J.J.Cardinal's Wild Bird & Nature Store, Grand Blanc, MI
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Our web site is updated nearly every day it seems with news, calendar of events, product announcements and additions to our ever evolving photo-album. This summary of site revisions has been requested by several regular visitors to this site - we hope you too will find it helpful and check back often!

January 2012 Another creative idea from Joe....01/14/12
Upside-down suet feeders can be effective keeping blackbirds out of suet feeders...so Joe created a new steel version from parts available at JJ Cardinal's.   Resourceful fella', don'tcha' think?
See more >>
01/09/12
Our activities and events program for January & February has been posted on our "events page" >>
look for this "close-out" logo01/07/12
While completing year-end inventory we found a few "orphans" - and some seasonal goods that are marked-down.  See our great offers on selected deck-arms in our "accessories & hardware" section, and holiday ornaments, balsam pillows, and Artisan Sweaters in our "gift section" >>
Giant swallowtail 01/06/12
Now in stock: Praying Mantis Egg Pods (great for natural insect control) and Giant swallowtail chrysalis ... supplies are limited ... available for late spring 2012 hatching ... includes complete instructions. Giant swallowtails are our largest butterfly with wing spans up to six inches!  See our "garden section" >>
December 2011 Burt's Bees Head To Toe - a starter kit12/2/11
Just in time for the holidays: the new Burt's Bees Head-to-Toe Starter Kit!  It's a great way to introduce America's best natural personal care products:  a generous assortment of our most popular natural skin care products from Burt's Beeswax Lip Balm to the popular Coconut Foot Cream and everything in between!  Ho-ho.  >>
12/1/11
You'd think the new North Country wind bells were designed exclusively for JJ Cardinal's >>
yep, it's a cardinal wind sail on the new North Country Wind Bell.
November 2011 get an ornament - help a family!11/27/11
We're in the news again!  Dag-nab-it....the nice folks at the Grand Blanc News and MLive.com posted a piece we had submitted recently to promote JJ Cardinal's 2011 "Giving Tree" and holiday ornaments....proceeds to benefit the local FISH chapter.  More info >>
11/13/11
The "squirrel buster" family of weight-activated, smart feeders continues to grow....see the latest: for offering shelled peanuts to woodpeckers and other happy birds (and not to squirrels). The Squirrel Buster Peanut+ >>
Squirrel Buster Peanut+
created in Michigan11/06/11
Our tealight holdercollection of Gwen Frostic's art is popular - especially those seeking special made-in-Michigan gifts >>

More tealight holders with nature theme >>

JJ Cardinal's Notebook - online!11/05/11
We're info-rich!  Two newsletters: our 20th anniversary edition of JJ Cardinal's Notebook and our latest Calendar - the newsletter that seems to change daily (but does not get mailed out).  How cool is that? >>

11/05/11new, original art work by Michigan based artist
Michigan based artist Cynthia Tomasik offers original line drawings of birds and wildlife.  See more >>

Also, see a new Louise Notes article about Tomasik's very special, custom illustrations >>.

our Calendar is online too!

 

lantern illuminated by LED11/04/11
Fun applications of energy-sipping LED lights are beginning to emerge - safe, affordable, decorative, and not energy hogs. Example: our new flickering LED flameless candles and accessories. Ideal for the holiday and decorations indoors and outdoors >>
October 2011 pencil in a stick!10/07/11 Naturalist Joe V. helped us find some really cool, simple natural gifts recently - like these rustic twig pencils. Imagine yourself on Walden Pond, writing poems or observations of nature into your trusty journal (or whatever), using one of these really special twig pencils!  >>
10/06/11
Attractive new sweatshirt selections from Artisans' recently arrived >> 
close-up of Artisans' embroidery
balsam-pillows10/05/11
You know the holidays are approaching and seasons are changing when Louise gets a fresh supply of Maine Balsam Firm Products - balsam oil, balsam filled pillows and draft-stoppers. Instantly the scent reminds you of holidays - past and present!  >>
September 2011 flower head is over 18" inches in diameter!09/25/11
Sunflower Growing Contest - winners announced >>

09/22/11
New books!  Several new seasonal stories for the holidays and a funny 2012 calendar "Undiscovered Squirrels"  is now available, and it includes several new, never before seen squirrels! Have you ever seen a porcupine squirrel, an armadillo squirrel, or a cow squirrel? It is very funny and artfully crafted. >>

