A TOUCH OF NATURE
June 1, 2004 Issue

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DONNA'S COMMENTS
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It's been an exciting month of May in our acre of woods. We've had 4 types
of birds nesting and it's been such a joy to watch the parents' different
skills and methods of taking care of their young.

I've already told you we first discovered Purple Finches on our porch in the
Christmas wreath I'd moved to the top of one of the porch posts for winter
roosting.

Then I discovered Tufted Titmice in one of the bluebird boxes. Before they
fledged, I found Chipping Sparrows in the arborvitae on the corner of the
house. Such precious things. I was in the yard when they took their first
flights. What a chorus of song that was for an hour.

Last week we discovered Carolina Wrens feeding under an eave of the house in
a part of the guttering system. It has amazed me that they haven't been
flooded out. We had some really hard downpours, but they're under a
roofline and I guess they're staying dry.

It's as exciting as seeing babies birthed! Just makes you realize that life
goes on all around us! It's the little things that make us realize that
there is a Master plan working around us.

Enjoying Spring,
Donna

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CRITTER FACTS
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WHAT A BEE SEES

Did you know there's a difference in the way humans and bees look at things?
A human eye has one lens. A honey bee has hundreds of six-sided lenses in
each eye. Each lens sees just part of the flower. The bee puts all of these
parts together and forms them into a single picture.

Read more about honey bees.

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THOSE AMAZING BIRDS!
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CHOOSING A BIRD FEEDER

There are a bewildering variety of birdfeeders on the market from simple
plastic tubes to elaborate birdhouses fit only for the royalty of the
feathered kingdom. A visit to a good local garden center will give you an
idea of what's available and what will best fit your budget. Remember that
some of the cheaper alternatives may be just as effective as the really
elaborate and expensive models. As far as we know, birds aren't great
connoisseurs of architecture. The important thing is that your feeder works
properly and allows your featured friends access to your seeds.

Read the whole article here and get tips on locating your feeder.

RAIN FORESTS AND MIGRATORY BIRDS

Our rain forests are so important!

Click here to help rainforests with a free click.

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NATURE'S BOUNTY FOR US
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Nature offers essential oils with potent properties that can be used in many
areas around the home. For health, bath, beauty, and household cleaning
supplies. Here's our featured recipe for this issue:

ROMANCE

Ylang Ylang - To set the mood for romance, add 20 drops of oil to a tub of
warm water. Soak and relax. Use a few drops as a perfume, or make a massage
oil with 30 drops of oil and four (4) ounces of carrier oil and then massage
your spouse.

Read more about the benefits of these oils, find other recipes, and purchase oils.

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GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE - Restoring the Balance
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WATER-SAVING TIPS AND GARDEN GADGETS

Adapted from "The New American Backyard" by Kris Medic (Rodale
Press, 2001).

Summer is lawn and garden season, when frequent watering is often
a must. But with the world water supply in jeopardy, and droughts in
much of the world, we turn our thoughts to conserving this vital
resource.

Along with good watering habits, a well-chosen garden gadget or two can
help you make better use of both your time and our precious water.

Water-Saving Tips

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" GREEN" INFO- Making It a Way of Life!
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NATURAL ROACH REMEDY

We live in the woods and this time of year the wood roaches are busy visiting homes.
We have used these roach balls for many years to avoid having to have
exterminators spraying toxic chemicals in our house. The recipe was shared
with me from another person who had used it successfully for many years and
had shared it with others who had great results. It works!

8 oz. Boric Acid [we find ours at a drugstore]
1/2 c. white flour
2 T. white sugar
1/2 small onion, minced
1/4 c. shortening
Water

Cream shortening and sugar. Mix onion, boric acid, and flour. Add to sugar
mixture. Blend well. Add enough water to form a soft dough.
Form into balls and place in small cups or lids. If you use cups, place
them on the floor on their side for the roaches to crawl in. Lids are
convenient to push under things, so you can flatten out a ball for areas
like stove, refrigerators, etc.

SUNSHINE CONCENTRATE - Detoxify Your Cleaning!

This environmentally-friendly cleaning and washing concentrate is nothing
less than wonderful!! We've used this for 15 years and love it for laundry,
hand soap, pet baths, soaking produce, dishwasher, cleaning, and a multitude
of other uses. This product has saved us hundreds of dollars over the
years. Makes life much simpler and takes away the "itch" of chemical soaps.

Sunshine Concentrate for Non-Toxic Cleaning

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MUSINGS, POETRY & PROSE
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James Creelman once journeyed through the Balkans in search of Natalie, the
exiled queen of Serbia. In one of his letters he mentioned this:
" I learned that the world's supply of rose oil comes from the Balkan
Mountains. The thing that interested me most was that the roses had to be
gathered during the darkest hours, with the pickers starting at 1:00 AM and
finishing by 2:00 AM. Initially this practice seemed to me to be a relic of
superstition or tradition, but as I investigated further, I learned that
actual scientific tests had proved that a full 40% of the fragrance of the
roses disappeared in the light of the day."

Essential oil benefits depend on the quality of the oils.

Here's a link with information on how you can know if your essential oils are pure

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GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR PLANET
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CARIBBEAN FROG SURVIVES JOURNEY TO BRITAIN

A tiny West Indian tree frog has miraculously survived a transatlantic
journey to Britain in the cold, refrigerated hull of a banana boat.
The four-centimeter (1.6-inch) frog, nicknamed Lara after West Indies
cricket captain Brian Lara, was discovered in the MV Prince of Tides
freighter when it arrived in Portsmouth from Jamaica with its cargo of
bananas.

" Apparently a random pallet was chosen to check the quality of the
consignment and, during the checking process, someone found the little frog
clinging to a hand of bananas," said port health officer David Jones.
" It's truly miraculous that the frog survived such an arduous journey," said
aquarist Mat Clarke at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Portsmouth, where Lara has
joined an exhibition of exotic amphibians.

He believed that the frog ? from the genus Osteopilus ? stowed away when the
freighter stopped off in the Dominican Republic.

" When it arrived it was in a poor condition, but it has gradually been
improving and is now eating on its own," he said.

- DEAD LINK REMOVED - Read more and see the photo

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LONG DISTANCE, INTERNET ACCESS, & CELLULAR PHONE OPTIONS

1 Cent Long Distance with a 10-10 Access Number
3.9 Cent Long Distance With No Access Numbers to Dial
14.95 Internet Access
Shop The Best Rates for Cellular - Free Phones
Agent Opportunities Available

Long Distance, Internet Access, and Cellular Phone Options

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to somebody you know. It's how we grow! Thanks!

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DISCLAIMER:

The content, suggestions, and web links in this newsletter are for
informational purposes only and not necessarily endorsed by our sponsor "The
Herbs Place.com" This is a personal publication by Donna Watkins. The ideas
and information expressed in it have not been approved or authorized by
anyone either explicitly or impliedly. In no event shall Donna Watkins or
" The Herbs Place.com" be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from
any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its
publication, including any action for infringement of copyright or
defamation.