The 1960s and 1970s were a time where gardens were full of life and every backyard seemed to be full of birds. Before the days of expensive bird feeders and seed mixes our grandparents knew something many of us have forgotten; the right plants can make your garden a bird sanctuary. These are the seeds that will help you recreate those magical bird backyards from years past.

Sunflowers by Grandma: The First Bird Magnet

Your grandmother would always plant those tall sun stalks next to the fence? Before designer bird feeders, those towering Mammoth Russian sunflowers, with their 14 inch wide heads, are not only perfect for nostalgia, but perfect for attracting birds of every kind from the little chickadees to large cardinals. One sunflower plant can feed dozens of birds, making it nature's perfect bird feeder!

Why Should You Plant Nyjer Seeds & Why Do Cardinals Go Crazy for Them?

That high priced Nyjer seed you purchase for your feeders? You can cultivate it yourself! These small and fragile plants may look innocent, but are considered caviar for finches and cardinals. Create a fun patch to view cardinals and finches eating a gourmet meal!

Zinnia: The Flying Circus Creator

Did you know that those ancient zinnias found in every seed catalog from the 1950s are now putting on the best bird show in town. The flowers also attract hummingbirds. And the seed bring in goldfinches who perform circus level acrobatic acts. For the tallest varieties, you can expect the greatest aerial displays.

Black-Eyed Susans: Your Garden's All-Day Buffet for Birds

These bright and happy flowers were found in every garden during the 1960s, and birds remember why. Their seed heads remain tall and unbroken in the winter, providing a never-ending food source for chickadees, juncos, and finches. Just like those 24-hour diners from back in the day, they offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner to the birds in your garden.

Winter the Goldfinch's Feast: Purple Coneflowers

Echinacea was a popular supplement for a short time. It used to be a winter restaurant for goldfinches. Those spiny seed heads may look old to us but birds see them as perfect snack dispensers. If you leave them standing all winter, you will have the best seat in the house for the goldfinch show.

Cosmos: The Old Fashioned Flower That Attracts Hundreds of Birds

Do you remember when all the cottage gardens had those dancing flowers? Cosmos are beautiful and also are magnets for birds. They will attract birds into the gardens until the end of fall. Their fine seed heads create little bird feeders that are perfectly sized for little birds such as sparrows that can perch and feast.

Evening Primrose: The Night-Blooming Bird Breakfast Club

The yellow flowers that grandma called 'moon flowers' are the favorite breakfast spot of early birds. The seeds are especially a favorite of the native sparrows and finches that come for first dibs at dawn. It is just like the old-fashioned corner café, where the early birds really do get the best goodies.

Those $Pesky$ Milkweed Seeds Are Actually Gold For Birds

Before we started battling against milkweed, birds understood what it could offer. The silky fluff of the milkweed pods is nesting material and the seeds feed many species. The seeds are like little energy bars and the fluff is like down stuffing for bird nests!

Joe Pye Weed: The Bird Feast Your Elders Remember

This beautiful tall plant used to be a common sight in farmhouse gardens, and birds still remember why. The fluffy seed heads are pretty even when covered in frost, but what makes them special is the fact that they are full of seeds that birds absolutely love. Plant this perennial once, and you will have a birdwatching tower in your garden that comes back year after year.

Native Asters: The Late-Season Bird Festival in Your Garden

Asters were once the big attraction at all the fall garden centers before the centers became dominated by other mums. These are late bloomer and are vital food sources for migrant birds. The birds fuel up like late night travelers at roadside diners. The little seeds are favored by chickadees and finches that are getting ready for winter.

Tithonia: The Mexican Sunflower Birds Love

Your grandmother may not have had this bright orange beauty in her garden, but you should put it in yours. The flowers attract hummingbirds, and the seeds invite finches and cardinals. It is like an exotic food truck in the bird world, always attracting a crowd.

Globe Thistle: A Spiky Wonder with a Secret for Bird Lovers

The blue globes aren’t only used to spark conversation. They also attract birds as customers. Like gumball machines, these old fashioned devices give out “free” food. However, instead of gumballs, these entice many goldfinches and chickadees which are among the most acrobatic of birds. And the best part? No quarters are needed!

Bee Balm: The Not So Secret Buzz

The flowers with wild hair that grow by the porch of each farmhouse are also great for some other visitors. When the flowers die, the heads of the flowers turn into feeders for birds, specifically small songbirds. It is like a two for one dinner theater: one show is summer's hummingbird show, the other is fall's finch festival.

Blue Beauty Birds Love-in-a-Mist

These delicate blue flowers with their charming name have an added attraction, their unusual seed pods attract birds. These ornamental pods are like Grandma's curious salt and pepper shakers that dispense delicious seeds for the birds. The more the birds shake the pods, the more snacks they discover.

Cup Plant: A Bird Water Cooler Formed by Nature

The ingenious native plant has its own way of attracting birds. Birds can quench their thirst using the water that pools in the stem of the plant where the leaves join. Water is not the only thing that this plant provides, as its seed heads look like sunflowers, and provide food for birds as well. This plant is similar to old stores that had lunch counters where customers could stop in to grab a drink and a snack.