– Light: Full to part sun. – Soil and water: Medium-dry to dry average garden soil. – Hardiness Zone: Zones 3-8. – Size: About 2 feet tall. Will lean towards the sun and might sprawl. If you want this plant to always stand straight and tall, consider using a plant support. – Bloom period and color. Deadheading. Blooms blue/purplish […]
We human beings who love animals are often tempted to see or to assign human characteristics in them or to them, and there are experts/professionals who deplore this practice. It is called ‘anthropomorphism’ which means humanizing those who are not human – in this case birds. However, I am not in agreement with these experts/professionals. […]
Before I discuss online field guides, bird apps, and field guide books, I will tell you what I prefer – field guides that are books. Keep in mind, this is a personal preference and I think it is partly a generational thing. I lived part of my life before cell phones and the internet. I […]
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) and Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii). These two species used to be one species – Canada Goose. But in 2004, several of the smaller subspeices of Canada Goose were separated out from Canada Goose and classified as a separate species – Cackling Goose. This was based on two major things. First, […]
– Light: Full to part sun. – Soil and water: Medium-wet to medium-dry soil. This plant will let you know when it is thirsty – the leaves will droop – and this will be obvious. In my experience, it is somewhat drought and heat tolerant. Some of mine are planted in a narrow, raised bed in full […]
– Light: Needs full to part sun. – Soil and water: Medium wet to medium dry soil. Avoid wet soils or soils that do not drain well. Fertilizer is not needed and as one of the reasons to add this plant to your garden is to encourage Monarch Butterflies – who use this plant at […]
When I think of plants that are native to many northern states – and thrive – I admit that a cactus never crosses my mind. But in many of our northern states, we do have a cactus that grows well – Prickly Pear Cactus. This genus of cactus (Opuntia) is native in many states east […]
Light: Full to part sun. Soil and water: Average garden soil, but well-drained soil is a must or the plant will rot. Will tolerate some drought. Once it is established, it only needs to be watered if there is a prolonged drought. Hardiness Zone: Zones 4-9. Size: 3-4 ft. tall and spread is 12-18”. If […]
From https://www.thespruce.com: Pishing is a technique birders use in the field to get birds to come out more into the open in order to identify them. Catbirds are a good example of hidden birds as they are almost always within dense shrubs and often impossible to see. Pishing often draws them out to a more […]
Avian flu. Bird flu. Avian influenza. Three different names – all the same illness. And what is it? In simplest terms, it is a viral infection that spreads in birds, some other animals, and can spread to humans (right now, this is extremely rare). There is not just one ‘Avian Flu’, but many subtypes. In […]