Indholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2022 i Birds & Blooms

Whether you love or loathe winter, there’s no denying the beauty of a landscape covered in freshly fallen snow. Colorful birds such as cardinals, blue jays and waxwings visiting feeders or perching among berry-filled shrubs elevate the stunning good looks of a recent snowfall. This issue is full of scenes just like that, starting with our cover photo. Chrystal Vincent of Martinsburg, West Virginia, captured a male northern cardinal in all its vibrant red glory. “It was a snowy day, but that didn’t stop the birds from cleaning out my feeders in record time,” she says. “This male cardinal waited patiently while his mate ate her fill, then he followed suit.” To lure hungry winter birds as Chrystal does, find the best high-fat food options in “Cold-Weather Cuisine” on page…

1 African violet SAINTPAULIA IONANTHA African violets are a bit fussy, but some simple tips make their care easier. They don’t like getting their leaves wet, so water them from underneath by filling the saucer with 1 inch of water and setting the pot on top for up to 30 minutes or until the soil is moist. Another trick: Keep your African violets in bright but indirect light. An east-facing window is perfect. Why we love it: The purple of the flowers adds a color pop to any room. 2 Sweetheart hoya HOYA KERRII The charming heart-shaped leaves are where sweetheart hoya gets its adorable name. Typically grown in a hanging basket, sweetheart hoya can be trained to climb a trellis, too. It does well in direct or indirect light…

FORM MEETS FUNCTION Four basic wing shapes allow for different types of flight. Elliptical: Common in songbirds, round, compact wings are useful for quick takeoffs and hairpin maneuvering. Passive soaring: Seen in most hawks and eagles, long primary and secondary feathers make slow gliding easier. Active soaring: Gulls and seabirds tend to sport long, narrow wings that catch breezes. High-speed: Fast birds like swifts and terns have thin wings that aren’t quite as lengthy as those of soaring birds.…

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Firethorn Pyracantha, Zones 5 to 10 Attractive in all four seasons thanks to blooms and berries, firethorn has a lot to offer. But beware: It boasts thick branches that are covered in thorns. Some gardeners use it as a barrier shrub but, luckily, the thorns won’t keep birds and bees from stopping by. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun to part shade. Size: Up to 15 feet high and wide. Grown for: White flowers in spring and orange berries that feed birds in fall and winter. Foliage: Glossy green leaves. Cultivars to try: Golden Charmer and Orange Glow are particularly bee-friendly. Apache reaches only 5 to 6 feet tall. BERRY BENEFITS The colorful berries of firethorn add a welcome pop of color in fall and winter. Before planting, check whether the…

Propagating succulents from stem or leaf cuttings is an easy way to share plants or expand your own collection, says Aaron Ryan, director of inventory at Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery in Petaluma, California. You can propagate succulents year-round, but it’s easiest during warm, humid months. Follow Aaron’s tips for growing succulents from stems or leaves. 1. Gather supplies When it comes to tools, the most important thing is to sterilize them. “Make sure you’re not using dirty tools, because it’s very easy to pass bacteria or viral infection from one plant to another,” Aaron says. Whether you use a bonsai knife, Japanese snips or clippers, clean your tools and wipe them with isopropyl alcohol before cutting. You’ll also need clean pots, open flats or liner trays with drainage holes, and…

I’M SOMEONE who would rather be outside when the mercury drops, especially when everything is wonderfully blanketed in snow. The air is crisp and there is a beautiful silence—until a blue jay’s raucous call breaks the stillness, alerting other creatures to my presence. I have often called blue jays “the woods patrol.” Doug Dearinger FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY A MALE EASTERN towhee was hanging out near my backyard feeder. I’ve been photographing birds for some time now and was thrilled when I captured this cute pose. I think he was as interested in me as I was in him. Ashley Buckler BETHEL, OHIO IT WAS THE FIRST SNO WSTORM of the year in Dexter, Michigan, with 11 inches of snow. Yet this hairy woodpecker was out pecking for some bugs on the sweetgum tree in…

