Rustic Valentine Porch Decor
My whole Valentine Porch centered around one tablecloth and a bunting. It’s also the first time I’ve ever decorated any part of my home for Valentine’s Day. I just may have to do it more often, it made for a fun day.
I stumbled upon the plaid tablecloth at my local grocery store and thought what the heck I’ll make a few pillow covers with it, and it’ll be an inexpensive way to decorate.
And I’m a sucker for plaid or buffalo check anyway. The tablecloth had enough material to make 3 pillow covers and with the last scrap piece I tied a bow around the rustic deers neck.
It happened to be 60 degrees the day I added everything to the porch, but since then we’ve had snow, freezing rain, and blistering cold weather. I’m beginning to wonder why we didn’t make our Florida Vacation a little, lot longer.
I’m reading a book series, The Bregdan Chronicles by Ginny Dye, my Mom gave me while in Florida and all I want to do is sit on the porch swing and read the afternoons away.
The sunshine can be deceiving, it looks warm outside but it’s NOT. I use our porch everyday when the weather is nice. It’s a great place to catch a nap, the swing makes into a bed and it’s so peaceful just listening to the birds.
I have hopes that spring will be early this year, even though I know the ground hog saw his shadow, because I have wrens nesting already.
I was hoping that was a good sign or are wrens an early nesting bird?
I’ve noticed them singing and adding new sticks to the already formed nests inside the birdhouses. For some reason we have ground moles already pushing the earth up into mounds around our yard.
We’ve never had them, and certainly not this early in the year. Maybe that’s my sign that spring is near??
Do you do any decorating for Valentine’s Day at your place?
To see how to make the Valentine Bunting click HERE.
To print a copy of the Watercolor Valentine Heart’s click HERE.
Looks really nice. It’s a nice pop of color. Great ideas.
Becky I like the pop of color too for this time of year. I’m getting tired of brown trees, snow, and lack of sunshine.
I would love to have the pretty tablecloth on my dining room table. I can imagine reading on your porch swing with the cute comfy pillows.
Love your Valentine deer:).
Kathleen in Az
Kathleen I love it when I stumble on something good in an unexpected place, I had no idea I’d find such a thing at the grocery store.
The porch looks really cute. My wrens are doing the same thing. I think it has to do with the longer days now. Plus all the birdies are chirping more. It is cold here in Missouri but not like in your area.
Debbie I just said to my husband this morning I hear birds chipping but it doesn’t feel like spring yet.
Hi Dawn: I sent a good article on wrens. Happy reading. I love wildlife!
The House Wren is probably the most abundant of the Wren species. Attracting them to your yard can be as easy as adding a bird house.
Even if no bird house is offered, these birds are likely to find somewhere or something to nest in even if no man-made housing is available.
Their nesting and feeding habits are easily observed as they tend to be somewhat tolerant of humans. These tireless little birds are in constant search for insects which can be a real asset to the backyard gardener.
Description
Unlike many other birds, House Wrens do not have brightly colored feathers or markings. Measuring 5 inches long with a plump body and a short tail.
The upperparts are unstreaked and grayish brown, the underparts are grayish white. Notice the faint or missing eye stripe that is common in other wrens.
The females and juveniles look the same as the adult male although recent fleglings are noticeably smaller. The song of the young isn’t as sure sounding as the adult males either. For the most part they have no prominent field marks.
If you spend any time at all watching these birds, you’ll easily know the extent of its territory.
The male usually has three prominent perches from which he defends his territory of 1/2 – 3/4 acres.
Mating Habits
Easily attracted to a birdhouse, the male arrives first, in early Spring and begins to establish his territory. You’ll know he has arrived when you begin hearing him sing from his perches.
This songster will sing from dusk to dawn. The singing is mostly done during the mating season.
As you watch, you’ll notice the male begins placing sticks into prospective nest holes. He may build as many as twelve different nesting sites.
After pairing with a mate, the male takes the female to each of the nesting sites he has begun building.
The female selects the one she likes and begins to fill the nest completely with more twigs. Then she makes a small depression at the back of the cavity which she lines with pine needles and grass for egg laying.
Interesting to note, spider egg sacs are part of the make up of nest building. It’s thought that they use the spider egg sacs to help control mites in the nest. The spiders hatch and eat the mites.
House wrens are cavity nesters and as such, are easily attracted to birdhouses. In fact, these birds seem to prefer man-made nest boxes to natural cavities.
