QTBird.com · Birds, Blooms, Back to Basics · Simple Luxuries and Seasonal Joys
Each month covers every section of the site: Birds, Blooms, and Back to Basics as the core, then Food and Community. Topics run a little ahead of the season so posts are up when readers start searching.
Every month
These run all year, so the monthly tables below list only what changes.
Feature
Section
What it is
365 days to frugal living
Back to Basics
One daily tip, themed to the month’s frugal focus
Books and reading
Back to Basics
A monthly reading list or book pick tied to the season: seed and garden books in winter, bird guides in spring migration, summer reads in May, cookbooks in fall, cozy reads in December
Frugal challenge
Community
The monthly forum challenge, announced on the 1st
Reader Q&A
Community
One or two reader questions answered, picked to fit the month
Reader photos and tips
Community
Readers share backyard bird and garden photos and their best tips; feature favorites each month
In season
Food
The month’s produce list, linked to matching recipes
Dates to plan around
Bird, garden and pollinator observances worth a timely post. Publish seasonal pieces two to six weeks early; pumpkin and apple recipes, for example, do best posted in August or September, ahead of the October search surge.
Month
Birds and gardens
Food
January
National Bird Day (Jan 5)
Soup Month, Slow Cooking Month, Oatmeal Month, Hot Tea Month, Baking Month; National Pie Day (Jan 23)
February
National Bird Feeding Month; Groundhog Day (Feb 2); Great Backyard Bird Count (mid-February)
Potato Lover’s Month, Snack Food Month
March
World Wildlife Day (Mar 3); Plant a Flower Day (Mar 12); World Frog Day (Mar 20)
Frozen Food Month and Frozen Food Day (Mar 6), a natural fit for freezer meals; Nutrition Month; National Pig Day (Mar 1) for the pork focus
April
National Garden Month; Native Plant Month; National Gardening Day (Apr 14); Arbor Day (last Friday); National Go Birding Day (late April)
National Pecan Month
May
Garden for Wildlife Month; No Mow May; National Public Gardens Day; World Migratory Bird Day; World Bee Day (May 20)
Crocktober (slow cooker month); Apple Month, Pork Month, Pasta Month
November
Project FeederWatch season opens
National Homemade Bread Day (Nov 17)
December
Christmas Bird Count (Dec 14 to Jan 5)
National Cookie Day (Dec 4)
All are US observances. Exact days shift each year, so confirm before scheduling.
January to March
January: fresh start
Section
Topics
Birds
Winter feeding, suet recipes, open water and heated birdbaths, winter visitors at the feeder, bird feeding myths, winter backyard Q&A
Make it
Been So Flocking Long Dough™; also orange cup feeders (orange halves filled with suet and seed)
Blooms
Houseplant care, winter-blooming plants and bringing in color, flower seed catalog picks and garden planning
Back to Basics
Frugal living: paring down, goal setting, money management, career and balance, tracking spending, the frugal notebook, price books, coupons and rebates, tax prep. Homekeeping: post-holiday cleanup, home office, appliances. Tips and DIY: winter crafts, hobbies and indoor games. Holidays: early Valentine’s ideas, date nights, white sales and seasonal shopping. Wellness: fitness, beauty, cold and flu season, indoor workouts
Food
Freezer meals: once-a-month cooking, stocking the freezer. Recipes: comfort foods, desserts, bread baking, beef, game day food for the Super Bowl. Meal planning: pantry stockpiling
Great Backyard Bird Count, cardinals and other winter colors, cleaning feeders
Make it
Valentine hanging hearts: heart-shaped seed cakes, each with a twine loop pressed in while it sets (for clinging birds; lay one on a tray feeder for the rest)
Blooms
Planning the spring garden, starting seeds indoors, bringing color in with blooming plants, winter sowing native plants, new flowers to try this year
Back to Basics
Frugal living: green living, reduce-reuse-recycle, cheap date nights. Family: marriage and relationships. Homekeeping: early spring cleaning, Swedish death cleaning, laundry room, stain removal, homemade cleaners. Tips and DIY: home decorating projects, hobbies and crafts. Holidays: Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day. Wellness: weight loss, portion control, healthy habits, boosting your metabolism, pampering yourself
