Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2021 i Birds and Blooms Extra

I love the advice for finding birds in populated places that urban birding pro David Lindo shares in “Bird Anywhere, Anytime” on page 24. His tip to always look up is especially true in my city backyard. I do it to notice what my landscape offers, like goldfinches molting into their bright yellow feathers and cedar waxwings gracing the treetops. Whether you’re in a busy metro area as I am or have acres of land, we can all learn new tricks from David. Now that you know a little about my backyard, I should introduce myself. My name is Rachel and you’ll hear from me on the From the Editor page of Birds & Blooms Extra. I’ve worked behind the scenes with Executive Editor Kirsten Schrader for a few years,…

“A beautiful family of pyrrhuloxias started visiting our apartment balcony in late March. They are so entertaining!”Jim Lacoss TUCSON, ARIZONA ARIZONA HOT SPOTS Whether you’re local or planning a trip to southern Arizona, Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon Recreation Area are both wonderful places to search for pyrrhuloxias. OPEN-AIR FEEDING Entice pyrrhuloxias—and a wide variety of other birds, such as jays, sparrows or juncos—to stop in your yard with this bamboo tray feeder. $30 at HomeDepot.com…

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN IN AWE OF the sunflower fields around my town in rural Marion County, Kansas. Whether the fields are wild and filled with species native to the state or they are a farmer’s crop of yellow abundance, these cheery flowers always make my heart beat a little faster. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, I felt a little sad and couldn’t seem to shake the blues. Cultivating a wildflower plot and vegetable garden wasn’t enough to distract me from the chain of ups and downs on the evening news, so I decided it was time to grow my own patch of sunshine. I ordered a variety pack of sunflower seeds online. During the colder months I had watched numerous YouTube videos on how to plant the…

Q I recently purchased a small water fountain. When should I run its timer? Paula Ruelius ENOLA, PENNSYLVANIA Kenn and Kimberly: The movement of water in a fountain is a delightful way to keep water circulating and fresh. Another important advantage is that the sound of the fountain may catch the attention of birds and help them find the water source. Since many small birds migrate at night or move around the landscape at dawn, early morning is the time that new birds are most likely to be passing through. We recommend setting the timer to start the fountain around sunrise, to entice visitors to discover the water source and spend more time in your yard. Q My Italian prune tree bloomed in February. Then we had a cold spell…

1 Grab your binoculars and head to Resaca de la Palma State Park in Brownsville, Texas. Walk along more than 8 miles of trails or rent a bicycle for the weekend so you can search for green jays, least grebes and Harris’s hawks—all commonly spotted within the park. 2 View many must-see birds, including the plain chachalaca, white-tipped dove and buff-bellied hummingbird, at the Sabal Palm Sanctuary. If a trip to Texas isn’t in your near future, do some virtual birding by watching the bird feeder cam on the sanctuary’s website. 3 A short drive away in Los Fresnos, the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is a top location for the rare aplomado falcon and a wide variety of wading birds and shorebirds. Be sure to check out the feeders…

24,000 Talk about a big clan! These common flowers and their relatives, such as dahlias and sunflowers, are part of one of the largest plant families, with around 24,000 recognized species. 3 Remember to divide shasta daisy clumps every two to three years to keep them healthy and uncrowded. 38 While gardeners might think of a specific white flower with a yellow center, there are around 38 species that use the common name daisy. 4 Shasta daisies were bred from four different blooms, creating the classic backyard favorite. 2 Daisies contain a multitude of two types of florets: The center is made out of symmetrical yellow florets and the white ring contains another kind with elongated petal structures. 8 Gerbera daisies are available in shades of eight colors: yellow, white,…

Spot On Lungwort Pulmonaria hybrid , Zones 3 to 9 A new arrival to the garden center, this lungwort’s claim to fame is its salmon-colored buds and blooms that mature to a rich blue, and silver-spotted leaves. Easy to maintain and low growing, it’s a perfect filler. Attracts: Light needs: Part shade to shade. Size: 16 inches tall, spreading about 2 feet wide. Grown for: Does well in shade while attracting hummingbirds. Foliage: Small, pointed leaves with light speckling. Similar plant: Pretty in Pink has the same attributes, just in pink. HUMMINGBIRD HABITS It’s no secret that hummingbirds are territorial. Try growing a few of these plants in different spots so the birds share the blooms.…