Nesting Habits
Eco-Chickadee and Wren Bird House
Long Lasting and Attractive
Tell Me More
The nesting site can be located anywhere from 4-30 ft. above ground. After choosing and rebuilding the nest, the female will lay one egg each day until a clutch of 5 or 6 eggs are laid. The eggs are white with brown marks.
Incubation time last 12-15 days. During this time the female will leave the eggs from time to time to feed. Sometimes it may look like the male is bringing food to the female, more likely though, he is anticipating (practicing) the feeding of the young. Although occassional feedings to the female may occur.
After the eggs hatch, it will take another 16-17 days before the young leave the cavity.
Want To Share Your Wren Story?
Tell us all about the Wrens nesting around you. Make sure you get a photo or two. Then Follow the link below.
Share Your Story Here
Read What Other Visitors Have Shared
Read Stories
For their size, these birds can be very aggressive, often piercing other cavity nesting birds eggs. Thought should be given as to whether or not to place birdhouses for Wrens.
If you’re trying to attract other cavity nesting birds such as Bluebirds, you may not want to allow House Wrens to nest around your property. Wrens will take over the nest of other birds by destroying eggs.
The House Wrens diet consist almost entirely of insects.
While not bothered by passive human activity it should be noted that if you get too close to the nest you stand a good chance at being scolded.
Wrens will attempt raising two broods a season. Second broods are raised at a different nest site. Cleaning of any bird house should be done between broods. First cleaning should be done in late fall and the second cleaning should be done after the first nesting.
Second nesting are usually in Late June through July. The breeding seasons runs from March to July.
When Autumn arrives, these tiny birds will begin heading southward and spend the winter in the southern states and into Mexico.
Learn About
Wren Houses For Backyard Nesting
Learn the Habits of the Carolina Wren
Watch Videos of House Wrens and Carolina Wrens
Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel To See All Our Bird Video
Debbie, Thank you for the article it was so informative. I do believe I have a male that’s adding sticks to the nest after reading through it all. You made my day!
So glad you enjoyed the article. They are curious little birds.
Debbie I moved the birdhouse from where it was last year, now I’m thinking it’s not in the best place for me being able to watch them but it’s in a better place in the landscaping overall.
It is a never ending process in the garden. I am always tweaking my things too. We worked in the gardens for about 5 hours Saturday as it was a gloriously warm day. Gardens look great but I am covered in chigger bites. Boy do they itch. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Debbie my hubby grew up in Florida and he used to get chigger bites too. I’ve never had them but I do get covered in poison ivy every year.
Love your porch! I have the same porch furniture, and my cushions are 5 years old now and soooo dirty. Where did you find the cute cushions?
I purchased the furniture at Kmart, it’s the Better Home and Garden line and the tan cushions are from Lowes. I made the Valentine pillows from a tablecloth.
Thank you so much! I’ll be heading to Lowes this week! We must have purchased our porch furniture from KMart the same year, I have the exact same reversible cushions. I love them but they are dirty, dirty, dirty.
I recovery mine several times and then decided to splurge and buy new, they cost almost as much as the furniture did to begin with, and I think that’s crazy but had to have them.
I decorate for Valentine’s Day most every year. So much fun to pull it all out and do different things with my decor. I too, love the buffalo plaid/check and will see if I can find anything on sale afterwards. Love the bunting too. I see you have a bit of green grass in your yard. Coming from Washington state that is the one thing I miss the most; green grass in the winter. Here in Colorado the ground turns brown in September and stays that way until sometime in late April early May. Here, we get snow all the way until Memorial Day so ya just have to deal with it. Although in my opinion, the more snow the better but I am always ready to see colorful flowers come the middle of March. At the grocery store yesterday I saw mini roses, tulips, and primroses! I squealed right then and there! Love your covered proch too. Maybe someday we’ll have the money to build my outdoor kitchen area that will be covered where we can eat and grill and can outdoors to keep the cabin from getting too hot.
Victoria, an outdoor kitchen sounds fantastic and fun to use. I have no idea why we had green grass this time of year, it’s been a strange winter. We normally have dead grass this time of year hear too. I actually mowed the lawn through October this year and that’s not normal. Michigan winters are normally to cold for anything green.
Adorbs…. all of it! Great find on the tablecloth and you put it to good use!
Dawn, I have never decorated for Valentine’s Day before, thank you for the idea. I can pull a few things from around the house to make a little display. Looking forward to showing some hearts!
Time to change out my porch! Cute inspiration-thank you!
Margaret it’s 50 here today so I was outside reading a book on the porch, it felt so good to have the sun shine down on me and warm my bones.