Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2025 i Birds and Blooms Extra

Living in a suburb on just under 2 acres, we see a lot of wildlife in our yard. I was startled once by two sandhill cranes strolling down my driveway as I turned in—they looked like dinosaurs! And the snake (my son named it Smooches) that lives under the concrete outside our garage door is pretty much a part of the family. But early last summer, a flock of more than 20 turkeys also started hanging around, wandering through our yard on the daily. We were delighted! While I was working on my patio one day last July, a turkey ambled into a mulch bed, used its feet to dig a shallow hole and took a dust bath. A second turkey and a small poult were not far behind, and…

1 Breadseed poppy PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM, ANNUAL Breadseed poppy blooms in early summer with paperlike flowers in blush, red, pink or purple. As petals fade away, large seedpods emerge that may split open to release tiny black seeds, or you can harvest them when you can hear the seeds rattle in the pods. Why we love it: The highly ornamental seedpods are great choices for dried flower arrangements, and the nutty-flavored seeds can be used in baking. 2 Mexican sunflower TITHONIA ROTUNDIFOLIA, ANNUAL Blooming in late summer to fall, these pollinator magnets are 4 to 6 feet tall with orange, daisylike flowers. Easy to start from seed, Mexican sunflowers thrive in hot, dry climates, and prefer full sun and well-draining soil. Deadheading spent flowers can extend the bloom season. Why we…

Many bird species frequent my backyard feeders, and every morning and afternoon I sprinkle birdseed mixed with fruits and nuts on this statue. The birds love to visit her and eat the seed. One afternoon this northern cardinal came and stayed for quite some time. It was such a sweet scene! Lisa Watkins MECHANICSVILLE, VA While I was photographing the frogs that live in my backyard pond, a blue dasher dragonfly landed on this pitcher plant. Amanda Herron DOVER, DE When we lost a huge elm tree in our front yard, we decided to turn the area into a pollinator garden. A few years ago, we included these Ketchup & Mustard dahlias in the bed and they bloomed beautifully. I captured the vibrancy of this bloom using my phone. I…

As a kid, I was intrigued by how American robins could find worms underground, and I followed them around to find out how. I still haven’t figured it out, but I did gain a great interest in birding! Paula Reiber HERMITAGE, PA A beautiful bird grabbed a peanut off my porch. I had to know what it was. Sparking a love of birds, it was a tufted titmouse. Hannah Jacobs COLUMBUS, OH At my inaugural trip to Magee Marsh, my spark birds were the many warblers that visit our area during migration. Judy Roberts GRAYTOWN, OH My spark for birding began in fourth grade. Every night that summer, I watched a pair of great horned owls with five owlets hunt for prey outside my bedroom window. Jennifer Broadstreet Hess MARION,…

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 July issue, we hid it on page 46. 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 Aug. 15, 2025, and ends on Oct. 16, 2025. 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…

Sunflower Helianthus annuus, Annual A symbol of summer, common sunflower always draws major attention wherever it’s planted. Sunflowers come in a range of colors and sizes, and they are one of the easiest flowers to start from seed. After the last frost of the season, choose a sunny spot and sow into the soil about every 6 inches. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun. Size: 1 to 10 feet tall. Grown for: Large, iconic seed heads that are perfect landing pads for pollinators and birds. Cultivars to try: Go big with Mammoth sunflowers that can grow to 9 feet or taller with 11-inch flowers, or stay on the smaller side with Sunny Bunch, which top out at just 3 feet. SNACK PACKED Sunflower seeds provide major nutrition to hungry birds in…

All gardens cultivate joy, but it’s particularly gratifying to create one that also supports local wildlife. Doing so doesn’t even require a big yard. Small spaces, such as patios and balconies, can easily be transformed into havens for wildlife. Creating these home habitats is a rising trend, as a growing movement of home gardeners embrace sustainable practices that help birds, amphibians, invertebrates and many other animals. “An ecologically meaningful garden is especially critical in fragmented urban landscapes,” says Mary Phillips, head of the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife and Certified Wildlife Habitat programs. “It connects corridors for birds and pollinators, directly supports the unique species in your area that are facing challenges and creates a balanced ecosystem.” National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has been a longtime driver of the habitat…

Q I started seeing dragonflies in my garden last summer but hadn’t seen them before. What could be attracting them, and are they a problem? Samuel Penny WALDORF, MD Kenn and Kimberly: Dragonflies are welcome visitors in any garden. These fascinating creatures are totally harmless to humans, and they feed only on smaller insects, catching them in midair in fast, graceful flight. Although they may eat a few pollinators, they also eat many pests, and overall it is a benefit to have them around. If you started noticing them suddenly, they may have been attracted by a swarm of midges or other flying insects. Dragonflies lay their eggs in ponds and their larvae develop underwater, eating many larval mosquitoes as they grow. Q I have a large potted rose tree.…

2 Of the eight species of pelicans in the world, only two live in North America—the American white pelican and the brown pelican. 150 During its first three months, a pelican chick gulps down 150 pounds of regurgitated food from its parents. 60 Brown pelicans dive into the water headfirst from heights of up to 60 feet to catch fish. White pelicans, on the other hand, herd and scoop them from shallow water. 2009 Having been endangered in the 1970s, the brown pelican made a remarkable comeback and was removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List in 2009. 11 Weighing up to 11 pounds, brown pelicans are the lightest, while American white pelicans can weigh nearly twice as much at 20 pounds. 700 An estimated 700 brown pelicans die each…

Bright, bold and adorned in rainbow hues, a painted bunting is always a stunner. Identifying a male painted bunting is a snap—no other bird sports a striking blue head, red belly with a green back and green streaks on the wings. Showing Its True Colors “When painted buntings are younger than two years old, they’re all green,” says Jennifer McCarthey Tyrrell, community science and research program manager at Audubon South Carolina. “Females don’t sing, so if you see a green bird singing, that’s a second-year male who’s found his voice but is yet to earn his colors.” Painted buntings spend their summer breeding season in two main spots: one stretching from Texas to Kansas, and another along the Carolina coast. In winter, they migrate to Florida, Mexico or Central America,…

BLOOMING FROM LATE SUMMER TO FIRST FROST, GOLDENROD BELONGS TO THE SOLIDAGO GENUS. This hardy, herbaceous perennial grows up to 6 feet tall and is a valuable food source for migrating insects and native pollinators. Goldenrod includes more than 100 species native to North America, and provides an explosion of color just when other varieties fizzle out, says Neil Diboll, president of Prairie Nursery in Westfield, Wisconsin, which specializes in native plants. “If you like yellow, you can’t do much better than goldenrod, and they make great companions with blue or purple asters when most other flowers have gone,” Neil says. Goldenrod helps prevent soil erosion on sloped land, thanks to its deep, fibrous root system. It also tolerates cold winters and hot summers, making it a good fuss-free addition…

Spotting this painted lady in full sun, sipping from a globe amaranth bloom, was pure magic! Its forewings flashed strawberry hues, and its hind wings dazzled with blue and purple dots. After years of trying, I got this shot at Willowwood Arboretum in New Jersey. David DeSarnoTINTON FALLS, NJ I was at a garden center, admiring the plants, when I saw a painted lady perched on some flowers. The burst of orange against those purple blooms was stunning—like nature showing off its color wheel! Kristin SchreiberLINCOLN, NE CATERPILLAR Initially olive-green in color, the painted lady caterpillar gradually turns black, speckled with rows of pale crescent spots running along each side of its body. A dense covering of branching, bristlelike spines helps deter predators. Painted lady butterfly WINGSPAN 2 to 27/8…