Cahaba Tractor Co.
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Issue 40       
June 2014
 

 

Now that summer break is officially here, get the kids and get out in the yard! It's still a good time to plant, so grab those shovels and start digging! Got bigger holes to dig? Take a look at our featured tractor this month, the Kubota BX25. It can do the digging for you, plus a whole lot more.

The warmer temps and sunny days have made it a whole lot easier to go outside and listen to the sounds of nature. Soft breezes, bees buzzing and birds chirping. Ever wonder about those beautiful birdsongs and where they come from? In this month's Chewin' the Cud, we discuss some of Alabama's native birds, along with a few interesting fun facts and landscaping plants that can help turn your yard into a bird sanctuary.  

Also, check out this month's updated stock at our Used Products and Specials at cahabatractor.com.
 
Take a look at the June Gardening Guide for planting information and see what's going on around the state this month in June Activities and Events. Don't forget Father's Day is June 15!
 
Take a Look at the  

 

Small in Size   
Big in Productivity and Diversity 

The Kubota BX25D comes equipped with Front Loader and Backhoe. Other implements like a Mid-Mount Mower and Front Blade can be added, too.

Special Low Price Now
plus 0% Interest during the
Kubota Get Something Started Sales Event
 
 

  Used Products and Specials  

Take a look at more great deals on cahabatractor.com.
Get 'em before they're gone!


Here's just one of the many great Used Products
we have in stock!
Kubota ZD326 $8,995 Zero-Turn Mower 26hp, Diesel


Check out this month's Specials 
Kubota L3301-F 2WD Regular Price $15,450 - Special Sale Price $13,995
 

Shop now for the best selection on
 Used and Special-priced equipment!
 



Chewin' the Cud: The Cahaba Tractor Corner
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       Tweet Home Alabama



Are you a bird-watcher or just like drowning out the noise of the world with a little birdsong? Here's some interesting facts on some of our fine-feathered friends of flight:

There are about 9,600 species of birds worldwide with more than 2,000 of them recorded in North America. In our little corner of the world here in Alabama, there are 420 birds species recorded by the official Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) state list. A total of 158 species regularly breed within the state, 174 winter here, 80 migrate through the state, 3 are extinct, 2 are no longer in Alabama but may be found in other states and 4 are exotic.

Birdzilla.com has comprised a mini-list of the top Nifty-Fifty for Alabama complete with
descriptions, images, video and songs of 50 of the most often observed birds of Alabama. There is also migrating and nesting information and some fun facts.

Here's a some of our favorite fun facts:

American Crow - A year-round Alabama resident, though not a friend to the farmer, is very smart and social. The crow mates for life and exhibits "cooperative breeding behavior," meaning this bird is no slacker when it comes to sharing responsibilities at home. The crow also has an amazing memory and can create and use tools.     

American Goldfinch - A winter Alabama resident, the goldfinch  remains monogamous during the first year, but may dump her mate after the first brood and leave him to raise the kids, while she mates with another mate.


Brown Thrasher
- A year-round resident, the thrasher is known as a champion mimic and may know up to 2,000 songs. The thrasher is also known to aggressively protect its nest, even attacking humans who get too close.

Cedar Waxwing - One of North America's most frugivorous birds, the cedar waxwing is susceptible to becoming drunk from eating too much fermented fruit.




Great Egret - Found throughout Alabama, the National Audubon Society was formed in the early twentieth century to protect the Great Egrets and other heron species from the plume trade which used the birds' feathers for making women's hats.


House Finch
- A permanent resident, the House Finch is susceptible to bacterial eye disease, particularly from dirty bird feeders. 




House Sparrow - Looking to make some cold cash on this year-round resident? Then try to figure out why the bird is in decline in Britain--its native land.



Mallard
- Most North American domesticated ducks are descendants of the mallard. The mallard is the most abundant duck in North America.



