Indholdsfortegnelse for August/September 2020 i Birds & Blooms

We’re all probably staying closer to home this summer. Maybe instead of taking your annual vacation, you’re giving the garden extra attention, spending more time in your local parks, or watching birds and butterflies. As you indulge in more of your favorite outdoor activities, keep our Backyard Photo Contest in mind. We’re kicking it off in this issue with three categories: birds, butterflies and blooms. Find all the details on page 46. Now is the perfect time to brush up on your photography skills or to take up the hobby. For a little inspiration, spend some time with the “Fluttering Through Summer” story on page 38. All of the butterfly photos featured were submitted to previous photo contests by readers like you. To ensure you’ll get the opportunity to capture…

BIRDS OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER These jays are found in a variety of environments from Alaska to Nicaragua. There are many subspecies, differing mainly in the pattern of white or blue markings on the head. “Steller’s are one of my favorite birds to watch. I love their dusty blue color against the deep green pines in the mountains of New Mexico.”Pat Northington AUSTIN, TEXAS FIRST CLASSIFIED Steller’s jays are named after German naturalist Georg Steller. He first documented them on an expedition to an Alaskan island in 1741.…

Q Should I add anything to the sugar water for my hummingbirds to make it more nutritious? Roger Emerick SOUTH GLASTONBURY, CONNECTICUT Kenn and Kimberly: Hummingbirds drink nectar and sugar water for energy. When you’re feeding them pure sugar water, there’s no need to put in additives. These birds forage at other sources besides feeders, getting plenty of nutrition from eating small insects like flies and gnats. They even eat small spiders. And hummingbirds are so resourceful that they often forage for insects in the sap wells drilled in trees by sapsuckers. Q An albino hummingbird came to visit. How rare are birds like this? David Jones MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA Kenn and Kimberly: Every year there are a few reports of hummingbirds that are partly or mostly white. These birds lack…

FIREWORKS AND FUN Attend one of the gardens’ lively summer events. Looking past the blooms, there’s no shortage of entertainment at Butchart Gardens. Through late summer, try catching a musical performance on the concert lawn, see a fireworks show on a Saturday night or hop on a boat for a ride around the surrounding wharf. Due to COVID-19, some events and attractions could be closed or canceled. Call or check the website before making any plans. 1 Start your visit at the Sunken Garden, taking time to wander the 5 acres and admire its 151 flower beds. In 1912, Jennie and Robert Butchart brought mounds of soil to a limestone quarry on their property near Victoria, British Columbia, creating this valley. 2 After making a stop in the nearby Rose…

ANSWERS 1. WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH 2. CECROPIA MOTH 3. GULF FRITILLARY 4. BLACK SWALLOWTAIL 5. MONARCH A. TRUE B. FALSE THEY HAVE 12 EYES, SIX ON EACH SIDE C. TRUE True or False? A. ALL BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS go through four stages of metamorphosis. B. CATERPILLARS have 20 eyes, 10 on each side. C. THE BOLD EYESPOTS dotting the bodies of some caterpillars are not real eyes. The vivid markings may scare birds and other predators away.…

Blackberry Lily Iris domestica ‘Freckle Face’, Zones 4 to 10 Despite its name, this gorgeous flower is actually a part of the iris family. The flowers of this short-lived perennial become seedpods, which eventually split open to reveal dark berries that resemble blackberries. Keep in mind that this plant does spread easily and is considered invasive in some areas. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun to part shade. Size: 18 to 24 inches high and 12 to 18 inches wide. Grown for: Gorgeous cut flowers, border gardening, and the option of being kept in containers. Foliage: Long green petals, similar to ones on an iris. Seasonal interest: The stunning orange petals give way to shiny seeds in autumn.…

1 Superbells Tropical Sunrise calibrachoa CALIBRACHOA, ANNUAL Growing 6 to 12 inches tall, Tropical Sunrise has a trailing habit that makes it ideal for filling in pots, window boxes or hanging baskets. Streaks of yellow, pink and red on each flower mean this hummingbird favorite can be planted alone or be paired with similar hues. Why we love it: Some of its many perks include gorgeous color and continuous blooms that last into fall. Plus there’s no need to deadhead—a gardener’s dream! 2 Cabana Banana dahlia DAHLIA, ZONES 3 TO 10 This 4-foot-tall dahlia has exquisite quill-shaped petals in a beautiful pink-tinged cream hue. The large blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds and grow even bigger if excess buds are removed. If you live in Zones 3 to 8, dig up…

