Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

Summer has just about reached its peak, and I don’t know about you, but I love looking out into a backyard full of blooming flowers! While you look out into your own backyards, don’t forget to enter our Container Challenge. We want to see your best container combinations. Winners will receive cash prizes!

Also, before summer winds down, take a photo of what summer looks like to you and submit it to our monthly Photo Challenge.

Enjoy the blooming flowers and hot weather while it lasts! I know it won’t last much longer here in Wisconsin!

Kirsten
Birds & Blooms

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• READ ON TO DISCOVER...
• Follow Us On Twitter
• Bird of the Month
• Best of Glad You Asked
• Project of the Month
• FREE Wallpaper
• Talk to Us!

Follow Us On Twitter

Do you twitter? If not, get started today and follow us for exciting Birds & Blooms updates.

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Bird of the Month: Hairy Woodpecker

Can you tell the difference between a hairy and downy woodpecker? They look almost identical, but there are a few key differences.

Learn how to attract a hairy woodpecker to your yard, and listen to its song.

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Best of Glad You Asked

Purple Coneflowers
I often admire the purple coneflowers growing in my neighbor’s yard. Can you plant them using seeds from the cone tops?
—Patty Duffield, Strange Creek, West Virginia

Melinda: Yes, and anyone growing purple coneflowers probably would be happy to share the offspring of these prolific seeders.

Collect seeds in fall, and sow outside or store in the refrigerator over winter. Stored seeds can be started indoors or planted directly outdoors in spring.

Be patient, you won’t see flowers until the second season. Also, keep in mind that the offspring of hybrid coneflowers may look a bit different than their parents.

Robin Call
Each morning, we hear American robins in our yard make a coarse rasping call. Do you know what they’re doing?
—Ethel Brott, Englewood, California

George: This rasping call is the American robin’s alarm call. Robins are very nervous birds when they’re nesting, and any little threat, like a dog, cat or person walking through the yard, will cause the robins to become alarmed and produce their warning call.

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Project of the Month

Create your own compost bin! This easy-to-make compost bin is a great for the beginner composter.

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FREE Wallpaper

Download great wallpaper for your computer, like this gorgeous photo of a dahlia by Cathy Zoulek.

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Talk to Us!

We are looking for budget birding tips for our new section “For Less”. Send us your best story and photos by using Submit Your Story form. If we use it in the magazine, we’ll pay you $25!

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