Greetings from Birds & Blooms magazine! Now that summer's heating up, we have some cool suggestions for enjoying the outdoors, including hints on attracting butterflies, a homegrown thirst-quencher, a simple shady retreat and more. Read on and you'll discover...

> He Handled a Hummer Problem
> Sharing Some Summer Pleasures
> Compli-mints to the Chef!
> Grab A Bucketful of Shade
> They May Bug You, But...
> East to West, Guides are Best

He Handled a Hummer Problem

LAST SUMMER, a ruby-throated hummingbird became trapped in his garage, relates Joe C. of Wheeling, West Virginia. "It was flying back and forth across the ceiling trying to find a way out. I opened all the doors and tried to shoo it out but was unsuccessful. I left the doors open and came back about 2 hours later, but the bird was still there.

"When the bird got tired, it would land on the electrical cord for the garage door opener. Eager to free it, I stood on a ladder under the cord, and the next time it landed, I caught it and set it free outdoors."

Much to Joe's chagrin, the same thing happened the following week. "After a few hours, I caught and released that hummer, too," he says. "Then I noticed that the garage door release rope had a bright red handle that might be mistaken for a hummingbird feeder. On a hunch, I wrapped the handle with black electrical tape...and I haven't had a hummer in the garage since!"

Sharing Some Summer Pleasures

ALMOST EVERYONE enjoys a cool dip or a sweet slice of watermelon on a hot summer day...and two Texans figure the same is true for backyard birds and butterflies.

In Texarkana, Erma S. spends her days in an air-conditioned office. "The birds don't have such a luxury," she says. "So I provide them with a treat that makes my birdbath a refreshing oasis. Each night, I freeze containers of water in empty waxed milk cartons. When I come home for lunch, I put one of the blocks of ice in the birdbath. It doesn't take long for the birds to find the cool water--they often stay for some time, taking long drinks and baths. Later, when I come home from work, I add another block of ice for my evening guests."

Meanwhile, in Joshua, Ruth L. enjoys the butterflies that add color and motion to her yard. "To keep them coming back, I offer them watermelon slices," she says. "I leave the melon on a picnic table in my yard, and the fruit is covered with butterflies for days. Even hummingbirds are attracted to it! Every few days, I gather up what's left of the melon pieces and add them to my compost bin. The butterflies sometimes come along for the free ride, covering me as well as the rinds."
 

Compli-mints to the Chef!

IN MINT CONDITION...that's how you'll feel when you mingle mint with a myriad of dishes. The zesty herb gives recipes and appetites a lift with its aroma and flavor.

For centuries, mint has been valued as a culinary, medicinal and all-purpose herb. It's been used to sweeten the air, discourage pests and even absorb spills. In Biblical times, this valuable herb could even be used to pay taxes!

A hearty perennial that spreads fast (be careful--it can easily take over a planting bed), mint has square stems and green serrated leaves that are edible fresh, dried, cooked or uncooked. Available in a range of flavors, mint can complement everything from meat and vegetables to fruits and beverages.

Young mint plants are available at nurseries, garden centers and from mail-order companies. The sumptuous herb can be grown throughout North America, either outdoors in the garden or indoors on a sunlit windowsill. It grows easily in rich, moist, well-drained soil and in a partially shady spot. To keep it under control in the garden, cut holes in the bottom of a large plastic pot, bury it with the rim sticking above the soil and plant mint within the pot.

Mint leaves can be harvested any season, but they're at their best in early summer (before the plant blossoms) and most flavorful when picked in the cool of the morning.

To savor a hint of mint year-round, hang up a bunch until it's thoroughly dry. Strip off the leaves and store them in an airtight container.

From Tremont, Illinois, Carol B. shares her family's favorite thirst-quencher, Fresh Mint Cooler. "Mint leaves and lime make a nice garnish," she says. "Or add lemon or ginger ale to taste."

FRESH MINT COOLER

1 cup fresh mint
4 cups boiling water
Sugar to taste
Lemon or lime slices and additional mint, optional

Place mint in a large bowl and pour water over it; let stand for 2 hours. Pour through a strainer; discard mint. Fill glasses with ice; add mint liquid and sugar. Garnish with lemon or lime slices and mint if desired. Yield: 4 servings.

Grab A Pot Full of Shade

AFTER moving to a new home, Shelly H. of Sacramento, California wanted to put up a patio umbrella. "The patio is small, so I didn't have space for a big table to hold an umbrella," she says. "And I didn't care for the look of the standard plastic, concrete or iron umbrella holders. I asked my boyfriend for advice, and he designed a combination umbrella stand and flowerpot.

"He started with a piece of PVC pipe large enough to hold the umbrella pole. He put this in the middle of a large flowerpot and filled the pot half full of concrete. After the concrete set, be drilled a few drainage holes in the pot just above the concrete and filled the rest of the pot with soil. Now I plant whatever flowers are in season...and enjoy the shade!"
 

To view a photo, click here.

They May Bug You, But...

LET'S be honest--most of us think bugs are pests. And there are plenty of them to annoy us: it's estimated that there are 200 million insects for each human on Earth. In fact, insects account for about 85% of the known species of life on our planet! But in reality, less than 1% of those insects are harmful to humans.

Like it or not, we can't live without insects and the benefits they provide--pollinating fruits, vegetables and flowers and eating other harmful bugs, to name a few. It doesn't take much effort to attract beneficial insects to your yard, and doing so can decrease your use of pesticides, which kill "good" and "bad" insects.

One particularly beneficial bug is the common ladybug (not to be confused with the Asian Lady Beetle), which eats mites, aphids and many other bad insects. To attract beneficial ladybugs, plant Artemisia, morning glory, crimson clover and hairy vetch.

You can purchase ladybugs through various garden supply companies. They may fly away after a few days, but they won't stray far from your garden. They'll also stay closer to home if they're released at night or on a cloudy day.

Next month, we'll "buzz" about some other beneficial bugs!

East to West, Guides are Best

THE newly revised fifth edition of Roger Tory Peterson's Field Guide to Eastern and Central Birds contains 153 detailed illustrations and thorough, easy-to-understand descriptions of feathered friends from every species found east of the Great Plains of North America, along with range maps. This 450-page volume features a durable vinyl cover and measures a convenient 5-1/4" x 8-1/4".

Also newly revised and more up-to-date than ever, Roger Tory Peterson's Field Guide to Western Birds has 165 detailed illustrations and thorough, easy-to-understand descriptions of over 1,000 feathered friends from every species found west of the Great Plains of North America, along with range maps. The 432-page volume features a durable vinyl cover and measures a convenient 4-3/4" x 7-1/2".

To order Field Guide to Eastern and Central Birds from Country Store On-line, click here.

To order Field Guide to Western Birds from Country Store On-line, click here.

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Birds & Blooms magazine brings beautiful backyards from across America into your living room--through vivid, full-color photos. It's like a friendly "chat" over the back fence with your bird-and flower-loving neighbors. 

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