BIRDS and BLOOMS Newsletter

Bird of the Month: Gray Catbird

Photo: Roland Jordahl.

Orioles aren’t the only birds you can attract with grape jelly this spring. Put some out in your yard and you just might see a gray catbird come in for a bite to eat.

This musical flier is a treat to have in the backyard. And, because it’s a member of the mockingbird family, it can put on quite a show with its mimics of other birds, animals and sounds.

Scientific Name: Dumetella carolinensis.
Family: Mockingbird.
Length: 8-1/2 inches.
Wingspan: 11 inches.
Distinctive Markings: Slate-gray body with a black cap and tail, rust-red feathers under tail.
Nest: Builds nests in garden shrubs or thickets near creeks or swamps. Females usually lay four glossy dark greenish-blue eggs; often raises two broods in one season.
Song: Alarm call is a catlike mewing; song is a mix of notes, may mimick other songbirds.
Habitat: Dense thickets. Easier to hear than see because they hide in dense shrubbery.
Diet: Insects and berries.
Backyard Favorites: Will eat grape jelly.

Listen to this bird’s song by visiting our 50 Most Wanted Birds section on the Web site.

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Photo: Greg DuBois

Photo of the Month

Greg DuBois in Oregon took this photo of daffodils. This photo is featured in our FREE Wallpaper area. Download it for your computer today! Get more great images in our FREE Wallpaper.

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Plant of the Month: Sweet William

Each stem of a sweet William will make a complete bouquet! This beauty is a native to Europe, but has adapted to regions all over the United States. Enjoy sweet William blooms in pink, white, red, purple, and sometimes even bicolors.

Common Names: Sweet William.
Botanical Name: Dianthus barbatus.
Hardiness: Perennial, but performs as an annual.
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
Size: 4 to 28 inches high, up to 12 inches wide.
Flowers: Purple, red, pink, white, and sometimes bicolored.
Light Needs: Full sun.
Growing Advice: Plant in rich, well-draining soil and be careful not to overwater.
Prize Picks: You’ll love the sweet fragrance of cut flowers from the Electron Mix, which blooms in clusters of red, pink, and white. Magic Cherry has headily scented blooms of magenta and cherry.

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Best of Glad You Asked

Every month, we feature some of the best questions that George and Melinda have tackled over the years.

Disappearing Blooms
Last spring, the buds on my peonies emerged as usual, but then dried up before the flowers bloomed. This has never happened before. How can I prevent this? –Sonja Sides, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Melinda: Botrytis blight is a common fungal disease on peonies. The disease can cause the flower buds to turn brown and fail to open. You also may find puplish-black spots on the leaves and stems.

To control the disease, remove infected buds and leaves whenever you see them. Then do a thorough cleanup in fall. That, along with a little cooperation from nature in the form of drier spring weather, usually is enough to keep fungus in check.

All in the Family?
Barn swallows have nested on my back porch for the past several springs. I usually leave the old nest in place because the returning swallows reuse it. I’m wondering if I’m witnessing different generations of the same family, or new swallows taking advantage of a ready-made nest? –Diane Lawlor, Bismarck, North Dakota

George: In a perfect world, it’s likely the parent birds reuse the nest as long as they live, which is an average of 5 to 6 years. However, songbirds often don’t live that long, so it’s just as likely that youngsters hatched in the nest will use it the following year if their parents aren’t present. Also, “divorce,” is common among barn swallows, so it’s possible the adult female has used the nest before, but she may have a new mate.

If none of these scenarios is true, then a totally new pair of barn swallows may move in.

Subscribers can access our Glad You Asked database with hundreds of questions and answers from George and Melinda.

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Best of Bird Tales

Flight School
Several years ago, I was living in Idaho when I saw something I’ll never forget.

Looking out my sliding glass door, I spotted a northern mockingbird trotting down the street with three young birds behind it. They appeared to be in formation, walking side by side.

