What Does a Fiery Skipper Look Like? Female fiery skipper A female fiery skipper has dull orange and dark markings, while males sport a slightly brighter orange, and dark, uneven borders. If you’re able to get close enough to spot the butterfly’s antennae, look for short antennae with knobby ends. Meet more members of the vast (and fast!) skipper butterfly family. Is a Fiery Skipper a Butterfly or a Moth? Fiery skipper on globe amaranth When you’ve found a skipper, you might first think it’s a moth. “Though they’re part of the butterfly family, they have characteristics of moths, too,” says Bi ..read more

Elderberry Bushes Attract Backyard Birds Cedar waxwings feed on elderberries This one of our berry facts is for the bird lovers. One of the best ways to bring in birds to your backyard is to plant bushes with berries. Birds that don’t usually visit feeders—such as stunning cedar waxwings—will readily eat fruit. Elderberry shrubs are known to feed more than 30 bird species, such as cedar waxwings, northern mockingbirds and gray catbirds. Plus, they provide shelter and nest sites. No space to grow a berry bush? Consider putting out grape jelly for fruit-eating birds. Raspberries Are More Colorfu ..read more

Sugar Crystal Double Tulips Sugar Crystal double tulips Tulipa Zones 3 to 8 Light needs: Full sun to part shade Size: 12 to 16 inches tall Bloom time: Mid to late spring Foliage: Light green and upright Soil: Well-draining If you’re looking for head-turning tulip power, this plant’s double baby pink blooms are it. Look closely at the tulip’s feathery petal edges—they almost appear to have a silver tint to them. Like all tulips, Sugar Crystal likes to be in well-draining soil. These gorgeous, textured blooms are ideal for cut-flower arrangements. While some tulips have floppy foliage, these h ..read more

On springtime or early summer walks through the woods, you might find yourself surrounded by purple flowers and think, “Wow, look at all that lovely phlox!” But do a double take, because you might be seeing a troublesome phlox look-alike. Unfortunately, the object of your admiration could be an invasive species: dame’s rocket. While dame’s rocket and phlox flowers look incredibly similar, you can learn tips and tricks to tell them apart. By learning the difference, you can make sure that what you’re seeing really is phlox—and that you’re not letting an invasive flower take control of your ..read more

What Is No Mow May? The basic idea of No Mow May is waiting to mow your lawn to help emerging pollinators. You’ve probably heard about No Mow May on social media or seen yard signs signifying participation and might want to give it a go. A growing trend on the garden and landscaping scene, it encourages delaying the first mow of the season to temporarily create a more biodiverse and hospitable habitat for pollinators awakening after winter—bees in particular. Despite its admirable goal and seemingly simple execution, No Mow May might not be the best approach for everyone. Before foregoing the ..read more

How to Grow Balloon Flower Female ruby-throated hummingbird at balloon flower Common name: Balloon flower, Chinese bellflower, Japanese bellflower Scientific name: Platycodon grandiflorus Hardiness zones: 3 to 8 Light needs: Full sun to part shade Watering needs: Supplemental water usually not required once established Preferred soil: Well-draining, moist soil Size: 1 to 2 feet tall, 1 to 1 1/2 feet wide Pollinators: Bees and butterflies Although the Latin botanical names are the best way to talk about flowers, since common names vary so widely, some common names are still a lot of fun and d ..read more

How to Grow Lungwort Flowers ‘Spot On’ lungwort plant Common name: Lungwort, spotted dog, Bethlehem sage Scientific name: Pulmonaria spp. Hardiness zones: 3 to 8 Light needs: partial shade, shade Watering needs: moderate Preferred soil: consistently moist, well-drained, nutrient rich Size: clumps 6 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches high Attracts: hummingbirds, bees, butterflies An energetic plant with a tragically unpleasant name, lungworts and their delicate multicolored flowers are coveted by gardeners for their ability to thrive in shady spaces. “Colorful choices for a shade garden ca ..read more

Common Foxglove Plant Care Tips Foxglove in bloom Common name: Common foxglove Scientific name: Digitalis purpurea Hardiness zones: Zones 4 to 9 Light needs: Full sun Water needs: Does best with regular watering and moist soil Size: 1 to 3 feet high Attracts: hummingbirds, bees and butterflies If you’ve ever seen this plant’s otherwordly stalks of tubular purple flowers, you can probably get a sense of why it’s earned a few fairy-tale nicknames, from fairy fingers and ladies’ thimble to fairy bells. Its scientific name, Digitalis purpurea, literally means ‘purple fingers.’ Are Foxglove Plant ..read more

Bougainvillea Care and Growing Tips Ruby-throated hummingbird at bougainvillea flowers Scientific name: Bougainvillea spp. Zones: 9 to 11 or Annual Light needs: Full sun Water needs: Low Soil: Well-drained Size: 2 to 40 feet tall, 6 to 40 feet wide Attracts: Birds, bees, and butterflies This thorny tropical beauty provides brilliant color year-round in the south, and all summer long up north. “These plants are incredibly showy because of the way they flower all along new shoots that can be trellised or left cascading,” explains Tracy Harrison, Nursery Production Planning Manager at Monrovia ..read more

Lantana Flower Care and Growing Tips Common buckeye butterfly on lantana flower Scientific name: Lantana camara Common names: Lantana, Bush lantana, West Indian lantana Growing zones: Perennial in zones 9a to 11b, tender perennial in Zones 7a to 8b, annual elsewhere Native to: Central and South America Size: 1 to 6 feet high, 3 to 5 feet wide Light needs: Full sun Water needs: Average, prefers even moisture; somewhat drought tolerant once established Soil needs: Rich, well-drained soil Coming in a dazzling array of saturated sunset hues, a lantana flower (Lantana camera) is a no-fuss, easy-c ..read more