Issues → March/April 2007 → Feature Stories →

New England's Finest: For the Birds

Create a backyard oasis for the birds and you

by Katrina A. Yeager

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Glass Hummingbird Feeder

It's the time of year when hummingbirds return from Mexico and Central America. Attract them to your backyard with Bobby Bell's glass hummingbird feeder. He uses Pyrex, which is durable and can be placed in boiling water for easy cleaning. His more complex feeders ($39-$84) feature perches, ant traps, and mini-birdbaths all built in. He's learned that a feeder's shape doesn't really matter to the hummers -- they just like the color red and the promise of nectar. Made in North Conway, New Hampshire. 603-494-3445; bobbybell.net

Hammock Furniture

Husband-and-wife designers Gordon and Nancy Kittridge make original hammock furniture, both stylish and comfortable. "The twisted rope, cotton or polyester, will stretch and conform to your body," says Gordon. "And when you sit in one of our chairs -- they come with a seat cushion and head pillow -- it supports you all the way from your seat, up your spine, to your head. I have a textbook example of a bad back, but I can sit in one of these chairs for hours and feel fine when I get up." Plus, you can use the adjusting blocks to raise or lower the chair and to recline. Single chair $189-$249, double $365-$475 (footrest optional). Made in East Corinth, Vermont. 800-322-5232, 802-439-5232; cobblemountain.com

Bronze Bells

Richard Fisher's bronze bells are designed to withstand the elements and to provide a beautiful ring; the bigger the bell, the lower the tone. The organic lines and earthy colors of these musical sculptures fit well in gardens and backyards. And he makes a mobile with two bells ($125). Made at the U.S. Bells Foundry in Prospect Harbor, Maine. 866-963-7184, 207-963-7184; usbells.com

Wooden Carts

We love Carts Vermont's midsize Model 20 ($175-$229), which can easily handle five or six bags of mulch, two golden retrievers, or a barrel-sized pile of leaves. This sturdy two-wheeled wooden cart balances the cargo naturally and comes with an extendable handle and a removable panel (so you can sweep out any debris). Made by Carts Vermont of Lyndonville, Vermont. 800-732-7417, 802-626-4178; cartsvermont.com

Tube Bird Feeder

A party isn't complete until there's drink to go along with the food. Don't you think the birds feel the same way? Entertain them with Ed and Jason Brown's artful tube feeder (single $89, triple $175). This father-and-son team has perfected an all-copper design so that a vine of ivy leaves, wrapping around the feeding tubes, catches rainwater. Over time, the copper darkens and takes on a natural green patina. It's a perfect choice for the birdwatcher who's also an art lover. Made in Westerly, Rhode Island, at The Copper Studio. 401-742-0617