Suddenly all four birds stopped. The adult turned to face them and began chattering. The youngsters answered back. Then the adult ran forward a few steps, and the young ones followed. They repeated this several times.

Next, the adult flew off, and one of the youngsters followed. In a moment or two, the parent and juvenile returned, and the adult when through the same routine with the second youngster, then the third.

After each fledgling had a chance to test its wings, the parent faced the trio and appeared to ffer directions before turning to fly away with all three young birds in tow.

I felt privileged to witness what appeared to be a mockingbird “flight school.” I’ll always remember the thrilling experience. –Iola Headlee, Midvale, Utah

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Sneak Peek: Budget Gardening

Container Secrets
If you have containers around your garden, then you know how heavy they can be. There is a lighter solution, though.

First, try filling your pots one-half to one-third full of foam packing peanuts. They not only make the pot lighter, but they also provide space for drainage. If you do this, simply fit a round piece of landscape fabric between the soil and foam to separate the materials. Some packing peanuts dissolve in water, so test yours before putting them in the pot.

Another great way to lighten the load is to use old newspapers before adding soil and the plants. This keeps it lighter, and it helps keep the pots from drying out so fast.

“We use less water, and the roots don’t ‘cook’ on hot days,” says Lucy London of Florence, Oregon.

For more money-saving secrets like these, get your copy of Budget Garden Secrets. And don’t forget if you order now, you’ll get a discount. It’s only $8.99 (and you get free shipping) if you order by April 21! Don’t wait.

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You could save $600.00 or more on your 2008 trips!

$$firstname$$, now is a great time to plan your travels for the rest of the year! For a limited time only, the more you travel with us, the more you’ll save.

Book one trip and you’ll save $100.00 per person. Book two trips at the same time and you’ll save $150.00 per person on both trips. Book three trips or more at the same time, and you’ll save $200.00 per person on each trip.

You could save $600.00 or more per person on your 2008 travels!

Just book your trips within 30 days and use code BL47 to claim your savings.

Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Exclusive tour operator of Birds & Blooms magazine

1-800/344-6918
5939 Country Lane, Greendale WI 53129-1429

Current Needs

We’re still on the lookout for great garden tips in our “Secrets to Grow On” and great feeder ideas for “Fantastic Feeders.” Use the Submit Your Story form on the Web site to send us your photos and ideas.

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Our Neck of the Woods

We just finished our Hummingbird Special Issue for June/July. If you’re a subscriber, it should be arriving early in May. In this issue, you’ll see that we’re doing a feature story on Tom and Edith Beatty. They are the owners of Beatty’s Guest Ranch in Arizona, which holds the U.S. record for the most hummingbird species spotted in one day with 14.

Editor Heather Lamb hopes to see a fraction of those hummingbird species in August when she’ll visit the Beattys’ for herself. And remember, you can join Heather on that trip through World Wide Country Tours. The Arizona Hummingbird Tour with Heather is filling up fast, so reserve your spot today! To learn more, go here.

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5400 S. 60th St., P.O. Box 991, Greendale WI 53129-0991
1-800/344-6913