Many backyard guests—such as monarchs and orioles—make for warmer climates as temperatures drop. The rest hunker down. How they prepare and where they lay their heads sometimes differ even within the same species. But no matter how they overwinter, they do it for the same reason: to conserve energy. As days shorten, animals take the cue from Mother Nature and add layers of fat while food is more available. “These reserves essentially act as a big bank of energy that animals draw from while they’re in the deep-sleeping state of hibernation,” says Kevin Brunke, natural history biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. To make those reserves last, animals lower their metabolism and body temperature and slow their heart rate and breathing. “They burn fewer calories while they wait for…

answers on the bottom! ANSWERS 1. NORTHERN CARDINAL 2. BALTIMORE ORIOLE 3. DARK-EYED JUNCO 4. PURPLE FINCH 5. CAROLINA WREN Winterize Your Yard for Birds • Pile evergreen branches and large sticks together for protection from the elements. • Seal large ventilation holes in spring birdhouses to provide a warm shelter. • Plant native shrubs and trees with winter foliage to add cover to your landscape.…

0 Anhingas have zero waterproofing on their feathers. That’s why they’re often seen drying themselves in the sun. 1 Per season, mating pairs have only one brood, which they raise in a platform-style nest made of large sticks and lined with softer greenery. 2 They’re found in two types of water: fresh and salt. The birds prefer fresh water but venture to briny coasts during droughts. 3 From beak to tail tip, these birds can reach about 3 feet long, thanks in part to their lanky, S-shaped necks. 4 Four webbed toes on each foot help them swim and catch fish as well as other prey in the water. 7 In winter, you’re most likely to see them in seven coastal states across the Southeast, from South Carolina to Texas. Anhingas are less buoyant…

Foraging is tough business with snow on the ground, which is why our wintertime bird visitors benefit from high-energy food options. Even during subzero conditions, birds have special ways of keeping warm. Some fliers, such as finches and chickadees, pack on as much as 10% body fat from eating berries and insects in fall to build up their winter stores. But many visitors appreciate an extra food boost. Plan ahead to keep your backyard birds fed when the weather turns cool. Top-Tier Seeds “When the weather is colder, the birds appreciate those fatty seeds,” says Emma Greig, project leader for Project FeederWatch at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. She notes that fat is critical to meet birds’ caloric needs. “An easy bird feed is black oil sunflower seeds,” Emma says.…

1. COTONEASTER Bursting with bright red berries that last through winter, this deer resistant shrub thrives in cold, windy areas and withstands damage from salt spray. Use it to edge driveways or line retaining walls. With several species available, the options are endless. 2. BOXWOOD The workhorse of the winter garden, boxwood adds color and structure. Its natural form is pretty, or you can prune it into a flat hedge or round orb in spring. It also grows in containers. Winter Gem is a reliable beauty to consider. 3. ORNAMENTAL GRASSES Create intrigue in an otherwise barren garden with elegant stems and plumes that stand at attention and sway with a whisper of winter wind. Grasses also make a terrific source of shelter and food for songbirds. Plant them in…

Q I keep a shamrock plant in an east-facing window. I try my best, but the leaves have shriveled twice. I remove the dead material and it grows back. What’s happening? Jackie Hildebrand STRONGSVILLE, OHIO Melinda: Shamrock plants (Oxalis), which are actually members of the wood sorrel family, normally go dormant for short periods. The leaves naturally start to yellow and dry. When this occurs, water less often until the leaves are completely brown. Then place the plant in a cool, dark location until new growth begins. Move it back into bright light as soon as any green appears, and start watering it often enough to keep the soil slightly moist. Enjoy the show as new growth shoots up. Q A male cardinal without tail feathers visited our feeder. What…

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 October/November issue, we hid it on page 50. 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 Nov. 4, 2021, and ends on Jan. 7, 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 Visit: birdsandblooms.com/customercare Write:…