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We need your vote! The names for our Name This Plant contest have been narrowed down to our favorites. Now it’s up to you to choose the winning name!

Kirsten Sweet
Birds & Blooms

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• READ ON TO DISCOVER...
• Find us on Facebook
• Bird of the Month
• Best of Glad You Asked
• Project of the Month
• FREE Wallpaper
• Talk to Us!

Are you on Facebook? Become our fan today! You’ll get interesting bird and garden stories and giveaway and contest information.

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Bird of the Month: Baltimore Oriole

Few birds can match the bold coloring of the male Baltimore oriole. With it's signature black and orange feathers, it's no wonder so many people want this flier at their feeders.

Learn how to attract a Baltimore oriole to your yard, and listen to its song.

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Best of Glad You Asked

Out in the Open
For the last 2 years, about half of my peonies have developed buds that turn brown and never open. Can you tell me why this is happening and how I can correct it?
–Valerie Hooover, Albion, Nebraska

Melinda: Botrytis blight, often accompanied by phytophthora blight, is the culprit. These fungal diseases are common on peonies after a string of cool, wet springs.

The botrytis blight causes peony, rose and other flower buds to brown and fail to open. You may also see purplish-black spots on the stems and leaves from these diseases.

Cleanup and a change in the weather are your best control options. Cut back the plants each fall and dispose of the debris, and remove infested buds and leaves as soon as they appear. This, combined with a little drier spring weather, will usually resolve the problem.

Frozen in Place
Last winter, I was watching a white-breasted nuthatch, when it suddenly froze in place. It stayed still for nearly 2 minutes, and then went about its business as if nothing happened. What was the reason for this odd behavior?
–Kathryn Roesinger, Rhinelander, Wisconsin

George: This behavior is not as odd as you may think. Birds will “freeze” at any hint of a predator, especially a winged one, such as a hawk.

Freezing is one defense they have, which may work better fro them than flying into cover. Or perhaps cover is not close enough, and so their best chance to survive is to be very still. Most small birds will frequently employ this defensive behavior.

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Project of the Month

Forget buying expensive, decorative sugar-water feeders. Now you can make your own for just a few bucks by using a recycled bottle.
You'll be amazed at how fun and easy it is to make this one-of-a-kind feeder using a glass bottle.

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FREE Wallpaper

Download great wallpaper for your computer, like this photo of a Northern flicker by Jerry Acton.

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Talk to Us!

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

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