Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i Birds and Blooms Extra

It’s nearly impossible to flip through this issue and not say “Aww” at least once. From fuzzy young birds to dramatic-looking hummingbirds, the adorableness is sure to make you crack a smile. Find a trio of young green herons in “Bird Tales” on page 19. Spotted by reader Louis Ruttkay from Pennsylvania, the herons are huddled together on a branch, probably eagerly awaiting their next meal. And in “On (and off) the Seashore” on page 24, meet birds in the plover family. See amazing photos of these shorebirds and read about their behaviors so that the next time you catch a glimpse of a small white-and-sand-colored plover quickly scampering across the beach or a long-legged killdeer dashing back to its nest, you’ll know exactly what species it is. Some plovers…

1 Fibrous-rooted begonia BEGONIA SEMPERFLORENS, ANNUAL These compact plants generally stay less than a foot tall. Colors range from red to pink to white. They like well-draining soil and can tolerate some drought. As with most annual flowers grown in a container, they appreciate a little extra fertilizer every few weeks. Why we love it: Grow fibrous-rooted begonias in part shade to full sun, and they’ll flower all summer with no deadheading. 2 Coneflower ECHINACEA, ZONES 4 TO 9 The classic purple coneflowers are native to the U.S., but plant breeders have developed new hybrid varieties in a rainbow of colors, such as yellow, orange, white or red. All coneflowers grow well in full sun. Why we love it: Once established, they need little extra care. To ensure summerlong blooms,…

It’s challenging to diagnosis the visual irregularities on your roses. Use these clues from garden pros to get started with a diagnosis. IF YOUR ROSE: Grows rampant with few flowers IT COULD NEED: Pruning For modern shrub and hybrid tea roses, simple pruning—best done before leaves emerge—promotes air circulation, bushy growth and lusty flowering. “A rose is just a blooming shrub, and you can treat it as that,” says Teresa Byington, a consulting rosarian for the American Rose Society who gardens in Indiana. For these types, the typical timing cue, she says, is when forsythia is blooming. Remove dead, broken, crossing or diseased canes, and take down the rest by one-third of the plant’s height, she says. Single-blooming heirloom and species roses can be pruned for shape and deadheading after…

Tomatoes require a lot of nutrients to grow, so I plant mine in pots. That way, it’s easy to replenish the soil in the pot before each growing season. Kathy Eppers ALEDO, TX I plant beans in spring, then again in July, so we have some to harvest in October.Nita Price LISBON, IA Leave parsnips in the ground until after the first hard frost. They’ll be sweeter.Patricia Murray NILES, OH I add organic soil and crushed eggshells to the soil around my tomatoes, plus a thick layer of mulch to retain moisture and keep the ground warmer. Jennifer Broadstreet HessMARION, KS I made a small square-foot-type garden with a mix of Black Gold soil, compost and something for drainage such as vermiculite. I only plant zucchini, another type of squash,…

Pardon My Rose Bee Balm Monarda didyma, Zones 4 to 8 Nectar-rich, intensely pink blooms make Pardon My Rose a midsummer standout in borders and containers. Although 3 feet shorter than other bee balms, the flowers are full size, and minty-scented foliage makes the plant deer resistant. Attracts: Light needs: Part to full sun. Size: 14 to 18 inches tall and 22 to 28 inches wide. Grown for: A smaller option than typical bee balm. Soil needs: Moist, well-draining preferred but adapts to all. Care tips: Bee balm is mildew resistant and low maintenance. Simply deadhead to keep it looking neat and tidy. NECTAR THIEFS Too big to access nectar through the tubular flowers, bumblebees and other beneficial insects create a tiny hole at the base for a sweet reward.…

Snip stems with garden shears at an angle about an inch from the bottom. Play with textures, color and height for maximum vibrancy and interest. Choose a vase or container that’ll support the weight of flowers and water without tipping. Fully opened flowers will fade faster, so pick some mostly closed buds to include. Remove any leaves that will touch water to prevent flower-rotting bacteria from forming. Prop up big, heavy blooms (such as hydrangeas or daisies) with floral tape and a bamboo skewer. Lock blooms into place by adding chicken wire or a flower frog inside the container, or create a grid on top with tape. Replace water daily to extend the flowers’ longevity.…

