Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2022 i Birds and Blooms Extra

It’s a trend that’s developed some steam over the past few years, but I’ve always been drawn to the lush, orchestrated chaos of a cottage garden. My landscape is more organized. I adore my orderly rows of sedums and lilacs, yet secretly yearn for something a little more wild. But spring is a time for new beginnings—especially in the garden. I’m taking inspiration from “Whimsical Perennials” on page 10. The Blue Fortune anise hyssop will pair well with my current blooms and give my garden a more airy and carefree feel. As part of my spring update, I’m also reevaluating the environmental impact of my property, starting with a plant roll call. More specifically, I’m going to check for invasive plants growing in my landscape. In “Taking On Invasives” on…

“Lesser goldfinches frequently visit my yard and sit in my pinyon pine tree. I love to watch them from my porch.”Lisa Fisher CARSON CITY, NEVADA HAPPY AND THRIVING While many bird populations are declining, lesser goldfinch numbers have increased over the past 50 years. “They really thrive in habitat that is modified by people, such as scrubby areas, backyards, parks and fields,” says Emma Greig of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. FEEDERS AND PLANTS Lure goldfinches with Nyjer or black oil sunflower seeds. Or plant thistle if you have the space. Goldfinches are among the few species that feed seeds to their nestlings, and they’ll do so with planted thistle.…

Rhododendron SIZE Generally larger, with some growing 20 feet wide. FOLIAGE Most leaves are bigger, evergreen and more leathery. Some species have speckles, called scales, on the underside of leaves. BLOOMS Flowers are bundled in groups at the end of the stems. Flowers may be bell-shaped and have 10 or more stamens. Azalea SIZE Usually smaller, with some ground cover varieties only growing 1 to 2 feet tall. FOLIAGE Pointed and narrow leaves that are sometimes fuzzy. Many species are deciduous, dropping their greenery in the fall. BLOOMS Flowers tend to be more spread out on stems and more funnel-shaped. They also have fewer stamens—usually less than five. CRYPTIC CLUES Azaleas are part the rhododendron genus. This means all azaleas are technically rhododendrons, but not all rhododendrons are azaleas. The…

Jade Parade Sand Cherry Prunus pumila ‘UCONNPP002’, Zones 3 to 7 This low-maintenance shrub shines in gardens year-round with nectar-rich blossoms in spring, tiny cherries in summer and fiery foliage in fall. Layers of upward-arching branches create an intriguing shape. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun. Size: 2 to 3 feet tall, 4 to 6 feet wide. Grown for: Ground cover shrub or low hedge to add structure to the landscape. Foliage: Glossy bluish green leaves that change to red-orange in autumn. Similar cultivar: Pawnee Buttes works well in xeriscape gardens. BIRD BENEFITS Berry eaters such as cedar waxwings and American robins love the small dark cherries in summer. When winter arrives, dense stems provide shelter for birds.…

1 Violet Profusion salvia SALVIA NEMOROSA, ZONES 3 TO 8 Add a bold pop of purple with this fragrant and wildlife-friendly salvia. This compact perennial tops out at 16 inches tall and 20 inches wide and makes an eye-catching edge along a pathway, fence or garden bed. Why we love it: As a reblooming salvia, it can produce a second burst of purple flowers in early autumn. Shear back the plants after the first floral fade to encourage a quick turnaround. 2 Moonbeam threadleaf coreopsis COREOPSIS VERTICILLATA, ZONES 3 TO 9 Also called tickseed, this compact plant sold by Monrovia has lacy foliage and grows up to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide. By early summer the plants are smothered in lemon yellow daisylike flowers that persist…

Q My milkweed was decimated during a harsh freeze. How can I reintroduce it to my garden? Kathy Eppers ALEDO, TEXAS Melinda: Wait and watch for plants to appear this year. You may find that plants will sprout from seeds and underground stems (known as rhizomes) that survived in the soil. If needed, replenish your milkweed with transplants for quicker results or seeds to help stretch your plant budget. Many local nature and garden centers, as well as online nurseries, sell milkweed plants and seeds. Q Is this a house finch, a common redpoll or a purple finch? Lynette Lozinski ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA Kenn and Kimberly: Little red finches can be tricky. This bird has too much red to be a common redpoll—that tiny finch has just a little red…

