Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2017 i Birds and Blooms Extra

I love wandering the trails at my favorite local nature center during the height of spring migration. The trees are alive with the cheerful sounds of birds singing all around me. Although I don’t always know exactly which birds are serenading me with their melodies, on a good day I can pick out the buzzy callnote of a blue-gray gnatcatcher or recognize the sweet fee-bee song of an eastern phoebe (that’s kind of a gimme, though, because it says its own name). But all bets are off when the mimics are around. Catbirds, thrashers and mockingbirds imitate other birds and sounds, such as cellphones or even car alarms, and make birding by ear even more of a challenge than it already is. Find out how these birds trick you with…

An estimated 1 million purple martin landlords listen each spring for the chortling call of their summer tenants reappearing from the south. Soon, birdhouses across the country will be filled with adults ready to raise their young. Historically, purple martins nested in natural tree hollows, old woodpecker holes, and cliff crevices near water throughout most of the U.S. The birds continue to do so in the West, especially in saguaro cacti, but in the eastern half, martins nest almost exclusively in man-made boxes. Native Americans began the tradition thousands of years ago when they found that a hollow gourd placed in a tree was attractive to breeding bird pairs. Man-made houses are now essential to martins’ survival. Males are black all over with bluish-purple reflections; the females are blackish from…

Berries just got better thanks to new dwarf varieties suited for smaller spaces. A tinier plant means these delightful gems live right at home inside your favorite patio pot. The next time you crave a handful of fresh berries for your bowl of cereal or a smoothie, all you’ll have to do is step outside. BLACKBERRIES Choose a thornless variety and plant it in a wide, shallow container. The long canes need to be tied, so insert a few strong stakes or place the pot next to a trellis to keep the plant growing straight and upright. If you’re not sure where to start, try Baby Cakes. It’s 3 to 4 feet tall and thornless, with bright, white flowers in spring and large, zingy blackberries in summer. In some regions,…

WARDROBE CHANGE Male American goldfinches lose their drab winter feathers and bright yellow ones appear (shown here) In fall, their vibrancy fades as plain brown feathers grow in, and they transform to look more like females The full molting process may take six to eight weeks, and during that time goldfinches appear patchy. Females build a nest in about six days. It’s so well-constructed that it is watertight.…

SLOPES Dwarf forsythia Gro-Low fragrant sumac Daylily SHADE Epimedium Foam flower Sedge Japanese painted fern Chinese astilbe Coral bells Crested iris Spotted deadnettle Hosta Pachysandra WET AREAS Southern blue flag Umbrella papyrus Japanese sweet flag Marsh marigold Skunk cabbage Chinese astilbe Japanese primrose BETWEEN STEPPERS Low-growing thyme Creeping bugleweed Sweet alyssum Corsican pearlwort SUNNY SLOPES Snow in summer Sedum Lambs’ ears Big-leaf geranium Euphorbia Coreopsis Dianthus Candytuft Lilyturf Artemisia Hardy ice plant SMALL SPACES Hens-and-chicks Moss phlox Corydalis Common thrift Allegheny foam flower Chamomile…

The juncos leave and the goldfinches come back! Donna Sleight GALLOWAY, NEW JERSEY Regardless of the calendar date, spring has arrived when my koi become more active after torpor, the hummingbirds and butterflies return, and the deer start to eat the spring blossoms. When you walk into my yard, you smell the fresh scent of hyacinth, and you see the crocuses emerge and the birds creating new nests. Spring is also when I bring out all my decorations, and visitors (animals and people) know it’s the start of a new season. Joan Heid CHESTER, SOUTH CAROLINA The first sign of spring is when the bees find the dandelions. Next is the blooming crocuses that cover a little hill near my house. The plants have multiplied down the entire hill. I…

1 Revel in spring’s most beautiful sights, like this bee on a peach tree, taken by Kristen Cline of Weston, Missouri. 2 See garden expert Melinda Myers in action. She’s speaking at home and garden shows in Milwaukee, St. Louis and Chicago this month. Visit melindamyers.com for more information. 3 Join our Instagram community! Follow @birdsblooms, and use #birdsandblooms to share your favorite backyard photos with everyone. 4 Get the whole family involved in an outdoorsy project with the simple DIY kits featured on page 22.…

REAL TALK “Martin houses are a hub of activity. It’s fascinating to watch purple martins come and go. I love to watch for the youngsters poking their heads out of the boxes.” Ken Keffer, naturalist BE THE BEST LANDLORD Purple martins like to nest in colonies. Whether you choose gourd houses or an apartment-style setup, offer six to 12 cavities. Place the birdhouse in an open area that is 40 to 60 feet from trees and 12 to 18 feet high. Learn more at purplemartin.org .…

