Similar to Starlings in size and shape, Cedar Waxwings appear in massive flocks, they remind me of large schools of fish moving and turning effortlessly in synchronicity. Then all of a sudden they vanish, just simply disappear from sight and it becomes dead silent. After a while, a whole new flock arrives to feed. This cycle continues on and off anywhere from 1 day to 1 week. It is a remarkable site.
The Waxwing have a high pitched tone, similar to the Cardinal, you will most likely hear them before you see them, especially in large groups. It is a very intense sound.
This species is called B. Cedrorum or Bombycilla Cedrorum. These amazing and beautiful birds will migrate as far as South America and there have even been rare sightings in Western Europe and Great Britain.
Here are some plant names and things you can do to attract these wonderful birds to your property.
* Dogwood
* Serviceberry
* Juniper
* Hawthorn
* Cedar
* Winterberry
Plant plenty of tall evergreens to create housing and a safe haven. They love water, installing fountains, a bird bath or a pond will make them very happy.
This is a current project that we will be doing in phases. The first step here is to install a Paver parking area to add more available parking for friends and family. The Clients are adding a screened in porch to the back of the house, so by doing the Pavers now, it will make it easier for everyone. Once the addition is complete, we will go back and finish with new landscaping in the back yard and spruce up the front. Here are some photos of the work being done.
This is after removing all the grass in the front and preparing it for the Pavers. We actually brought in a tractor to help with the grading. I really like installing Pavers in Houston. It is a very porous application and they offer more flexibility due to the constant movement of the earth between Summers and Winters. Plain concrete will just crack over time and that usually means a complete demolition and redo. With Pavers, you can just go in and make simple repairs and adjustments if there is ever noticeable movement or shifting.
Placing the Pavers, sometimes they need to be cut with a saw to fit just right. Especially in curved or rounded areas.
Since there is so much area being done in Pavers, in this case, approximately 240 square feet. I suggest creating a green space to break it up a bit. This will offer a softer, more inviting feel.
These projects, whether it is Decking or other types of patios, Arbors or Pergolas, Pavers or Flagstone; are always great to do in the Winter time so by the time Spring rolls around, this will be complete and we will be ready for landscaping
So this is it for now. I will revisit this project again real soon and document the process and completion. Until then, see you soon. For any questions, feel free to contact me through my website or call 713-426-0649.
