Wyckoff Area Garden Club President Eileen Avia presented a decorative birdhouse workshop on January 17, 2017 for Ringwood Garden Club Members.

Eileen has been making and decorating birdhouses for several years, giving most of them away to friends, charities, and for fundraisers. Her demonstration included how to paint a birdhouse and tips on placing natural bark, stones, shells, and other decorative items on the wooden structures. A raffle was held where the winners each received an unadorned wooden birdhouse to decorate. The plethora of materials, including glue guns were provided to help everyone bring each birdhouse to life with imaginative and personalized decor.

“The decorations I use are mostly things I find in my yard. Old bark, sticks, stones, and even pumpkin stems can be used to decorate a birdhouse,” commented Avia. “The possibilities are limitless, and it’s a great recycling option!”

The birdhouses are for indoor use but can be placed on a porch that is protected from the elements.

Two of Eileen Avia’s hand-decorated birdhouses.

Members of the Ringwood Garden Club show off their own creations.

Eileen Avia prepares for her birdhouse demonstration, complete with her hand-decorated hat!