Food
Recipes: slow cooker meals, cast iron cooking, chicken. Freezer meals: chicken dinners to freeze
Early migrants (robins, red-winged blackbirds), cleaning and hanging birdhouses, nesting materials
Make it
Hummingbird nectar
Blooms
Small-space and container gardens, herb gardens, window boxes, garden junk art, low-maintenance perennials, rose growing guide
Back to Basics
Frugal living: simple living, spring activities, journaling. Homekeeping: spring cleaning with before and after, green cleaning. Tips and DIY: home improvement, collectibles, crafts. Holidays: Easter. Wellness: spring allergies, aches and pains, headaches, emotional eating, staying active in the garden as you age
Food
Recipes: quick cooking, pork. Meal planning: pantry meals and using what you have
Community
Challenge: eat from the pantry for a week
In season
Artichokes, avocados, bananas, green and wax beans, broccoli, cabbage, celery, endive, grapefruit, nectarines, onions, oranges, pineapples, rutabagas, spinach
April to June
April: planting season
Section
Topics
Birds
Spring migration, bluebird nesting, putting out hummingbird and oriole feeders by month’s end, oriole species spotlight
Make it
Sweet Potato Beak Treats
Blooms
Spring bulbs in bloom, pruning and cleanup, lilac growing guide, planning a cut-flower garden, an occasional vegetable gardening post
Back to Basics
Frugal living: green living. Homekeeping: getting ready for summer living. Holidays: Mother’s Day, weddings and showers. Family: pregnancy and baby on a budget, gifts for new parents. Tips and DIY: hobbies and crafts. Wellness: natural remedies, vitamins and supplements
Food
Recipes: meatless meals, vegetarian, homemade baby food. Canning and preserving: rhubarb and early jams. Recipes: foraged spring flavors like dandelion and lilac
Community
Challenge: start one plant from seed
In season
Asparagus, artichokes, avocados, bananas, green and wax beans, celery, grapefruit, nectarines, onions, pineapples, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, watercress
May: getting outdoors
Section
Topics
Birds
Peak warbler migration, hummingbirds and orioles arrive, World Migratory Bird Day, warbler spotlight
Baby birds and fledglings (when to help, when to leave them), birdbaths, nesting season
Make it
Homemade seed cylinder
Blooms
Peonies, roses and early summer bloomers, mulching, summer porches and container color, butterflies arriving
Back to Basics
Frugal living: frugal summer travel, family spending, summer jobs. Homekeeping: pest prevention, outdoor spaces, pets. Tips and DIY: boredom busters, homemade kids’ craft recipes, birthday party ideas, hobbies and crafts. Holidays: Fourth of July. Wellness: summer safety, exercise equipment
Food
Recipes: salads, light and no-cook meals, burgers, marinades, frozen drinks and desserts, picnics, pasta salads. Canning and preserving: strawberry jam, freezing berries, preserving cherries and plums. Recipes: herbal teas from the garden. Meal planning: U-pick farms and farmers’ markets
Hummingbird nectar recipe and feeder cleaning, water for birds in the heat, bird-friendly garden plants
Make it
Woodpecker log feeder
Blooms
Butterfly finder at its peak, daylilies and summer perennials, deadheading, watering wisely, garden tour of your own beds, hydrangea growing guide, backyard bouquets
Back to Basics
Frugal living: homesteading-inspired living, day trips. Homekeeping: moving tips, summer routines. Tips and DIY: DIY projects, hobbies and crafts. Wellness: homemade beauty, hair and skin care. Holidays: early back-to-school planning
Food
Canning and preserving: tomatoes, pickles, dehydrating, freezing summer vegetables. Jar mixes: homemade mixes to replace boxed ones. Recipes: summer vegetable dishes, food processor shortcuts. Meal planning: shopping roadside farm stands
Community
Challenge: preserve one thing from the farmers market
In season
Apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupe, celery, chard, cherries, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, green and wax beans, green onions, green peppers, lemons, lima beans, limes, lettuce, nectarines, okra, peaches, peas, plums, squash, tomatoes, watercress, watermelon
