Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2018 i Birds and Blooms Extra

Green grass, vibrant blooms, leafy trees and splashy birds are refreshing sights after the chilly, snowy spring we had here in Wisconsin. Despite the fickle weather, I love living in a place with four distinct seasons—it helps me genuinely cherish the warm, sunny months I get to spend in my backyard. The garden is the one place I abandon any design sense I have. While flower shopping, I ooh and aah over all of the neon pink, fiery orange and intense purple blooms as I nestle them in my cart. Eventually I realize that I’m too distracted by pretty colors and have to put some back because the bright hues are beginning to clash. It’s no surprise then that I’ve been coveting every one of the bicolored blooms featured in…

Birders in the West are in the right area but may need luck to spot the flashy feathers of western tanagers. With bright red heads, vibrant yellow bodies, and black wings and tails, males resemble a bright flickering flame. Females and young males are less showy, sporting muted yellow bodies with black wings. Despite the bold field marks, these tanagers are hard to find, often hiding in the treetops of western conifer forests. “Western tanagers are more often heard than seen at our place,” says Sally Roth, lifelong naturalist and author who lives amid a dense pine and spruce forest in the high Rockies of northern Colorado. “When I hear one singing, I lift my binoculars to find it,” Sally says. “That color is unmistakable! It sure catches your eye…

My husband and I visit nature centers during the summer, including Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Walking along one of the pretty hiking trails, we heard an abundance of singing birds, including this male dickcissel. We also saw several bobolinks and American goldfinches that day. Evelyn Johnson WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN Rufous hummingbirds were chasing one another near my driveway, so I hid in the corner and kept snapping photos. I like this one for the way that his little feet are in landing position but are not yet touching the twig. Renae Tolbert REDDING, CALIFORNIA This common yellowthroat looked anything but common while it sang in a field of purple lupine in Rangeley, Maine. I especially like the glowing contrast of the bright yellow warbler with the rich violet of…

Find the Hummingbird In each issue, we hide a hummingbird like the one above left. Enter to win at birdsandblooms.com/contests if you find it. Winners receive a one-year subscription to Birds & Blooms . In the May issue, we hid it on page 38. 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 June 6, 2018, and ends on August 7, 2018. Visit birdsandblooms.com/contests for official rules. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC. Contact Us! CUSTOMER CARE For subscriptions, renewals, gifts, payments, account info and inquiries: Email:…

FOLLOW US Go to facebook.com/ birdsblooms and click “like” to see our photo of the day, expert secrets and backyard tips right in your Facebook newsfeed. Enjoy  Watch for nature’s sweet surprises! Rhonda Vandeven of Marble Hill, Missouri, found this unique two-toned zinnia in her mom’s garden. Make  Clip and snip your backyard blooms! Alex Frabizio of East Patchogue, New York, shared this happy bouquet his grandmother put together. GET AWAY See elegant trogons, Lucifer hummingbirds and red-faced warblers during the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, Aug. 8-12. More info: tucsonaudubon.org/festival SHARE  Have you committed a backyard blunder? Tell us about it! birdsandblooms.com/submit…

Western tanagers frequent my feeders from late May to early June. They love our high-quality nut, seed and fruit mixture.” Pat Northington RUIDOSO, NEW MEXICO COLORFUL RELATIVES Four cousins of the western tanager—scarlet, summer, hepatic and flame-colored—fly to North America every summer from their tropical wintering grounds. The most widely known is the scarlet tanager, a summer resident of the eastern half of the U.S. QUICK TRIP Western tanagers breed as far north as Canada’s Northwest Territories and may spend as little as two months in the brisk locale before heading back to the tropics.…

NITROGEN Pale green or yellowish lower leaves; slow growth. POTASSIUM Yellow or brown along older leaf edges. May have yellowing between veins, curling or spotting. CALCIUM Deformed or failed terminal buds and root tips. Results in blossom end rot in peppers and tomatoes. PHOSPHORUS A burned look on leaf tips; dark green or reddish purple older leaves. SULFUR Light green over the entire plant; yellowing of younger leaves. IRON Yellowing between veins of upper leaves leading to an eventual bleached look. Possibility of new leaves being yellowish white. MANGANESE Paling or yellowing of leaf tissue between veins, followed by spots that occur on middle leaves first.…