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Cardinal Spinner Visit The Country Store For More Information Get your copy of our new book before they’re all gone! Click Here» Win a eco-friendly flowerpot! Search for Webster in the “Butterfly” section this month. Start searching» We’ll tell you the best trees to attract birds. Learn more» Get FREE computer wallpaper. Learn more» Listen to the songs of our 50 Most Wanted Birds. Start listening» You won’t believe their backyard view. Go There» See more great photos in our Photo Galleries» Sign up for our Garden Club newsletter for great seasonal gardening advice. George has the answers when it comes to birding. Take a look» Melinda has the answers when it comes to gardening. Take a look»	Dear $$firstname$$, Budget gardening? If that sounds too good to be true, then you’re going to love our new book. Here at Birds & Blooms, we’re constantly on the lookout for budget-friendly ideas and tips for birding and gardening. Recently, our sister publication, Backyard Living, released a great new book called Budget Garden Secrets. It has everything from projects and veggie tips to great container recipes and top plant picks. In this newsletter, we’re giving you a sneak peek at some of the content you’ll find in this book. And, for a limited time, you can pre-order your own copy for a great discount and free shipping! Learn more below, or order yours now! READ ON TO DISCOVER... Bird of the Month Photo of the Month Plant of the Month Best of Glad You Asked Best of Bird Tales Sneak Peek: Budget Gardening Current Needs Our Neck of the Woods Bird of the Month: Gray Catbird Photo: Roland Jordahl. Orioles aren’t the only birds you can attract with grape jelly this spring. Put some out in your yard and you just might see a gray catbird come in for a bite to eat. This musical flier is a treat to have in the backyard. And, because it’s a member of the mockingbird family, it can put on quite a show with its mimics of other birds, animals and sounds. Scientific Name: Dumetella carolinensis. Family: Mockingbird. Length: 8-1/2 inches. Wingspan: 11 inches. Distinctive Markings: Slate-gray body with a black cap and tail, rust-red feathers under tail. Nest: Builds nests in garden shrubs or thickets near creeks or swamps. Females usually lay four glossy dark greenish-blue eggs; often raises two broods in one season. Song: Alarm call is a catlike mewing; song is a mix of notes, may mimick other songbirds. Habitat: Dense thickets. Easier to hear than see because they hide in dense shrubbery. Diet: Insects and berries. Backyard Favorites: Will eat grape jelly. Listen to this bird’s song by visiting our 50 Most Wanted Birds section on the Web site. top Photo: Greg DuBois Photo of the Month Greg DuBois in Oregon took this photo of daffodils. This photo is featured in our FREE Wallpaper area. Download it for your computer today! Get more great images in our FREE Wallpaper. top Plant of the Month: Sweet William Each stem of a sweet William will make a complete bouquet! This beauty is a native to Europe, but has adapted to regions all over the United States. Enjoy sweet William blooms in pink, white, red, purple, and sometimes even bicolors. Common Names: Sweet William. Botanical Name: Dianthus barbatus. Hardiness: Perennial, but performs as an annual. Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer. Size: 4 to 28 inches high, up to 12 inches wide. Flowers: Purple, red, pink, white, and sometimes bicolored. Light Needs: Full sun. Growing Advice: Plant in rich, well-draining soil and be careful not to overwater. Prize Picks: You’ll love the sweet fragrance of cut flowers from the Electron Mix, which blooms in clusters of red, pink, and white. Magic Cherry has headily scented blooms of magenta and cherry. top Best of Glad You Asked Every month, we feature some of the best questions that George and Melinda have tackled over the years. Disappearing Blooms Last spring, the buds on my peonies emerged as usual, but then dried up before the flowers bloomed. This has never happened before. How can I prevent this? –Sonja Sides, Tulsa, Oklahoma *Melinda:* Botrytis blight is a common fungal disease on peonies. The disease can cause the flower buds to turn brown and fail to open. You also may find puplish-black spots on the leaves and stems. To control the disease, remove infected buds and leaves whenever you see them. Then do a thorough cleanup in fall. That, along with a little cooperation from nature in the form of drier spring weather, usually is enough to keep fungus in check. All in the Family? Barn swallows have nested on my back porch for the past several springs. I usually leave the old nest in place because the returning swallows reuse it. I’m wondering if I’m witnessing different generations of the same family, or new swallows taking advantage of a ready-made nest? –Diane Lawlor, Bismarck, North Dakota *George:* In a perfect world, it’s likely the parent birds reuse the nest as long as they live, which is an average of 5 to 6 