BY JANE BRANDT

Birds visit the garden in search of food, water, and shelter.  When enticing birds to the garden, give them a safe cat-free environment.  Fruits, seeds, and insects on the plants and on the ground offer food for the birds.  Keep the garden pesticide free and consider adding native plants.

A few native shrubs to consider for flowers and fruit:  Mahonia (Berberis); Aquifolium (tall); Mahonia nervosa (2 ft.); Mahonia repens (10-14 in.); Lonicera involucrate (Twinberry) and Ribes sanguineum (Red Flowering Currant).

A good online resource for PNW native plant information is the wildlife habitat section at www.nwplants.com.