Northern Cardinal - Also referred to as the Redbird, it has been voted as the state bird in seven U.S. states. The males are red in color, while the females are mostly brown. The cardinal has an odd quirk of attacking side-view mirrors on cars.

Northern Flicker - Alabama's state bird, also known as the Yellow Hammer. The Northern Flicker uses a drumming technique to attract mates--many times on the metal flues of fireplaces, causing rapid, loud beats. Good for the bird, bad for the human tenants.


Northern Mockingbird
- Made famous by the Harper Lee novel, the mockingbird can imitate sounds of other birds and human noises like car alarms and squeaky pumps.


Purple Martin
- Known for the great migration through Alabama, the Purple Martin is one of the earliest spring migrants and gathers in flocks of thousands during late summer and fall.


Red-Tailed Hawk
- Nest throughout the state. The call of the hawk is often substituted in movies for the call of the Bald Eagle. The reason? The stately Bald Eagle's call sounds more like a clucking chicken. 



Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Many migrate across the Gulf of Mexico twice a year. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird has the lowest feather count of all birds with only 940 feathers on its tiny body.

Tufted Titmouse - This bird is known to land on animals and even humans to grab hair to line its nest.



White-breasted Nuthatch
- This little bird can be seen, not only flying, but running up and down the tree trunk. Talk about strong legs and feet!




Yellow-rumped Warbler - This winter resident is also known as the Butter Butt due to its distinctive yellow rump.



These are just a few of the many interesting facts about our airborn neighbors. So, what can you do to make your yard more attractive to birds? Here's some ways to make a favorable bird habitat.

First, you need the essentials: food, water, cover and a place to raise a family. Native trees, shrubs, groundcover, vines and wildflowers are a great place to start. Since native plants are adapted to the soils, rainfall and temperatures, these are your best bets for creating a stable, year-round environment for the birds.

Here's a few suggestions for wildlife habitats in Alabama:

Trees - Pecan, Hackberry, Oak and Virginia Pine, Flowering Dogwood, Hawthorn, Winterberry

Shrubs - Bottlebrush, Buckeye, Beauty Berry, Viburnums

Wildflowers - Coreopsis, Blue Larkspur, Purple Coneflower, Carolina Phlox, Black-eyed Susan, Goldenrod, Wild Asters

Groundcovers - Golden Ragwort, Wild Strawberry, Goldenseal

Vines - Trumpet Creeper, Yellow Jessamine, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Virginia Creeper, Passionflower

Grasses - Bushy Bluestem, Broom Sedge, Sideoats Grama, Rice Cut Grass, Switchgrass, Blue-eyed Grass 

Since wildlife species evolve with plants, using native plants helps to preserve the balance of the natural ecosystems. In other words, keep it local if you want the locals to move in, dine and breed on your property. By creating a sanctuary for them, you're also creating a beautiful, naturescape for you.

For more information on creating a wildlife habitat, visit the WindStar Wildlife Institute and the Alabama Wildflower Society. Also, to get more info on bird watching, visit Bird Watching Daily.
    
              
 
Looking for better ways to get the job done? Stop by and take a look at the many implements we carry. From front loaders to backhoes, disc harrows to cultivators, we've got whatever you need to make the job easier. Because, at Cahaba Tractor....We Make Work Seem Like Play!


Sincerely,
Cahaba Tractor Co.
2411 Hwy. 31 South
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 663-1470



Cahaba Tractor location
 


 
Why settle for less
when you can have
the best?
  

 
At Cahaba Tractor, 
    we make work
    seem like play!
 
 
pig in mudHere's
Mud 
In
Your
Eye 
From Dust to Dust

 

One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.

The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."

God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest."

To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!"

But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."

The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.

God looked at him, smiled and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"

 

 

--Anonymous


Planting
June
Gardening Guide
 

Fruits and Nuts:

Layer grapes. Continue spray programs. Thin apples and peaches if too thick.  