years. However, songbirds often don’t live that long, so it’s just as likely that youngsters hatched in the nest will use it the following year if their parents aren’t present. Also, “divorce,” is common among barn swallows, so it’s possible the adult female has used the nest before, but she may have a new mate. If none of these scenarios is true, then a totally new pair of barn swallows may move in. Subscribers can access our Glad You Asked database with hundreds of questions and answers from George and Melinda. top Best of Bird Tales Flight School Several years ago, I was living in Idaho when I saw something I’ll never forget. Looking out my sliding glass door, I spotted a northern mockingbird trotting down the street with three young birds behind it. They appeared to be in formation, walking side by side. Suddenly all four birds stopped. The adult turned to face them and began chattering. The youngsters answered back. Then the adult ran forward a few steps, and the young ones followed. They repeated this several times. Next, the adult flew off, and one of the youngsters followed. In a moment or two, the parent and juvenile returned, and the adult when through the same routine with the second youngster, then the third. After each fledgling had a chance to test its wings, the parent faced the trio and appeared to ffer directions before turning to fly away with all three young birds in tow. I felt privileged to witness what appeared to be a mockingbird “flight school.” I’ll always remember the thrilling experience. –Iola Headlee, Midvale, Utah top Sneak Peek: Budget Gardening Container Secrets If you have containers around your garden, then you know how heavy they can be. There is a lighter solution, though. First, try filling your pots one-half to one-third full of foam packing peanuts. They not only make the pot lighter, but they also provide space for drainage. If you do this, simply fit a round piece of landscape fabric between the soil and foam to separate the materials. Some packing peanuts dissolve in water, so test yours before putting them in the pot. Another great way to lighten the load is to use old newspapers before adding soil and the plants. This keeps it lighter, and it helps keep the pots from drying out so fast. “We use less water, and the roots don’t ‘cook’ on hot days,” says Lucy London of Florence, Oregon. For more money-saving secrets like these, get your copy of Budget Garden Secrets. And don’t forget if you order now, you’ll get a discount. It’s only $8.99 (and you get free shipping) if you order by April 21! Don’t wait. top You could save $600.00 or more on your 2008 trips! $$firstname$$, now is a great time to plan your travels for the rest of the year! For a limited time only, the more you travel with us, the more you’ll save. Book one trip and you’ll save $100.00 per person. Book two trips at the same time and you’ll save $150.00 per person on both trips. Book three trips or more at the same time, and you’ll save $200.00 per person on each trip. You could save $600.00 or more per person on your 2008 travels! Just book your trips within 30 days and use code BL47 to claim your savings. Cannot be combined with any other offers. *Exclusive tour operator of Birds & Blooms* magazine** 1-800/344-6918 5939 Country Lane, Greendale WI 53129-1429 Current Needs We’re still on the lookout for great garden tips in our “Secrets to Grow On” and great feeder ideas for “Fantastic Feeders.” Use the Submit Your Story form on the Web site to send us your photos and ideas. top Our Neck of the Woods We just finished our Hummingbird Special Issue for June/July. If you’re a subscriber, it should be arriving early in May. In this issue, you’ll see that we’re doing a feature story on Tom and Edith Beatty. They are the owners of Beatty’s Guest Ranch in Arizona, which holds the U.S. record for the most hummingbird species spotted in one day with 14. Editor Heather Lamb hopes to see a fraction of those hummingbird species in August when she’ll visit the Beattys’ for herself. And remember, you can join Heather on that trip through World Wide Country Tours. The Arizona Hummingbird Tour with Heather is filling up fast, so reserve your spot today! To learn more, go here. top This email was sent to: $$email$$ HAVE A FRIEND who enjoys bird-watching, bird feeding or backyard gardening? Feel free to forward this newsletter! If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please use this link to sign up for yourself. If you do not want to receive further editions of this newsletter, please use this link to unsubscribe. If you would like to change or edit your email preferences, please visit your Personal Preferences page. To learn more about Reiman Media Group’s use of personal information, please read our Privacy Policy. Copyright 2008 Reiman Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. 5400 S. 60th St., P.O. Box 991, Greendale WI 53129-0991 1-800/344-6913
© Copyright 2008 Reiman Media Group, Inc.

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