Indholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2023 i Birds & Blooms

When I moved into a new house about a year ago, I was absolutely overjoyed to see blue jays in the yard. I know they have a bit of a bad reputation. Their aggressive antics often scare other birds away from feeders—and then there’s the raucous sounds! But blue jays are so beautiful, and I like to stop to appreciate their bold vibrant blue coloring when I see them out a window. Blue jays are also incredibly smart. In fact, most birds in the corvid family are—some have even been known to play tricks on people and use tools. Read about all of the impressively bright behaviors of jays and their relatives in “The Bold and the Brainy” on page 26. Spring is right around the corner, and it’s always…

1 Gladiolus GLADIOLUS SPP., ZONES 8 TO 11 This stately flower reaches 2 to 5 feet tall and grows from a corm that can be overwintered in cold climates and replanted each spring. Eye-catching tubular flowers come in many colors, such as yellow, pink, white, purple and more, and sit on elegant spires. To ensure a longer blooming season, sow successive batches of corms 10 to 14 days apart. Why we love it: A stalk of gladiolus looks majestic in the garden and adds height to bouquets. 2 Allium ALLIUM SPP., ZONES 4 TO 9 A garden with alliums, particularly a large cultivar such as the Globemaster, has instant, whimsical appeal. The showstopping flowers are a beautiful sight at peak bloom, then hold their shape to become pretty dried flowers. Some…

Birds raise their chicks around an alligator farm in St. Augustine, Florida, because the alligators keep some of the predators away. That’s where I saw this snowy egret in its breeding plumage. It landed right in front of me, in wonderful light, and displayed several times before flying away. Sally Oberbeck BEAVERCREEK, OH The birds adore our magnolia tree as much as we do. This downy woodpecker struck a pose on the branch while the blooms were just opening. Jennifer Sigmon OGDENSBURG, NY Many Gambel’s quail families come through our birdfeeding area in the desert. The papa quail usually finds higher ground to sit and keep watch over his family. This particular male was perched on a staghorn cholla cactus, which is an extremely uninviting plant for humans to get near.…

Banana Split Daphne Daphne odora ‘Monzulzay’, Zones 7 to 9 This daphne from Monrovia is named for the bright yellow variegation on the outside of its leaves, which stick around all winter in some backyards. Starting in late winter, look for rosy pink bud clusters on branch ends. They open to reveal creamy white blossoms. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun to partial shade. Size: 4 feet tall and wide. Grown for: Interesting leaves, pleasant scent and early blooms. Foliage: Long, pointed and edged with yellow. Soil: Daphnes do best with very well–draining soil. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings, but keep it moist. WHERE TO PLANT Grow this plant where you can enjoy the scent, but also avoid touching. It is poisonous and causes skin irritation. Gardeners with children…

Jessica Walliser smiles at the telltale slices in her coral bells’ leaves. It’s a sign that leafcutter bees are building their nests. As a horticulturist and author of Attracting Beneficial Bugs to the Garden, she leaves perennials intact for overwintering insects and allows the wool carder bees to steal lamb’s ears’ plant fuzz. Her garden is a bustling and balanced ecosystem for bees and other pollinators. Many gardeners are drawn to having an insect-friendly garden—not only because it offers a landing for garden helpers, but also because the plots need less water and pesticides, as well as less effort. Here are some simple ways to welcome back pollinators. 1 FILL IN THE LAWN Traditional grass lawns reduce habitat and food sources for beneficial bugs and pollinators. Consider converting patches of…

Q My camellia hedge gets lots of buds, but most never open and fall off. How do I fix this? David Fairchild LA HABRA, CA Melinda: Make sure your camellia plant receives consistent and sufficient moisture, as a lack of water can result in bud drop. But be careful not to overwater, which can lead to root rot and decline. In addition, camellias often produce more flower buds than the plant can support. Reduce the risk of bud drop by removing the flower buds along the branch, leaving just one large bud at the tip of each stem. Some camellia enthusiasts apply gibberellic acid, a plant growth hormone, to the bud scar next to the remaining bud to improve flowering. The American Camellia Society’s website, americancamellias.com, has additional resources on…

While robins are classic harbingers of spring, birding enthusiasts in parts of the West welcome the season with the return of the mountain bluebirds. Migrating from their winter range as far south as Mexico, mountain bluebirds travel northward to Alaska and the Yukon Territory and east to the Dakotas and Manitoba. Look for them in areas with short grasses and scattered trees at elevations up to 12,500 feet. “They like open areas, grasslands and farmlands,” says Jane Brockway, president of Mountain Bluebird Trails. Their habitat needs differ from their closest relative, the western bluebird, although sometimes they do flock together. Striking Blues While both western and mountain bluebirds sport vibrant blue hues, male mountain bluebirds are a brilliant turquoise with paler blue and white plumage underneath. Females have blue wingtips,…

BOTANIC NAME Viburnum macrocephalum. ZONES 6 to 9. FOLIAGE Dark green serrated leaves that are semi-evergreen in southern areas. BLOOMS Rounded lime green flowers that rapidly turn white, lasting from May to June. SIZE 6 to 10 feet high and wide. Can grow larger in certain warm climates. BOTANIC NAME Hydrangea arborescens. ZONES 3 to 9. FOLIAGE Green rounded leaves that fade into bronze or brown in fall. BLOOMS Extra-large white flower heads up to a foot wide. Flowers from June through September. SIZE 3 to 5 feet high and 4 to 6 feet wide. FUN FACT The Annabelle is a cultivar in the smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) group. Due to the Annabelle’s popularity, many gardeners and growers refer to Hydrangea arborescens as simply Annabelle-type hydrangeas.…

MY NEIGHBOR KNOWS we share a love of flowers. She excitedly showed me this beautiful night-blooming cereus cactus in her garden early one morning. I photographed this spectacular bloom with my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. Barbara Case SAN DIMAS, CA THIS FLOWER IS CALLED QUEEN OF THE NIGHT. It’s a gloriously fragrant bloom that appears once a year. The bud opens up after sunset and only lasts until dawn. I love the anticipation of the bud turning into a full flower in just one night. I juggled four flashlights to spotlight portions of the bloom. It was fun to experiment with the lights while inhaling the heavenly fragrance of the flower. Barbara Montgomery HUNTSVILLE, AL IT HADN’T QUITE BLOOMED, but I loved the intricate detail of this angel trumpet…

If you feed birds long enough, you’re almost certain to have a close encounter. Maybe a hummingbird zooms to the sugar-water feeder while you hang it up. Or perhaps a chickadee perches just above your head as you bring out a fresh batch of sunflower seeds. It’s only natural to wonder, Could I get these birds to eat out of my hand? The thrill of connecting with a wild bird is undeniable. For something so small, birds are intensely alive, especially when seen up close. And, with patience, many songbirds can be enticed to take seeds from your hands, but here are some things to think about before trying. Safety First Consider whether it’s safe for the local birds to become tame around humans. If you have a large property…

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 December/January issue, we hid it on page 21. 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 Jan. 12, 2023, and ends on March 8, 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 Visit: birdsandblooms.com/customercare…