Birds & Blooms

When I moved into a new house about a year ago, I was absolutely overjoyed to see blue jays in the yard. I know they have a bit of a bad reputation. Their aggressive antics often scare other birds away from feeders—and then there’s the raucous sounds! But blue jays are so beautiful, and I like to stop to appreciate their bold vibrant blue coloring when I see them out a window. Blue jays are also incredibly smart. In fact, most birds in the corvid family are—some have even been known to play tricks on people and use tools. Read about all of the impressively bright behaviors of jays and their relatives in “The Bold and the Brainy” on page 26. Spring is right around the corner, and it’s always smart to…

Banana Split Daphne Daphne odora ‘Monzulzay’, Zones 7 to 9 This daphne from Monrovia is named for the bright yellow variegation on the outside of its leaves, which stick around all winter in some backyards. Starting in late winter, look for rosy pink bud clusters on branch ends. They open to reveal creamy white blossoms. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun to partial shade. Size: 4 feet tall and wide. Grown for: Interesting leaves, pleasant scent and early blooms. Foliage: Long, pointed and edged with yellow. Soil: Daphnes do best with very well–draining soil. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings, but keep it moist. WHERE TO PLANT Grow this plant where you can enjoy the scent, but also avoid touching. It is poisonous and causes skin irritation. Gardeners with children should pick a different shrub.…

While robins are classic harbingers of spring, birding enthusiasts in parts of the West welcome the season with the return of the mountain bluebirds. Migrating from their winter range as far south as Mexico, mountain bluebirds travel northward to Alaska and the Yukon Territory and east to the Dakotas and Manitoba. Look for them in areas with short grasses and scattered trees at elevations up to 12,500 feet. “They like open areas, grasslands and farmlands,” says Jane Brockway, president of Mountain Bluebird Trails. Their habitat needs differ from their closest relative, the western bluebird, although sometimes they do flock together. Striking Blues While both western and mountain bluebirds sport vibrant blue hues, male mountain bluebirds are a brilliant turquoise with paler blue and white plumage underneath. Females have blue wingtips, but their bodies are grayish brown.…

1 Gladiolus GLADIOLUS SPP., ZONES 8 TO 11 This stately flower reaches 2 to 5 feet tall and grows from a corm that can be overwintered in cold climates and replanted each spring. Eye-catching tubular flowers come in many colors, such as yellow, pink, white, purple and more, and sit on elegant spires. To ensure a longer blooming season, sow successive batches of corms 10 to 14 days apart. Why we love it: A stalk of gladiolus looks majestic in the garden and adds height to bouquets. 2 Allium ALLIUM SPP., ZONES 4 TO 9 A garden with alliums, particularly a large cultivar such as the Globemaster, has instant, whimsical appeal. The showstopping flowers are a beautiful sight at peak bloom, then hold their shape to become pretty dried flowers. Some gardeners even spray-paint the dried…

Jessica Walliser smiles at the telltale slices in her coral bells’ leaves. It’s a sign that leafcutter bees are building their nests. As a horticulturist and author of Attracting Beneficial Bugs to the Garden, she leaves perennials intact for overwintering insects and allows the wool carder bees to steal lamb’s ears’ plant fuzz. Her garden is a bustling and balanced ecosystem for bees and other pollinators. Many gardeners are drawn to having an insect-friendly garden—not only because it offers a landing for garden helpers, but also because the plots need less water and pesticides, as well as less effort. Here are some simple ways to welcome back pollinators. 1 FILL IN THE LAWN Traditional grass lawns reduce habitat and food sources for beneficial bugs and pollinators. Consider converting patches of your lawn from…

BOTANIC NAME Viburnum macrocephalum. ZONES 6 to 9. FOLIAGE Dark green serrated leaves that are semi-evergreen in southern areas. BLOOMS Rounded lime green flowers that rapidly turn white, lasting from May to June. SIZE 6 to 10 feet high and wide. Can grow larger in certain warm climates. BOTANIC NAME Hydrangea arborescens. ZONES 3 to 9. FOLIAGE Green rounded leaves that fade into bronze or brown in fall. BLOOMS Extra-large white flower heads up to a foot wide. Flowers from June through September. SIZE 3 to 5 feet high and 4 to 6 feet wide. FUN FACT The Annabelle is a cultivar in the smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) group. Due to the Annabelle’s popularity, many gardeners and growers refer to Hydrangea arborescens as simply Annabelle-type hydrangeas.…