October is a time of autumn beauty and a time to prepare for the coming winter months. This is the time to make sure that your garden is alive with birds all winter by creating an avian restaurant.

How do you do that?

Simple - let your garden go to seed. Don't deadhead your perennials until they are mushy and rotting with the heavy rains. Perennials and shrubs such as Coreopsis, Stachys, Cretica, Phlomis Russeliana, Sedum "Autumn Joy", Cosmos, Verbena Bonariensis, Buddlia and Sunflowers are loaded with seeds. So let your garden go wild for a while and let the birds enjoy the feast.