The sandy soil of Cape Coral, Florida, makes it a favorite nesting spot for burrowing owls. Two years ago, I found an active burrow near my winter home and photographed a female guarding her nest. When I returned last year, both a male and female were “home.” I waited patiently until the lovebirds hopped to their perch, and I captured this shot—a photograph two years in the making! Barbara Morris UTICA, NEW YORK Two tree swallows were having an argument over housework when I found them in the Caratunk Audubon Refuge in Seekonk, Massachusetts. The house was one of several close to the trail, and these birds didn’t seem to mind when I set up my Nikon D7200 on a tripod. I spent quite a while on that beautiful April…

BUGLEWEED Ajuga reptans cultivars Zones 3 to 10 Height: 3 to 4 inches Spread: Indefinite Light needs: Full sun to part shade Landscape uses: Stone paths or walkways, as it can tolerate light foot traffic. Features: Evergreens with spoon-shaped leaves and variety of colors. BARRENWORT Epimedium cultivars Zones 4 to 8, depending on cultivar Height: 6 to 16 inches Spread: 1 to 3 feet or more Light needs: Part to full shade Landscape uses: Slow spreader that covers large barren areas. Perfect for shady spots under large trees. Features: Small flowers from mid- to late-spring emerge from red-tinged, heart-shaped leaves on wiry stems. SWEET WOODRUFF Galium odoratum Zones 4 to 8 Height: 6 to 10 inches Spread: Indefinite Light needs: Part to full shade Landscape uses: Spreads under large perennials…

True or False? A. INDIGO BUNTINGS use the stars in the night sky to navigate during migration. B. ARCTIC TERNS have one of the longest migrations in the world, flying nearly 50,000 miles per year. C. BARRED OWLS migrate to the warm temperatures of Florida instead of hibernating. answers on the bottom!…

TO-DO LIST March • Be on the lookout for your first hummingbird of the season! Remember that those little gems love nectar-filled blooms, like the pink blossoms on this pretty eastern redbud tree. • Grab your shears and get ready to cut. Inspect trees and shrubs, and snip off any branches with winter damage. • Hit the ground running on your backyard cleanup. Remove any debris, rake leaves and twigs, and map out a garden plan for the new growing season.…

1 Fennel FOENICULUM VULGARE A culinary old-timer that’s been around since Spaniards brought seeds to California 200 years ago, fennel is a fast-growing herb that adds delicacy and height to flowerbeds. It reaches up to 3 feet tall and has abundant clusters of tiny, buttery yellow flowers. The allure: Many butterfly species, including black and anise swallowtails, flock to fennel both for its nectar and to use it as a host plant for their very hungry caterpillars. 2 Caraway CARUM CARVI Eat a rye bread sandwich and you’ll see (and taste!) savory caraway seeds. The crescent-shaped seeds are produced by a plant that looks a lot like Queen Anne’s lace, thanks to its clusters of tiny white and pinkish flowers. This biennial reaches 2 feet tall and may not flower…

WHY I LOVE IT Lethbridge may be small, but it’s also very green. Roughly 90 miles of paved trails link more than 130 parks and natural areas, and the Oldman River runs right through the heart of the city. Plus, with an average of 333 days of sunshine per year, rain rarely gets in the way of a great hike or bird walk. of nearby reservoirs and reserves, like the Elizabeth Hall Wetlands, which has recorded roughly 100 species. a sight to see. The nearby Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden is another favorite among gardeners and non-gardeners alike. BIRD-WATCHING GALORE Bring your field guide when you visit, especially during spring migration. Birders easily spot up to 70 species in a day, from white-faced ibis and ferruginous hawks to McCown’s longspur and…

Find the Hummingbird In each issue, we hide a hummingbird like the one above left. In the January issue, we hid it on page 9. If you find it, enter at birdsandblooms.com/contests . We’ll draw winners to receive Birds & Blooms seeds. HIDDEN OBJECT GUIDELINES No purchase necessary to enter to win. Purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents age 18 years or older of the U.S., its territories and possessions, or of Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec). Sweepstakes begins on Jan. 31, 2017, and ends on March 29, 2017. Find official rules at birdsandblooms.com/contests . VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC. Contact Us! CUSTOMER CARE For subscriptions, renewals, gifts, payments, account info and inquiries: Email:…