Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FrIDAy, FEBrUAry 6, 2026 Saugus Gardens in the Winter Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Essex Division Docket No. ES25C0467CA In the matter of: Miriam San Dimas Herrera CITATION ON PETITION TO CHANGE NAME A Petition to Change Name of Adult has been filed by Miriam San Dimas Herrera of Saugus, MA requesting that the court enter a Decree changing their name to: Miriam San Dimas Castro. IMPORTANT NOTICE Any person may appear for the purposes of objecting to the petition by filing an appearance at: 36 Federal St., Salem, MA 01970 before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 02/10/2026. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance if you object to this proceeding. WITNESS, Hon. Frances M. Giordano, First Justice of this Court. Date: January 12, 2026 PAMELA CASEY O’BRIEN REGISTER OF PROBATE February 06, 2026 I t comes as no surprise that we can expect six more weeks of winter, given the cold temperatures we have experienced during the last few weeks. A benefit of the deep snow is the insulation it provides for the ground surface, and for the leaf and flower buds waiting for spring on the branches. February is always a challenging month for birds and other wildlife given that by this time many of the fruits and seeds our gardens provide have already been eaten or have become unavailable, having been buried by snow or hidden by fallen leaves and soil. Birds have the advantage of being able to fly above the snow cover and search for fruit hanging on trees and shrubs. Robins have been seen gathering in the trees and shrubs around the Saugus Iron Works, feasting on some of the winterberry (Ilex verticillata) a n d o t h e r SPECIAL OFFER Safety. Style. Stress-Free Installation. CALL NOW 1.877.357.6691 FREE Fixtures and FREE Shower Door Add’l terms apply. Offer subject to change and vary by dealer. Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 3/31/26. fruits that remain. Tuesday, February 3, was “Feed the Birds Day” and gardeners who have feeders out this month will be likely to have a lot of birds to count next week, Feb. 1316. I notice a lot more darkeyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) around my feeders recently than last year, and the flocks of blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) and American goldfinches (Spinus tristis) have grown as well. Because of the cold temperatures, I have been putting out more suet cakes than usual, but the gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) have already foiled my efforts twice. I reinforced the closures on the suet cake holders with twist ties and string, but a squirrel has managed to untie or gnaw through the extra “locks” twice so far since the first snowstorm, carrying the nearly whole cakes in their mouths up the maple tree. Other squirrels and a few birds have tried to grab their share, forcing the squirrel to carry the prize into some evergreens to make them a bit less readily accessible. Squirrels have been jumping from tree to tree, although they are able to run around in the snow without sinking all the way in. The lingering snow has made walking around town somewhat more challenging — not only is it necessary Visitors to the Saugus Public Library this spring can look forward to this new seed library on the second floor that is expected to be running by April. (Photo courtesy of Lisa LeJeune) to add many layers to combat the cold and wind, but high snow piles at street corners make watching for traffic more difficult everywhere in the Northeast. At the Saugus Iron Works, usually a popular location for dog-walkers and others who enjoy the peaceful grounds, a few paths have been plowed. The roofs of the buildings and the waterwheels still have their coatGARDENS | SEE PAGE 11 Birds like this male cardinal appreciated seeds provided by homeowners as the deep snow covered seeds on the ground this week. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)
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