 

Vegetable Seed:

Plant beans, fieldpeas, pumpkins, squash, corn, cantaloupes and watermelons. Follow the AL Vegetable Garden Planting Chart for planting dates.

Vegetable Plants:

Harvest spring planted vegetables and re-plant with summer crops. Plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and sweet potato vine cuttings.

Annuals and Perennials:
To promote continued flowering, deadhead spent flowers. Continue to plant garden mums. To keep mums compact, pinch out tips. Watch plants for insects and diseases.

Bulbs: 
Dried and yellowed foliage may be removed from spring flowering bulbs. Watch for aphids and thrips on summer bulbs.

Roses:
Continue fertilizing as needed. Deadhead spent flowers. After first full bloom, prune to inhibit overgrowth.
Apply fungicide to prevent and control black spot.
   
Shrubs:

Lace bugs may become a problem for shrubs such as, azaleas, pyracanthas, dogwoods, cherry laurels. Fertilize and water as needed. Pinch out tips to keep long shoots from forming. Take cuttings from semi-mature wood for rooting. 

   

Lawns:

Follow a good schedule of fertilizing and watering. If soil is moist, planting may continue. Continue to treat weeds. Mow weekly.  

 

Miscellaneous:

*If scale insects continue on shrubs, try treating with products other than oils.

 

*Set houseplants outside in shady area and continue to water.

 

*Air-layer houseplants, if desired.

 

*When trimming hedges, be careful to remove only newer growth--not mature wood.  

 

The gardening guide is based upon the USDA hardiness zones for Alabama.

The state zones are:
 

North Alabama - 7a
Birmingham area - 7b
South Alabama - 8a
Mobile area - 8b
 
For more gardening info, visit:
June
Activities and Events
  
Alabama Primary Election Day
June 3

Jeff Davis Birthday Celebration
Montgomery
June 3

Stevenson Depot Days
Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum
June 3-8

Fort Morgan Tuesday Evening Civil War Twilight Tours
June 3 thru July 29, 7-8:30pm

Miss Alabama Pageant
Samford University
June 4-8, 7:30pm

Rail Safety Day
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
Calera
June 5, 9am-3pm

NBHA State Finals
Decatur
June 5-8

Quilt Symposium of Alabama 2014
Bumpus Middle School
Hoover
June 5-7

Steel City Jazz Festival
Linn Park
Birmingham
June 5-7

35th Annual Hank Williams Festival
Georgiana
June 6-7

9-1-1 Festival
Haleyville
June 6-8

Howard Hill Archery Southeastern Traditional Championship
Tannehill State Park
June 6-8

Alabaster City Fest
June 7

Juneteenth Culture Fest
Kelly Ingram Park
June 7

Cheaha State Park 75th Celebration
June 7

Youth Fishing Derby
Double Springs
Bankhead National Forest
June 7

Father's Day Limited
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
June 14, 11am & 2pm

Alexander City 22nd Annual Jazz Fest
Strand Park
June 13-14

Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival
Foley
June 13-14

19th Annual Marion Rodeo
June 14-15

4th Annual Tallassee Now! BBQ Cook-Off
June 13-14

Rick & Bubba Outdoor Expo
BJCC
June 13-15

What's That Plant?
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
June 14, 8:30am

Black Creek Arts Festival
Fultondale
June 14, 10am-4pm


June 15

Outdoors with Dad
Birmingham Zoo
June 15, 9am-5pm

Birmingham Fern Society Show & Sale
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
June 18

Making New Plants, All About Plant Propagation
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
June 21

19th Annual Rickwood Classic
June 25, 12:30pm

Relax by the Tracks
Railroad Park
June 27, 5-7pm

For more Alabama  events this month, visit birmingham365.org

    

Contact Us:
Cahaba Tractor Co.

2411 Hwy 31 South
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 663-1470
sales@cahabatractor.com
Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm M-F

            8:00am-12:00pm Sat.


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