweets for the Sweet In May, we begin to see the arrival of hummingbirds, orioles and warblers. The beautiful but elusive warblers are generally happy within the safe cover of trees to provide a healthy diet of insects, but hummingbirds and orioles will come to gardens and feeders if we provide what they love … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 290 – Keeping out the squirrels! (April 12, 2024)

In the last episode Brenda talked about keeping grackles and starlings away from feeders. This week is about keeping the squirrels off. The Brome Squirrel Buster feeders are really the best option. These are triggered to close with the weight of a squirrel. Another great option is to put a baffle on your pole. These … Read more

Flight or Fight: The Challenges Facing Birds in Spring

  The Problem with the Flight As our migratory birds return to spring habitats, it’s a wonderful time to watch behaviours specific to this time of year. Many species migrate in large flocks, but once they arrive, their mating displays and territorial behaviours kick in. They chase or are chased by other birds over mates … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 288 – The Return of the Grackles (March 15, 2024)

It’s that time again. The grackles have returned and many people are asking how to get rid of them and the starlings. As these birds are invasive it’s a good idea to try to deter them from visiting. Here’s a few tips that can help.  As soon as they start showing up, you want to … Read more

The American Robin

  Someone once described a day in the life of a robin as follows: Run, run, run, STOP. Run, run, run, STOP. Run, run, run, STOP. Run, run, run, STOP. There’s much contentment found in sitting quietly and watching robins. They’re keen worm finders, tilting their heads just so, to focus one eye on wormholes … Read more

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