August: back to routine
Section
Topics
Birds
Fall migration begins, hummingbirds fueling up, why birds look ragged when molting, how long backyard birds live
Make it
Sunflower head feeder
Blooms
Saving flower seeds, end-of-summer garden roundup, late-summer bloomers like coneflowers and black-eyed Susans, planning fall containers, bees in the garden
Back to Basics
Frugal living: green living, getting the family on board, financial pitfalls, avoiding deprivation, thrift store and garage sale shopping. Homekeeping: choosing appliances. Tips and DIY: fall fun, decorating and entertaining, hobbies and crafts. Wellness: cardio, yoga, pilates
Food
Recipes: school lunches, after-school snacks, rice dishes. Freezer meals: back-to-school freezer stash. Publish pumpkin and apple recipes now, ahead of the fall search rush
Community
Challenge: back-to-school on a budget
In season
Apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, celery, chard, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, grapes, green and wax beans, green onions, green peppers, lima beans, limes, melons, nectarines, peaches, peas, pears, plums, summer squash, tomatoes
September: simple living
Section
Topics
Birds
National Hummingbird Day, fall migration and hawk watching, leaving seedheads for finches, owls
Make it
Snack o’Lantern
Blooms
Mums and asters, dividing perennials, fall planting, choosing and buying spring bulbs, bringing houseplants back indoors, shrubs for every space
Back to Basics
Frugal living: simple living, supplemental income, selling on eBay, home businesses. Homekeeping: winterizing, time management. Tips and DIY: trash to treasure, hobbies and crafts, fall TV shows. Holidays: Halloween ideas, early holiday planning. Wellness: inspiration
Food
Recipes: apple recipes, dried beans, pressure cooker and Instant Pot meals. Canning and preserving: applesauce, apple butter, grape jelly
Community
Challenge: declutter and sell five things
In season
Apples, cantaloupe, celery, chard, corn, cucumbers, grapes, green peppers, lima beans, nectarines, pears, tomatoes
October to December
October: Crocktober
Section
Topics
Birds
Setting up for winter feeding, best seeds and feeders, juncos and winter arrivals, Project FeederWatch sign-up, birds with unusual migrations
Make it
Birch branch seed feeder
Blooms
Planting spring bulbs, digging and storing dahlias and tender bulbs, putting the garden to bed, leaving the leaves, Bat Week, planting a native wildlife garden
Back to Basics
Frugal living: utilities, emergency funds. Homekeeping: schedules, routines, chores, cold-weather tips. Tips and DIY: fall hobbies and crafts. Holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving planning. Wellness: motivation
Food
Recipes: Crocktober slow cooker recipes all month, pumpkin recipes, Dutch oven cooking, soups. Meal planning: fall menus and routines. Freezer meals: soups and casseroles to freeze. Canning and preserving: storing vegetables without a root cellar, fall ferments. Recipes: sourdough and home-milled flour
Community
Challenge: cut the utility bill, plus a Crocktober recipe swap in the forum
Project FeederWatch begins, suet season, keeping squirrels off feeders, winter finches and northern visitors
Make it
Flutter Nutter Butter™
Blooms
Holiday plants (Christmas cactus, poinsettia, amaryllis), garden wrap-up for the year, small trees for indoors
Back to Basics
Frugal living: simple living, Black Friday strategy, frugal winter travel. Homekeeping: decluttering before the holidays, household solutions. Tips and DIY: homemade and last-minute gifts, holiday decorating, hobbies and crafts, upcycled gift wrap. Holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas planning, hosting family when the kids come home, volunteering and charity, gratitude, holiday humor. Wellness: depression and the holiday blues, stress management, emotional health
Food
Jar mixes: gifts in a jar, cookie, soup and cocoa mixes. Recipes: cookies, quick breads, sides, desserts, homemade treats. Meal planning: budget meals and planned leftovers