Mourning cloak butterflies hatched like crazy here last spring. I took this photo of a newly emerged butterfly just before it took its maiden flight. Lisa Spruill LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA I captured this shot of a mourning cloak getting nectar from a coneflower in my garden. I have a fairly large yard with lots of flowers and trees. The mourning cloaks seem to like an area with dead leaves, tree stumps and branch piles. Brenda Doherty ARISS, ONTARIO CATERPILLAR This striking caterpillar’s black body sports large red patches along the top and tiny white dots all over, with dramatic spikes, called scoli, on its back and sides.…

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 January issue, we hid it on page 16. 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 Feb. 8, 2022, and ends on April 8, 2022. 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: customercare@birdsandblooms.com…

When it comes to goldfinches, what does “lesser” mean, exactly? Is it a jab that compares the lesser goldfinch to the beautiful American goldfinch, as some birders joke? Emma Greig, project leader for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch, shares the answer—and it has more to do with size than status. Simply put, “lesser goldfinches are a wee bit smaller than American goldfinches,” Emma says. The Tiniest of the Trio Small in stature, goldfinches are songbirds with stubby cone-shaped bills. Their tails are short and notched, and their wings are long and pointed. The lesser goldfinch weighs about one-third of an ounce and is about 4 inches long. Lawrence’s goldfinches are a bit bigger, while American goldfinches are heavier and top the charts at about 5 inches long. Captivating…

The tag at the garden center may say that a plant is “long blooming, low maintenance and fast growing.” If this description seems too good to be true, it’s because it sometimes is. Many plants once recommended for the garden have since left our carefully curated landscapes and invaded nearby natural areas. Once invasive plants gain a foothold in natural spaces, they crowd out the native plants that birds, pollinators and other wildlife depend upon. Invasives are defined as nonnative, adaptable plants that reproduce by seeds, stems and roots, which are either spread by wind, deposited by birds or carried into new areas by people, pets and visiting wildlife. BUY SUITABLE PLANTS To avoid accidentally adding troublesome plants to your yard, do a bit of research before purchasing. Check with…

The flowering plum trees bloomed early this year—just in time for the Townsend’s warblers to sip their sweet nectar. I was there with my Nikon D5 to capture the moment. Leslie Scopes Anderson ARCATA, CALIFORNIA Mama called this wood duck chick to jump out of the nest just one day after it hatched. I have three nest boxes, each with a security camera inside so I’ll know when this event will happen—and to have my Nikon D7200 ready. The chicks had no flight feathers yet, so they bounced, rolled and plopped to the ground before joining their mom. It was adorable to watch. Sue Clark STUART, FLORIDA The loud song of the Carolina wren is unmistakable. It drew me to the backyard, where I crept up slowly and positioned myself…

True or False? A. ONE RECENT STUDY reported that female barn swallows sing nearly as much as males. B. FEMALE SPOTTED SANDPIPERS often leave males in change of incubating their eggs. C. DIMORPHIC BIRDS are species in which the male and female are identical. ANSWERS 1. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD 2. ORCHARD ORIOLE 3. SUMMER TANAGER 4. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD 5. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK A. TRUE B. TRUE C. FALSE; MALE AND FEMALE DIMORPHIC BIRDS LOOK DIFFERENT. answers on the bottom!…

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”—George Santayana 500,000  Every spring, approximately 500,000 sandhill cranes arrive along Nebraska’s Platte River before continuing north. 50 Before leaving on their long trips, birds pack on extra fat, which can amount to 50% to 60% of their body weight. 1960s Radar technology first became a key tool for tracking bird migration during the 1960s. 49,700 The arctic tern holds the worldwide title for farthest-traveling flier. They average an annual round trip of 49,700 miles from the Arctic to Antarctica. 350 More than 350 bird species seen in North America migrate every year. 0 The bar-tailed godwit takes zero breaks when flying from Alaska to New Zealand, a distance of more than 7,000 miles.…