2012 calendar
August 2011 Table For 2 - a new squirrel feeder by GoodPlanet08/26/11
Autumn approaches - inventory at stores begin to reflect changing seasons. Clothing shops break out the corduroy slacks and sweaters - we dig out feeders for squirrels. Naturally we're thrilled to have a new design: a "Table For 2". More info >>
activity: pinecone-turkey08/10/11
Our Events Calendar has been posted with programs and activities thru December 2011. There's even a handy .pdf file you can print out >>
July 2011 07/09/11
Delicate & tiny hummingbirds!  This time of year we get lots of calls from folks scattered all over this great land in-search of replacement parts for their beloved hummingbird feeders. The sort of parts you just can't find in big, boxy stores.  Replacement vials for tubular-style feeders, decorative glass "flowers", or those rubber-stopper style feeding ports you read about in Birds-n-Bloom magazine. (You know, those articles about recycling wine bottles to use as hummingbird feeders.)  We carry some of the most hard-to-find stuff!  Hummingbird feeder parts >>   Hooks and hangers for deck mounting >>
replacement parts galore!
My Monarch Journal07/07/11
Monarch butterflies arrived as eggs - just hatched as tiny little caterpillars. Now in-stock - great summer exploration and observation project - we also found some copies of the "My Monarch Journal" a great pictoral reference guide, which is now out-of-print - combined with a "butterfly habitat tent" the book and a monarch caterpillar make a great summer gift!  More info: book, tents.
more pictures for our photo album!07/04/11
So many of our friends share pictures with us - we admit it's a challenge keeping up, at times - but when Lou Ann gave us a CD (computer disc) with high-resolution images of the orioles at her bird feeders we knew it was special & had to get some of 'em posted.  See our photo-album >>
suitable for framing!07/03/11
We're "in the news" again this week.  Sunday's Grand Blanc News (7/3/11) included an article Louise submitted about some adorable art work student at Brendel Elementary School sent to her.
Read more >>
Classic seed log feeder with the new Nutsie Seed Log07/01/11
We found a new durable steel feeder to protect our new Nutsie Seed Log. More info >>

06/30/11
New book from Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick: Tea with Lady Sapphire is a celebration of birds and nature and from the New-York Times best-selling authors. Carl and Jean are also from Michigan!  See more >>

June 2011 Tea with Lady Sapphire
seed & hull digester06/21/11
Bird feeding clean-up is never a fun task - so we're delighted when we find products that make the chore a bit simpler, and helps improve the environment for birds and wildlife. Introducing: Natural enzymes Seed & Hull Digester. More info >>
cecropia silk moth06/08/11
Interested in organizing and conducting your own science project this summer?  It may be the ideal way to keep young minds occupied and engaged: raise a cecropia silk moth.
More info >>
Recipe for feeding wildbirds06/05/11
Michigan-based author & illustrator Deana Jager has published a lovely "Recipe Book for Feeding Wild Birds". More info on our "books page" >>
May 2011 05/24/11
Lots of new projects and activity kits to help keep young minds active this summer - see our kids page - new EIN-O™ science kits to study insects, geothermal energy and more! >>
EIN-O Kits - fun for kids!
so much to learn - so little time05/23/11
Great projects and activities are always on-tap at JJ Cardinal's...check out our summer schedule at the events page >>

Glee sugar-free gum!05/15/11
Glee Gum now available in 2 yummy flavors! All Natural Sugar-Free Glee Gum is sweetened with 100% xylitol, a sugar alcohol made from birch bark. More info >>

05/14/11
We're "In The News" again today - see a feature story about attracting common backyard birds this spring was published today by Detroit Free Press special writer (and former Grand Blanc resident) Megan Swoyer Garbinski. Check it out >
nice article in the Detroit Free Press...
oriole feeder - offer jelly!05/12/11
Orioles are swarming our area the past week or two...so it's appropriate we have a new feeder designed to offer jelly! More info >>
We also received a photo disc from a great customer showing some of the activity in his backyard habitat - including the above mentioned oriole feeder!  See our ever-expanding photo album >>
05/10/11
Our May edition of JJ Cardinal's Calendar is online!
more info >>

Stan Tekiela's Captivating Bluebirds04/26/11
Eastern Bluebirds are popular in this area - and have been staging a remarkable comeback with the help from those maintaining nesting boxes and desired habitat. One of our most popular reference guides is Stan Tekiela's Captivating Bluebirds. See more on our books and reference page >>

May 2011 newsletter online!
April 2011 Avis!04/25/11
JJ Naturalist, Avis, conducts class on nesting behavior of common backyard birds >>

