Indholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2025 i Birds & Blooms

Welcome to the annual hummingbird issue! Enjoy more than 35 photos of these amazing birds of summer. In addition to the inspiring photography, learn all about the rufous and how it has a tendency to be a vagrant in “Going the Distance” on page 10. And attract more flying jewels than ever with the advice and top picks for blooms in “Ultimate Guide to Hummingbirds” on page 32. Plus, find out how banding helps researchers learn more about hummingbird migration in “Tracking Tiny Travelers” on page 58. It’s truly the best time of the year—backyards are alive with the sights and sounds of the season! Keep a camera close! Find out how to enter our photo contest on page 49. FAMILY TIES My son was in a 2005 issue of…

1 Coral honeysuckle LONICERA SEMPERVIRENS, ZONES 4 TO 9 A native known for supporting pollinators, coral honeysuckle has tubular flowers that bloom in the spring and summer in a range of fiery colors. Although the plant can handle a little bit of shade, it will bloom more profusely when grown in full sun and rich, well-draining soil. Why we love it: A lightweight woody vine, honeysuckle can be trained to climb trellises or obelisks for height. 2 Lantana LANTANA SPP., ZONES 8 TO 11 A summer blooming tropical, lantana is a northern annual and a southern perennial with clusters of bright flowers that pollinators love. They are excellent in containers, in full sun and well-draining soil. Lantana is invasive in some areas, so be sure to research before planting. Why we…

After visiting a photographer’s backyard bird paradise, I was inspired to create my own hummingbird haven. I researched nectar-rich flowers that thrive in Washington and planted them in 14-inch pots that I strategically placed for perfect lighting and background composition. This scene caught my attention as this Anna’s hummingbird sipped salvia nectar while unknowingly playing pollinator, collecting pollen on its head and bill. Look closely, and you’ll spot tiny specks of pollen floating as the bird flits around. It was nature’s little magic moment! Soo Baus SEATTLE, WA The bird sanctuary in my backyard is managed by four or five hummingbirds who take their job very seriously. I have developed a special bond with these tiny winged wonders. Not only do they pose for portraits almost daily, they also play…

Even though I love the predictability of perennials, annuals give me a chance to change things up each year. I love the variety and experimentation annuals allow. Monica Partington RALEIGH, NC Perennials are easy to care for, and it’s so fun to watch wildlife enjoy the native ones! Megan Long ZUMBROTA, MN Having multiple sclerosis, I prefer low-maintenance perennials that I can plant once and enjoy for years to come. Tracy McCullum JOLIET, IL Many annuals, such as impatiens, begonias and coleus, thrive in my shady yard. I can vary the colors and make different mixed pots year to year. I enjoy buying flowers every spring, and I don’t have to overwinter them! Nancy Hamlin PHOENIX, NY Perennials! I love anticipating their return, like old friends who winter in Florida and…

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 April/May issue, we hid it on page 25. 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 May 21, 2025, and ends on Sept. 23, 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 Visit:…

Bee Balm Monarda, Zones 3 to 9 This native perennial is beloved by hummingbirds and gardeners alike, and for good reason. It comes in a range of vivid reds, purples and pinks, and its leaves have an aromatic, minty scent. Space bee balm plants at least 18 inches apart to improve air circulation and reduce risk of fungal disease. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun. Size: 2 to 4 feet tall. Grown for: Bright-colored, tube-shaped flowers that hummingbirds can’t resist. Cultivars to try: For a compact yet vibrant version, plant Fireball bee balm. Try resistant cultivars such as Colrain Red and Marshall’s Delight if powdery mildew is a concern. SWEET SOLUTION Bumblebees can’t fit inside bee balm’s long flowers. Instead, they create a hole at the base to get to the…

NEW THIS YEAR! We’ve added a hummingbird category, so there are more chances to win. You can now enter up to four photos! WIN $1,000! ENTER NOW It’s easier than ever to submit your photos! Go to birdsandblooms.com/contests for the offcial rules and entry details or hover your phone’s camera here.…

One of the best tools for tracking where migrating birds go is through banding, which involves placing a numbered metal ring on a bird’s leg and then releasing it. When that individual is captured or found again, the unique number on the band identifies it. A Specialized Process All such research in the U.S. requires special permits from the federal Bird Banding Lab, but anyone who handles hummingbirds must go through extra steps. According to Ryan Jacob, banding projects director for the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, “Special training is required in the methods of hummingbird handling, banding and band making.” Band making? That’s right: While the bands for other birds arrive already formed and ready to use, Ryan says, “hummingbird banders receive a thin metal sheet of 100 bands that…

Blink and you might miss them, but you’ll probably hear them—as rufous hummingbirds zip through the air at astounding speeds, their wings move so fast that they create a buzzing sound. Ready to Roam You’ll generally find rufous hummingbirds out west, but they have an astonishingly wide range, spending summer months as far north as Alaska and migrating as much as 4,000 miles down to Mexico for the winter. But Kim Savides, a research support specialist for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch, notes that Project FeederWatch volunteers have observed rufous hummingbirds across 40 states and provinces. “Of all of the North American hummingbirds, rufous have more vagrant tendencies, and this is very evident in the FeederWatch data,” Kim says. Tail Feather Tell Rufous hummingbirds look very similar to…

Periwinkle BOTANIC NAME Vinca minor. ZONES 4 to 9. SIZE Primarily a ground cover; grows 3 to 6 inches high and 6 to 18 inches wide. FLOWER COLOR A mix of blue, lavender or white from spring well into summer. GROWING CONDITIONS Full sun to part shade with well-draining soil. LEAVES Dark, glossy, evergreen, leathery and oval-shaped. Impatiens BOTANIC NAME Impatiens. ZONES Annual. SIZE Ranges in size, most reach 6 inches to 3 feet tall, and 1 to 2 feet wide. FLOWER COLOR Purple, pink, red, yellow or white from summer to fall. GROWING CONDITIONS Part shade to shade in moist soil. LEAVES Thick, serrated and easily scorched with too much sun. CREEPING BEAUTIES Both periwinkle and impatiens can be invasive. Don’t plant periwinkle where invasive or potentially a problem, or Himalayan balsam, a…

THERE ARE FEW CHEERIER SIGHTS THAN THAT OF LIVELY, COLORFUL birds visiting backyard feeders. That is, until your gaze moves to the brown patch below. However, by planting around it, you can create not only an eye-catching flower garden, but one that supports birds’ diets. “Plants that provide seed and nectar-filled flowers are a great way to not only beautify the area, but also supplement the food you provide with feeders,” says horticultural expert Melinda Myers. “Plantings are rich with insects, which some 96% of North American terrestrial birds eat as part of their diet.” Embrace the Brown Patch Use the area directly beneath the feeders as a template for where not to plant. Leave the ground bare, or cover it with pavers or smooth mediumsized landscaping stones. This setup makes…

Q Shortly after the hummingbirds show up in April, they disappear for a week or two and then return. I thought they were building nests, but why would males also stop visiting feeders if they don’t help build nests? Donna Gendusa MILLVILLE, NJ Kenn and Kimberly: Even early in the breeding season, when male ruby-throated hummingbirds are actively courting and females are building nests, they should continue to visit local feeders and other food sources regularly. We suspect what’s happening in your area is that migrants are passing through in mid-April, pausing for a few days and visiting your feeders while they are there. After these migrants continue north, there may be a lull in activity before the arrival of the hummingbirds that will stay to nest in your neighborhood.…