Innehållsförteckning för June/July 2022 från Birds & Blooms

I still remember the first time I actually heard the whirring of hummingbird wings. It was Aug. 1, 2015 (I know for sure because I still have a video saved to my phone), and I was in Arizona for the Sedona Hummingbird Festival. I stood several feet from a feeder and watched in awe as seven hummingbirds stopped for sips of nectar while playing what looked like a super speedy game of tag. Of course, I know now that those birds were not darting around for my entertainment, but rather chasing each other away from the feeder because they didn’t want to share the sugar water. It’s a common trait in hummingbird species—and you can learn all about their territorial behaviors in “Defending Their Turf” on page 50. I love…

NO-FEAR FLIERS During breeding season, male Calliopes are brave enough to chase off much larger birds, even hawks, from their territory. INSECT SNACK TIME Besides feeding on nectar, Calliope hummingbirds perch on branches before diving to snatch and eat insects from midair. BEST BLOOMS Choose native plants with smaller blossoms to accommodate Calliope hummingbirds. • Anise hyssop • Beardtongue • Bee balm • Coral bells • Golden currant • Indian paintbrush • Western columbine…

EACH EVENING during our family vacation in Ridgedale, Missouri, a female ruby-throated hummingbird passed through the branches of a tree just off our porch. I brought my camera out one night in anticipation of her arrival and, sure enough, there she was. I hung over the railing to grab a series of images. The light and the lovely bird were amazing and the blooms looked like fireworks. It’s a great memory from a wonderful trip with family. Edward McFadden MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA I TOOK A PICTURE of a young male Costa’s hummingbird in early January 2019 after a winter rain. It had snowed the week before, and I’d seen him on the same flower when it was covered in snow. But on this day, he perched there for the longest time and…

Q Why is the lucifer hummingbird named after the devil? Mike Froio ROME, NEW YORK Kenn and Kimberly: At first glance it seems shocking. You might wonder what this little bird did to deserve such a name. But the British scientist William Swainson probably wasn’t thinking of the devil when he named this bird in 1827. The word lucifer has had various meanings. For example, in ancient Rome, it was the name given to the planet Venus when it appeared in the morning sky. That was appropriate, because lucifer is Latin for “light bearer” or “light bringer.” Swainson probably chose the name after seeing how light reflected from the brilliant purple throat of the male lucifer hummingbird. Q This plant was labeled as a dogwood. What is it actually? Vincent…

“Vermillionaire attracts more hummingbirds to my yard than any other flowers I’ve ever grown.” Joanne Crawford LONGMONT, COLORADO Vermillionaire Cuphea Cuphea hybrid, Zones 8 to 11 Kick off summer with a bang with Vermillionaire in a container or border. For continuous blooms, allow the heat-loving plant to soak up the sun. It is drought tolerant and right at home in warm climates, but can be grown as an annual in northern states. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun. Size: 18 to 28 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide. Grown for: Continuous red-orange flowers from spring until first frost. Foliage: Dark green lance-shaped leaves. Maintenance: No deadheading needed—flowers drop off once spent. Fertilize regularly. BIRD BENEFITS Hummingbirds will frequent this cuphea’s long tubular blooms for a quick hit of nectar.…

1 Hummingbird Falls Bodacious salvia SALVIA X GUARANITICA, ZONES 7 TO 8 OR ANNUAL Bodacious is one of the first salvias for hanging baskets. Its draping quality makes it a perfect spiller or ground cover. It reaches 2 feet tall while spreading up to 3 feet wide. The blossoms appear in spring and bloom continuously through fall in full sun to part shade. Use as an annual in cool climates. Why we love it: You’ll easily spot visiting hummingbirds when this salvia is hung at eye level. 2 Rose Rhapsody Ballet meadow sage SALVIA PRATENSIS, ZONES 3 TO 9 The soft pink blooms have a hooded appearance and make wonderful cut flowers. Rose Rhapsody welcomes deadheading in spring and can be easily divided to plant elsewhere in the garden. Grow in…

A hummingbird is a wonder to behold as it dances in the air to sip sweet nectar from flowers. You might imagine that such a delicate lover of sweetness would be among the most peaceful creatures in the world. In reality, whenever two or more hummingbirds are present, things can get a little tense. The feisty birds zoom about, sparring in midair or chasing each other with chattering cries—relentless in their desire to defend their spaces. Pollinator Contract Hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators each have a relationship with flowers that benefits both sides. Flowers produce nectar, which is rich in sugar, to attract these creatures. In turn, the birds and insects pick up pollen from one flower and carry it to another, helping the plant to reproduce. But each…

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 April/May issue, we hid it on page 48. 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 9, 2022, and ends on July 8, 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: BIRDS…

Measuring a mere 3 inches long and weighing roughly the same as a pingpong ball, the Calliope hummingbird is incredibly tiny. In fact, Eric Rasmussen, avian scientist at the MPG Ranch in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, points out that this hummingbird is the smallest bird seen in North America. Pops of Purple Look for several key clues to identify this diminutive species. Both males and females sport glossy, bright green plumage on their heads and backs, with white on their underparts. Males have stripes of magenta along the throat, while females and juveniles have a bit of cinnamon color underneath. Look closely, too, at a Calliope’s tail and wings. “When they are perched, their wingtips tend to protrude just below the tail tip,” Eric says. Take Flight Calliopes focus on flowers…

1 WATER LESS FREQUENTLY Choose drought-tolerant plants, trees and shrubs that require less water to thrive. It makes sense to reduce the number of times you need to lug a full watering can or hose around the yard, plus watering restrictions are a reality in many areas. Plenty of beautiful native options work in a variety of climates and soils with little water. The keys are to carefully match the plant to its new growing conditions and to water it consistently until it’s established. Once it has a good root system, it will grow with minimal supplemental water. 2 LET GO OF LAWN CARE Many folks love their grass lawns but, frankly, an attractive lawn can require lots of upkeep. Replace a patch of grass with an appropriate ground cover plant…

Male and female barn swallow pairs build a cup nest together, using mud and dried grass. Each nest holds four to five eggs on average. 5,000 Traditionally, British sailors would get a barn swallow tattoo after traveling 5,000 nautical miles. The bird symbolized the hope of the sailor returning home or to a loved one. 850 Some experts suggest that one barn swallow can gobble up to 850 bugs a day. 100 These birds are commonly seen swooping low over fields or water, eating their food on the go. But they’re also known to look for prey up to 100 feet in the air. 1876 George Grinnell became editor of Forest and Stream magazine in 1876 and later launched a campaign to stop barn swallows and egrets from being hunted for hat feathers.…