1 Wild aster SYMPHYOTRICHUM SPP., ZONES 3 TO 9 The world of native asters is a big one, with dozens of species that come mostly in shades of blue-purple. All are irresistible to butterflies, native bees, honeybees and a variety of other insect visitors. Heart-leaved, blue wood, smooth, New England, and white heath aster are adaptable and easy to care for. Research what’s native to your area. Why we love it: Aster shrugs off light frost and keeps the pollinators coming back for more. 2 Orange coneflower RUDBECKIA FULGIDA, ZONES 3 TO 9 A long-blooming eastern native, orange coneflower is easy to recognize. Try out the cultivar Little Goldstar. Its blooms sprout from gorgeous dark green foliage. At about 16 inches tall, the flowers beckon butterflies from summer…

My crabapple tree was in full bloom when I took this photo of a male northern cardinal. These birds aren’t a fixture only in spring—I’m fortunate enough to have them visit all year. To attract them, I put out several feeders. The largest is very close to the crabapple tree and holds sunflower or safflower seeds. John Clay SOUTH WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT I love feeding the birds in my yard and taking pictures of nature. I keep a journal logging the various birds that visit my home in Pennsylvania. This male red-bellied woodpecker is one of my favorites, along with the tiny hummingbirds that migrate to my area during spring. Jennifer Davis BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA One of my favorite migrating birds is the beautiful rose-breasted grosbeak. I was pleased to…

Cabbage whites are plentiful here in the Midwest. My grandchildren delight in running after them in the summer months. Tara Steffen BERNE, INDIANA During an unusually warm day in late September, I went for a nature walk. I enjoy looking for birds and butterflies. I saw this butterfly posing on some aster so beautifully with wings wide open. I couldn’t resist getting a photo! Trisha Snider ST. THOMAS, ONTARIO I captured this delicate cabbage white butterfly while on a morning walk along a field in Darlington, Wisconsin. It was enjoying several thistle flowers and stopped just long enough for me to snap its photo. Jennifer Kelly FITCHBURG, WISCONSIN GARDEN FYI If you’re concerned about cabbage white caterpillars, add a floating row cover to plots during planting for protection. CATERPILLAR Green…

Think of a pyrrhuloxia as a southwestern cardinal. The name pyrrhuloxia combines the scientific terms for bullfinches and crossbills. Though not related to those species, the pyrrhuloxia has a very similar-looking bill. The bird is actually in the Cardinalis genus, with the more widespread and familiar northern cardinal. The pyrrhuloxia is a favorite of Brad Brockman, a Wild Birds Unlimited store owner in Tucson, Arizona. “They have such an exotic look,” he says, “almost parrotlike because of the shape of their beaks.” A long, thin, wispy crest helps give the species a particularly whimsical look. The slate gray birds have varying amounts of red in their plumage. In addition to the crimson highlights in the crests, wings and tails of female birds, males also show red in both their faces…

Starting plants from seeds gives you more options than what might be readily available at a local garden center. But if starting seeds indoors feels daunting, take advantage of the many vegetables and flowers that perform just as well when set right in the ground. Here’s how to have the best success with direct sowing. KNOW YOUR LAST FROST DATE Direct sowing usually works only when you plant after your area’s last frost date. According to Burpee, one of the biggest seed retailers, that date may vary quite a bit over a short distance. If you’re not sure what that date is for your neighborhood, ask an experienced gardener or someone at your local extension office. Also make sure the plant has time to reach maturity in your growing season.…

CLAY SOIL: arborvitae, ponderosa pine, white fir SANDY SOIL: mugo pine, many junipers WET SOIL: American arborvitae, balsam fir, black spruce HIGH PH: arborvitae, Black Hills spruce, mugo pine, ponderosa pine WINDY AREAS: jack pine, red pine, ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain juniper, savin juniper, Douglas fir PARTIAL SUN: arborvitae, balsam fir, Douglas fir SHADE: Canada hemlock, Canada yew, Japanese yew…

• Leave small rocks on patches of dirt, Scott suggests, for pollinators that nest on the ground. • Resist the urge to use a weed barrier on your landscape. • Skip cleaning up any dead stems and twigs on your yard at the end of the growing season. Scott says, “Some species of pollinators use that habitat for their overwintering generation.” • “Move plant stems and other yard waste into an out-of-sight pile if you can’t take the mess,” Jennifer says. Pollinators will emerge in spring.…

WINGSPAN 11/4 to 13/4 inches. DISTINCTIVE MARKINGS Upperside of wings are white. Forewings have one dark spot on males and two on females, as well as charcoal-colored tips. RANGE Native to Eurasia. Introduced to southern Canada and most of the U.S. HABITAT Common in most open areas. HOST PLANTS Members of the cabbage family, including broccoli and mustard plants. EGGS Females leave one egg on underside of leaf. Color changes from white to yellow. NECTAR FAVORITES Mustards and asters.…