Anyone use a shade cloth to cover trees? I ordered a shade cloth yesterday. I've no idea how well it will work for bird protection, but that's what I'm going to try. The amount of bird damage is increasing every year, and this year it's epic. Not only have they destroyed a large amount of peaches, but they damage the best fruits on the tree (the ones on the outside of the canopy). Not to mention all the blackberries and cherries they destroy (which is most of them). I've found scare tactics and cats are worthless. I've no idea if a shade cloth will work. My concern is that it will be too heavy on the tree when it rains. The one I bought was a knitted 50% white shade cloth from greenhousemegastore.com for $185 (26'X 30'). They claim knitted ones are lighter and the white color keeps the shade cloth cooler.

Geesh, that was fast! Thanks, bikerdoc! "Lily pad" you think? Lee

That DOES bring back memories ! I made basically the same things when I was little - only I used green tissue paper cut in strips and gathered. I glued old sequins on for the ornaments . AAAhhhhh ........ those were the days ! :-)

I have been making jams and jellies for years and years using the sterile jar, cover quickly with parafin method. Only on one batch did I have some mold.....and that was lots of years ago and it was plum jam and I had put a cinnamon stick and a few cloves in some of the jars and the mold formed around the cinnamon stick. I have 6 or 8 jars of crabapple jelly in the basement now....as clear and as lovely as they were when I sealed them with wax in the fall of 2009. I have been making preserves and jams and jellies like this since easily 1960 and only had maybe 3 jars mold....that plum stuff! Usually I manage to use it up or give it away during a year and so start fresh....but sometimes I go hog wild on something that is in season and it lasts. A couple of years ago, I found some jelly hidden on a shelf that had to be more than 10 years old. It was dark and I no longer remember what kind it was, but it was just poured into a jelly glass, not a canning jar, sealed with parafin and stacked on a shelf. There was no mold....I wasn't about to eat it...but I did open and wash the jars to reuse....but the jam or jelly wasn't moldy. Keep your glasses or jars sterile, cover quickly with a thin layer of wax....and when that has hardened add another layer and you won't have mold problems. And it's so easy! AGAIN.....this is for high sugar fruits....not for pickles nor canned vegetables.