PAPER WASP Slim bodies and narrow waists that connect thorax and abdomen Long, skinny legs with several spines HONEY BEE Pollen-collecting hairs (females also have hair on their legs and bellies) Short, bulky legs are flat, not rounded Two sets of wings will run parallel to the abdomen when folded down Stinger stays with wasp, can sting multiple times Two sets of wings rest on top of the thorax (midsection of body) when folded down Thick, rounded bodies with stripes Honey bee stinger stays in victim, bee eventually dies—other bees can sting multiple times BEE VERSUS WASP BEHAVIOR Bees often get blamed for the annoying and aggressive tactics of wasps. As strict pollen- and nectar-eaters, bees spend most of their time foraging at flowers—and on their best behavior. Wasps are…

Q Help! I spotted numerous bird nests in 2016 and 2017, and each one failed. I don’t know if the babies didn’t make it, the eggs didn’t hatch, or the mother deserted it. What could be the problem? Liza Peniston AUGUSTA, KANSAS Kenn and Kimberly: These distressing nest failures may be caused by several things, including extreme weather. If it’s too dry and hot, or raining too much, the parent birds may not find enough food, and they abandon the nests. Prowling predators, such as house cats, raccoons or owls, may take the adults or scare them into leaving, even if the nests are left intact. Or it could be just a coincidence that your local birds had bad luck the last two years. We hope the situation improves this…

9 In 1961, horticulturist Irvin Williams (above) was selected to supervise installation of the Rose Garden during the Kennedy administration. He was head gardener for nine presidents before retiring in 2008. 1991 In 1991, lightning destroyed an elm tree most likely grown from a seedling planted by John Quincy Adams. A cutting was grafted onto a replacement elm. 140 The first White House beehive (established during the Obama administration) produced about 140 pounds of honey in its first year. 1 Teddy Roosevelt introduced the first-ever permanent recreational facility to the White House grounds—a tennis court. His team became known as the Tennis Cabinet. 20,000 Congress allotted $20,000 to Mary Lincoln to redecorate the White House, but she went way over budget. To cover up her shopping habits, Mary’s head gardener…

Conef lower Echinacea species, Zones 3 to 9 Daisylike petals burst from this low-maintenance perennial that comes in a range of colors. Plant pretty deer- and disease-resistant coneflower in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Deadhead to keep the blooms coming into fall and then leave the seed heads for goldfinches to feast on in winter. Attracts:  Light needs: Full sun. Size: 2 to 4 feet high. Grown for: Long-blooming bright color that lasts from midsummer through fall. Foliage: Basal leaves remain green in warmer climates. Cultivars to try: Tiki Torch sports large pumpkin orange blooms; Double Scoop features duo pompon flowers. BUTTERFLY BENEFITS Coneflowers offer more than beauty. Their nectar-filled blooms are flat and wide, which make good landing pads for butterflies.…

1 Petunia PETUNIA HYBRIDS, ZONES 10 TO 11, ANNUAL ELSEWHERE Everyone knows and loves petunias for their high-color impact in the garden. Recent hybrids offer stronger and denser branching (which means more flowers), new color patterns, and growth habits such as mounding, trailing and upright. Why we love it: The color combos are bold, wild and crazy! Find everything from vibrant lime and magenta to classic white and purple. 2 Lantana LANTANA CAMARA, ZONES 9 TO 11, ANNUAL ELSEWHERE For sunny spots, count on classic lantana in red, yellow, white, orange, lavender, pink and bicolor to bloom all summer long. Plant it in a container to jazz up a small space. Look for unique hybrids. Why we love it: Many of your favorite fliers, like butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators,…

The most ideal time to transplant a shrub is when it’s dormant (midautumn to early spring). To move the plant, dig the largest root ball you can manage. Remember, you need to lift, carry and place the plant with the root ball intact. In general, a 2-foot-tall shrub should have a root ball that’s 12 inches wide and 9 inches deep. A shrub that’s 4 to 6 feet tall needs one 16 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Start by digging a trench around the plant you want to move, making it slightly wider and deeper than the desired root ball. Use a sharp shovel to undercut it. Cut through large roots with loppers. Now is a good time to phone a friend to give you a hand. Together, slide…

True or False? A. RAISING BABY BIRDS IS ILLEGAL unless you are a registered wildlife rehabilitator. B. SOME BIRD PARENTS CONTINUE to raise their young even after the fledglings have left the nest. C. JUVENILE AND FLEDGLING are the same stage of life for birds.…