Decorate a Treat Tree and Feed our Forest Friends with Edible Outdoor Ornaments

Tis the season of giving to all! Sharing our love and kindness to friends, neighbors, family and friendly strangers during the holiday season brings joy. We shouldn’t stop with just these folks but instead add in our furry, outdoor friends.

We enjoy decorating our tree inside of our home during the holidays but what about outside? As important as curb appeal and decorations are outdoors, adding the perfect touch to a tree in our yard can be festive as well. This can also become an annual tradition every year and something to look forward to.

We can bring life into a long, forgotten tree in our yard. We could participate in tree cycling, recycling Christmas trees and reusing them with a purpose. Most importantly, we can help wildlife during the colder months when their food supply isn’t always on deck. From birds to squirrels and possums, raccoons along with rabbits and stray cats, every little one could use a bite to eat.

These furry friends could be part of your garden visitors during this holiday season.We have daily visitors in my yard and it’s so beautiful to see them co exist. I love looking out on a white, snowy day and seeing the cardinals and blue jays eating together with the squirrels.

Decorating a tree outdoors with edible, holiday ornaments is our way of sharing the season of giving with our wildlife friends, called a treat tree. We can enjoy this view during the winter months while they bunch on some goodies of their own.

Let’s get started

Choose a tree in your yard or use a live tree in your home and bring it outside. If you are choosing a tree in your yard, try to find one that has an open space and can be easily viewed from inside your home.

Edible food ornaments

Start your adventure off by searching for pine cones. Choose from fresh or dried fruit to add as an ornament.

Fruits to use

• Grapes
• Berries
• Apples
• Pears
• Peaches
• Oranges

Additional add-ins

• Nuts
• Raisins
• Sunflower and pumpkin seeds
• Popcorn
• Cereals
• Birdseed (especially around the bottom)

Making edible ornaments

There are different ways that these edible ornaments can be made so get creative!

Roll items such as honey, peanut butter and molasses onto pine cones and birdseed for a tasty ornament treat.

Be sure to hang items with natural twine which is safe and can be re used by wildlife. You can loop the twine together and make edible ornaments with fruit, garland with popcorn and transform bird seed into cookies. Hang the ornaments on the treat tree to complete the activity.

NEVER use a fishing line. Also, try adding a bird bath around the area to bring in more feather friends.

Simply, watch the visitors such as deer, raccoons, squirrels and possums appear and share the spirit of a snack together. Edible ornament making for treat trees is super fun and enjoyable for all ages. It can also bring everyone together and teach a valuable lesson of giving to others, in this case animals. It's also important to take time to appreciate natural even during the colder months.

Grab some snacks, make your favorite drink and hang out by a window near the tree. Snap some photos of the furry friends enjoying your treat tree creation and share with us below. You'll be glad that you made this made this outdoor tree come alive with edible ornaments for their sake and yours too. Leave a comment below of your thoughts.

Happy Holidays! :)