Mosquito dunks04/23/11
Effective mosquito control >>

04/20/11
Hummingbirds have been spotted in Michigan as they migrate north* - time to get your feeders in place - stop and see us if you need any cleaning brushes, hooks, hangers or other hardware!  We also have an awesome collection of decorative hummingbird feeders - check out our "nectar page" for a sampling of hummingbird and oriole feeders like the new Parasol Bouquet feeder made from recycled glass >>
   * Link to migration map; see hummer's marching north - they crossed MI-OH stateline in early April >>
Parasol's Bouquet hummer feeder
....there's a moose loose in the hoose....04/02/11
All sorts of new garden accents arrived in the past few weeks including this quirky "mouse holding leaf" figure that can be used as an occasional feeder for the birds or other garden critters >>
March 2011 March 31st event: Michigan snakes! see pictures >03/31/11
Naturalist Bob Worley brought in his pet snake - kinda' like show-n-tell for adults - the class attending "Michigan's Snakes" at JJ Cardinal's was delighted. See photo-album >>
pendant by Nettles Jewelry03/30/11
Rich detail and intricate design are essential elements of Nettles Jewelry - each piece is unique with birds and nature themes. See more >>
03/25/11
Several updates - webguy struggles to keep up with avalanche of new merchandise flowing into JJ Cardinal's this spring!
   - Laura Jean's jewelry
   - Marsha's stained glass
   - kites for kids & more fun projects

new bluebird feeder that keeps larger birds out! 03/19/11
Want to offer meal worms or other treats to Bluebirds but prefer not to attract every other bird in the neighborhood?  We're thrilled with the latest solution from Erva Tool >>

new garden art from Marsha's Stained Glass
Ogles brooms - handmade for 3 generations in Gatlinburg, TN03/16/11
web-guy scrambles to keep up with arrival of Louise's new product avalanche...handmade brooms and walking sticks from Gatlinburg, TN >>
The family that makes these also produce some quirky hiking sticks and walking sticks. Check 'em out.
February 2011 blue tiles by Cohen02/13/11
They're blue - they're quirky: Cohen's Blue Tiles >>
Erva's 60 watt heated birdbath at nearly zero degrees and high winds02/08/11
Temperatures well-below freezing can prove to be challenging for birds and critters in your backyard habitat, especially with high wind gusts of 25 to 50 mph. Even the heating devices designed to help provide water struggle a bit to keep water in birdbaths ice-free. More info >>
January 2011 01/31/11
You'll crack up over the new greeting cards and matted prints by Don McMahon called "birds on things" - cute concept...fun art & illustrations >>
see the new art by Don McMahon: "birds on things"
hey, let's grow something!01/27/11
A new edition of Louise's Notes has been posted - announcing a fun new contest this year >>

Also posted - new "calendar of events" with 4 new programs designed to celebrate National Bird-feeding Month (which happens to be February). See more >>

WatersEdge Purple Martin House01/19/11
For all purple martin enthusiasts and those who are interested in attracting purple martins into their habitat we now offer a second highly-rated line of purple martin houses and accessories. Introducing: WatersEdge™ by Coates.
Check it out >>
hinged Heartwood Creations box01/18/11
Perhaps the ideal Valentines Day gift: Heartwood Creations hinged little boxes...amazing in so many ways. These beautiful American-made crafts are jaw-dropping gorgeous!   Hardwood boxes with laser cut images - some designs include ultra-precise hardwood inlays...some have hinged lids. Priced from just $9.75.  More info >>
01/17/11
We think we have found a nice line of “safe” products for the elimination of insect pests without harm to humans, pets, or the environment...by Safer®.   Control wasps, yellow jackets, Japanese Beetles, various crawling insects, meal moths and more.  Info >
safe insect control
heave ho! look out below....01/14/11
The process of reviewing what we do, how we do it, and trying to always improve....never is complete. It's an on-going process. This is the topic of another installment of Louise's Notes - a vital review of our packaging efforts when fulfilling orders for birdseed.
More >
01/10/11
Web-hosting changes - after over a decade of faithful assistance from Mike's brother Tom in Georgia we're switching web-hosting services (for this website and our email).   Later this week we may experience a few days "outage" - we apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
we're changing web-hosting servers soon
window-mount oriole feeder01/09/11
Our new window-mount oriole feeder can bring those pretty birds up-close!

('dats nice, Mike, but I wanna see...)
Other window-mount feeders >        Other oriole feeders >   

just-a-dot - click desired year....

archives of "updates" from: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003
J.J. Cardinal's Wild Bird & Nature Store®
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12830 S. Saginaw St., Grand Blanc, MI  48439   810-695-8733
01/16/2012 illustrations, text & fun © copyright LAD, Inc. 1992-2012
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