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Most showy as a specimen shrub is the Linden Viburnum (V. dilatatum) from Asia. Like V. opulus its vivid red berries generally remain untouched until late winter. Both species have horticultural varieties with yellow instead of red fruit… a desirable addition to the garden. It has not been reported whether the birds show any preference.

For the landscape gardener who must contend with shady situations, the native Viburnums offer a variety of plant material long known to be consumed by birds. First to be eaten are the blue-black berries of Arrowwood (V. dentatum). Maple-leaved Viburnum (V. acerifolium) holds its berries into the early winter. Nannyberry and Black Haw produce blueblack berries half an inch in length which have been used for preserves since Colonial times. The birds generally finish them off before winter sets in.

Wythe Rod often shows green, red, and mature black berries in the same bunch. It is the species most tolerant of wet ground. The fruits of the Japanese Seibold Viburnum are very similar but barely have time to ripen in early fall, before a feathered host swarms into the plants and quickly devours every fruit. This is the tallest species, growing up to 30 feet, and is one of the choicest specimens in an exceptionally attractive genus of shrubs.

Low-growing shrubs are just as important in the garden as the taller varieties already mentioned. Coralberry, also known as Indian Current, and Snowberry serve well in this capacity. For late winter use nothing is better than Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergi). On steep slopes Cotoneaster horizontalis provides an evergreen ground cover with abundant small, red fruits.

Vines for walls may be used to cover walls and trellises. Among the most attractive wall vines both for its scarlet fall foliage and its blue berries is Virginia Creeper, choice of Thrushes, Purple Finch, Grosbeaks, and Woodpeckers. If space permits their use, one of several good varieties of grapes may be used to provide another source of bird food, often used by migrating fall Warblers.

There are many other shrubs both native and exotic which might be mentioned.

Now is the time to make your plans. Select shrubs in accordance with the three needs of birds: food, cover, and nestingsites, and with a four-season availability in mind. Most of the trees and shrubs can be planted this spring if orders are placed immediately. Get started now, and as the years pass you can count on having increasingly more birds in your garden.

These days we are confronted by more and more stories of crime and sometimes it can feel as if there is never going to be a time when one can be safe anymore. But this is not the case, there are tools that can be used to make one feel safer and outdoor security cameras are a perfect way in which to achieve this.

Outdoor security cameras should be just one element of an overall security strategy and this type of thinking can be applied to one’s house or one’s business. There are some key factors that have to be present in a good security strategy, to make sure that it is as effective as possible.

Before embarking on a security strategy, it makes sense to consult with seasoned security professionals. If possible choose a local service provider who is aware of the particular circumstances of your neighborhood. There are many times when having local knowledge can be a real advantage over the criminals. Things such as understanding the community and having expert knowledge on the geographical lay out of the area are very important.

If consultation with local security professionals is not possible there are many online security companies that can assist you in determining just the type of equipment that you will require. There are three elements to a good security program though and these include Monitoring, Deterrence and Capture.

Monitoring is the first element and refers to the act of surveillance on the area that is to be protected. Outdoor security cameras play a vital role here. Given that they are small and not readily visible, it means that those under surveillance will act in a normal way and this could help to ensure that the thought of committing a crime is identified before it takes place. For this aspect to be most effective, it is very important to ensure that live video is being monitored. But whether you have live monitoring or not the cameras should also be recorded for later evidence if a crime is committed.

Deterrence is perhaps the most important part of the program as these measures would aim to prevent the crime from even taking place. This component would consist of elements such as high fences, visible security cameras, notices stating the premises are under protection and perhaps posted security guards in more extreme situations.

The final item on the check list is capture and this is probably the least attractive element as it means that a crime has already taken place. The chances of apprehending criminals depend on the ability to respond quickly when an alarm is raised. As a result, it is recommended that your system is connected to the police or a security firm. This means that they can respond quickly and will have a better chance of catching the criminals.

These aspects will make up the most effective security plan. It is evident that outdoor security cameras have a vital role to play and even though there might be a worry about intruding on someone’s privacy, this is not a concern when it is a private business or home. These devices will help in crime prevention.