Q Is it better to plant flowers for hummingbirds rather than put out a sugar-water feeder? Judy Roberts GRAYTOWN, OH Kenn and Kimberly: If we had to choose one over the other, we’d vote for planting flowers because they have many other benefits. A flower garden with a focus on native plants—and full of a variety of species chosen to bloom throughout the warmer months—will sustain butterflies, bees and other pollinators. The tiny insects feeding on the plants’ leaves will in turn feed warblers and other songbirds. But we think it’s ideal to have both flowers and feeders. A sugar-water feeder can be placed where it’s easy to watch, and it can help keep hummingbirds faithful to the yard during lulls in the garden’s blooming activity. Q What’s this caterpillar…

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 get a one-year subscription to Birds & Blooms. In the May issue, we hid it on page 48. 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 15, 2023, and ends on Aug. 9, 2023. 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…

With so many hummingbird feeder options available, it’s hard to know which to trust. That’s where our experts come in! These pros have been writing for Birds & Blooms for years and watching birds in their own backyards for even longer. And they’re more than happy to help you pick out a durable, functional new cafe for your hummingbirds. Here are their picks for the best sugar-water feeders. JILL STAAKE’S PICK “I’m a big fan of saucer-style feeders, such as the Aspects Mini HummZinger hummingbird feeder. They’re easy to clean, and no part of the feeder blocks your view of visiting hummers.” KENN AND KIMBERLY KAUFMAN’S PICK “We have tried a lot of different hummingbird feeders, and our current favorite is the Aspects HummZinger HighView 12-ounce feeder. The red top…

I spotted this broad-tailed hummingbirdin my backyard. I quickly grabbed my camera and headed downstairs, and to my surprise the bird let me do a quick photo shoot. Selena Ross COLORADO SPRINGS, CO FOUR OF A KIND In the summer months, Colorado hosts four hummingbird species: broad-tailed, rufous, black-chinned and Calliope. Though they may all be seen, the broad-tailed is the most common of the bunch. Each year, house wrensreturn to the nest boxes amongst the perennials in our garden. Their annual return provides daily entertainment and photo opportunities as the energetic, dedicated parents care for their brood. The gardens and the nearby wooded area offer plenty of food sources. One early June morning I captured this photo of a tired mother wren delivering a very large insect. I imagined…

I discovered this robin’s nestin my front yard birch tree. Using my iPhone, I took several blind snaps due to the height. All three of the eggs later hatched. James Hovenhamp HILLIARD, OH One spring we had a bird’s-eye viewof a robin’s nest in a juniper bush right next to our backyard deck. We observed the mother tend to her eggs, watched the babies grow after hatching and, by some small miracle, were on our deck the day the little robins jumped from their nest. We captured photos of the nest during the family’s time with us. Eileen Schneider PLAINS TOWNSHIP, PA This was the second yearthat northern flickers made a nest in an old maple tree on my property. I wanted to capture all aspects of them building their…

AT RISK In 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed migratory monarch butterflies as endangered. Grow regional milkweeds and nectar plants to give them a boost. When I visiteda zinnia flower patch one morning, I took more than 1,000 photos. I especially loved this one because monarchs have faced many challenges for their very survival. Seeing this one drinking sweet nectar gave me hope for the future of the species. Jane GambleALEXANDRIA, VA I plant flowersevery year in my backyard for pollinators and birds. I planted these marigolds from seed, and many butterflies enjoyed them. But one afternoon I was surprised to catch this monarch in the most perfect place, so I grabbed my Nikon camera and captured this shot. Lisa WatkinsMECHANICSVILLE, VA This caterpillar was on its…

1,000,000 More than 1 million children enrolled in the United States School Garden Army, a victory garden program for kids, in 1919. 1 Although most people associate victory gardens with World War II, they were first created and promoted during World War I. 11 Diana Hopkins, the 11-year-old daughter of one of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s advisers, tended a small victory garden on the White House South Lawn. 1917 As head of the U.S. National War Garden Commission, businessman Charles Lathrop Pack heavily promoted “war gardens” in 1917 and later helped coin the name that stuck: victory gardens. 20 By 1943, 20 million victory gardens were growing in the U.S. 40 Wartime gardeners in 1943 produced 10 billion pounds and provided 40% of the country’s fresh produce supply by 1944.…