What To Do With Your Dried Fruit Garland After Christmas

January 4, 2021

Today I'm sharing what to do with your dried fruit garland after the Christmas holidays are over.  

  snowy yard dried orange slices cranberries popcorn

 I recently posted about how I made a dried orange and cranberry Christmas garland.  My daughter and I had fun making it and I had fun displaying it on our mantel. My daughter also made an orange and popcorn garland for her own bedroom Christmas tree.

But once the holidays are over and you're stuck with the dried fruit and stale popcorn what can you do with it?


 dried orange slice cranberry paper plate

Most obviously you can throw it out.

dried orange slices popcorn dried cranberries vintage ironstone tureen

But why throw it in the trash when you can help out some hungry birds and outdoor animals, especially in the winter ?

dried cranberry orange slices air popped popcorn

Dried fruit and berries are one way to support your local wild birds and other wild animals any time of year. But they might just need it the most in the cold of winter. Winters here in Illinois get bitterly cold, with 14 to 38 inches of snow yearly.

snow oranges berries popcorn

All three -- oranges, cranberries and plain air popped popcorn -- are suitable for birds, deer and squirrels (although squirrels should be hibernating around this time of year).

dried fruit snowy ground popcorn 
 
Oranges will attract orioles, cardinals, finches and woodpeckers, among other birds.
 
snow covered cranberries dried citrus popcorn


Dreid fruit and popcorn look like confetti strewn on the snow.

snowy yard winter bird food
 Dried cranberries will attract mockingbirds and blue jays.

orange slice wrinkled cranberry snow

You can even add apples, lemons and limes to the mix. All are acceptable food for your local winter animals.

If the fruit is coming from a garland, be sure to remove the string before leaving the fruit outside. I would be especially careful if you used fishing wire, as we did, since the animals might get caught up in it and get hurt.


 

snowy yard covered in dried fruit


bird feed snowy field fruit berries

local wildlife food snow dried fruit berries

   

Well, that's it until next time, friends!

 I hope you enjoyed reading about 

What To Do With Your Dried Fruit Garland

After Christmas  

 and that I've inspired you in some way. 
 
Don't Forget To Pin It! 
 
snowy yard dried orange slices cranberries popcorn

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Leave a Comment!

Junkchiccottage said...

Hi Kathleen. What a wonderful idea to give the birds in our area the homemade holiday decorations to enjoy during these cold days. Happy New Year. xoxo Kris

Kathy said...

I have a compost pile for veggie scraps, etc. I have the biggest, glossiest crows and blue jays in the neighborhood! I don't think much gets to rot! Our feathered friends need our help this time of year!

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