My neighbor grows sunflowers every year and opens up his fields to the community. People come from all over the county to take photos of the flowers. I love them, too, but I especially enjoy when a songbird like this indigo bunting perches on a flower head and poses for a portrait. Donna BourdonOOLTEWAH, TENNESSEE Every year I plant a few sunflowers for their beauty and as a treat for the birds. One late summer afternoon, this American goldfinch traveled from flower to flower, checking out the seeds. He then perched on the tallest flower and looked around, almost as if he were surveying his kingdom. Pamela HowardPORT DEPOSIT, MARYLAND One summer I went on vacation to the Georgia coast, where I got a glimpse of a painted bunting. For…

South Texas is well documented for tropical bird diversity—known for green jays and great kiskadees—but butterflies of the region also reflect a southern influence. If you want to see a blue metalmark, pavon emperor or white-striped longtail, you’ll need to head for the border. Fluttering Species Diversity The Lower Rio Grande Valley, a three-county region at the southern tip of Texas, is home to 300 butterfly species, including nearly 100 not found any farther north. People travel to this tropical region for a chance to see rare gems such as crimson patches, Mexican bluewings and two-barred flashers. According to Marianna Trevino-Wright, director of the National Butterfly Center near Mission, Texas, “We’ve observed 240 species of butterflies and 286 species of birds on our 100 acres.” She says, “It is easy…

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 June/July issue, we hid it on page 13. 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 July 8, 2020, and ends on September 14, 2020. 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 Visit:…

Smart, gregarious and handsome, the Steller’s jay lives year-round in the western half of North America, frequenting campgrounds, picnic grounds and yards. From a distance, the Steller’s, which is related to the blue jay, may look like just a dark crested bird. A closer view reveals its striking dark head and shoulders contrasted with its deep blue body and tail. Jeff Black, a Department of Wildlife professor at Humboldt State University based in Arcata, California, has been studying Steller’s jays since 1998. These brightly colored jays belong to the corvid family, known to be among the most intelligent in the avian world. That, along with the birds’ sociable nature, makes it easy to observe them. “Here in Arcata, California, jay pairs stake claim to our yards, both front and back,…

Creative cooks have long known that flowers aren’t just for table decor—they also add vibrant color and flavor to your food. Pansies, borage and lavender are common suggestions for edible flowers, but you can add to your dishes a variety of common plants, like magnolia, hibiscus and pineapple sage blossoms. You may be surprised by the strong or savory taste of some flowers. Nasturtium can pack a peppery punch, and calendula is a much more affordable alternative to saffron. Holly Shimizu, the former curator of the National Herb Garden in Washington, D.C., says individual florets of chive and dill can be sprinkled over dishes, but she also cautions, “Don’t use the whole flower head. It will be overwhelming.” Other garden favorites have the sweet flavor you might expect, such as…

An old saying goes, “One swallow doesn’t make a summer.” Fortunately, we don’t have to settle for just one species. During the summer, members of the swallow family are common all over North America—from the tropical borders to the chilly Arctic. Swallows are incredibly graceful songbirds, able to swoop and glide for hours as they chase small insects in midair. Most are very sociable, often gathering in flocks on roadside wires whenever they’re not flying. Beloved by birdwatchers, the birds are often found close to people, nesting around houses and farms. Before Barns Historically, barn swallows placed their nests inside shallow caves or on cliff faces protected by overhanging rocks. They looked for spots sheltered from the rain because their nests are made mostly out of mud pellets, plastered in…

The Lower Rio Grande Valley is a fertile hub for agricultural production. Viewing nature is best in patches of protected lands. Together these parcels create a corridor of wildlife habitat along the river’s flood plain and preserve 11 ecosystems, including tidal wetlands and brushland scrub. The North American Butterfly Association has an extensive list of regional hot spots, with these as highlights. National Butterfly Center A project of the North American Butterfly Association, the center hosts the Texas Butterfly Festival each fall. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is just up the road and worth a visit, too. Sabal Palm Sanctuary Numerous butterfly gardens make this a top destination. Beyond the gardens, the center has trails through a variety of habitats. Laguna Atascosa, Santa Ana and Lower Rio Grande Valley National…

3,000 These amber beauties could fly circles around other species. During fall migration, they travel farther than any other tropical butterfly—up to 3,000 miles. 1 Monarchs don’t need a GPS to locate their migration destination. Many of the gorgeous travelers find their way to the same exact location, perhaps even to one particular tree, where previous generations have wintered before. 3 Don’t be fooled! There are three other butterflies that look very similar to monarchs: soldiers, queens and viceroys. 55 In order for these delicate creatures to fly, their wing muscles must stay above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. 12 It’s all about speed! The travelers flap their wings up to 12 times a second when flying at their fastest. 2 Male and female monarchs look very similar, but males have two…