Fill your containers with colorful plants that attract hummingbirds, such as Rockin’ Deep Purple Salvia From window boxes to hanging baskets, container gardening is well known as a versatile way to add a bit of drama and color to any space—but it can be functional, too! Pack even more punch in your compact combinations by cultivating a nourishing hummingbird buffet with these tried-and-true container garden ideas. Photos and container planting plans from Proven Winners How to Choose a Container To anchor everything, you need the right container. You’ll certainly have plenty to choose from. Jus ..read more

Native Butterfly Weed Care Butterfly weed in bloom Common name: Butterfly weed Scientific name: Asclepias tuberosa Growing zones: 3 to 9 Light needs: Full sun Soil: Well-draining Size: Two to three feet tall and equally as wide Check out the ultimate guide to growing milkweed plants for monarch butterflies. Is Butterfly Weed a Type of Milkweed? Butterfly weed is a type of milkweed and a host plant for monarchs  Butterfly weed is part of the milkweed family. The Monarch Joint Venture recommends this native milkweed for gardeners in the northeast, midwest and southeast regions. “I’ve read ..read more

Blanket Flower Care and Growing Tips Arizona Sun Botanical name: Gaillardia spp. Zones: 3 to 10 Attracts: Birds, bees and butterflies Light needs: Full sun Size: 2 to 3 feet tall Grown for: An explosion of color and drought tolerance Foliage: Long gray-green leaves Soil: Well draining Few plants offer a bright sunburst of color quite like blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella). Emerging in late spring, the blooms come in a combination of yellow, orange, red and maroon and stick around until September. Budget gardeners looking for a terrific pop of color in their gardens from spring through fa ..read more

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

What Does a Broad-Billed Hummingbird Look Like? Male broad-billed hummingbird are strikingly colorful Even for hummingbirds, broad-billed hummingbirds are stunning little creatures. The males sport vibrant emerald bodies, iridescent sapphire throats and bright red bills tipped with black. The females deserve equal admiration with their sleek gray bodies and a distinct white line next to each eye.  “This is the wow hummingbird of North America,” says Dan Weisz, an expert naturalist, photographer and volunteer presenter at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  And they’re not all that har ..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

Can Birds Improve Your Mental Health? American goldfinch Cardinals, chickadees, juncos, woodpeckers … action! My feeders are full of life. I’ve been feeding birds since I was a little kid. But I only recently reflected on why I have kept feeding them for so many years. Birds can find food on their own. I know their survival doesn’t depend on me, although I do hope my bird feeders help them in hard times. Personally, feeding birds makes my life better. Watching them right outside my window brings me reliable peace and joy. And there is research that shows watching birds boosts mental health. Di ..read more

What Do Northern Saw-Whet Owls Look Like? Northern saw-whet owl One of the cutest birds ever, (as voted on by Birds & Blooms readers) is the northern saw-whet owl, and Phil Brown, Bird Conservation Director at the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, New Hampshire, agrees. “They are one of the most charismatic species,” he says. The micro sized owls stand around 8 inches tall, roughly the size of a robin. According to Phil, “saw-whets weigh about the same as a stick of butter.” Although they are fairly common, saw-whets are highly nocturnal and rarely seen. Round faces with ..read more

What Does a Wood Thrush Look Like? Wood thrush singing There are very few birds with songs that can rival the dreamy notes and complex trills of the wood thrush. These forest-dwelling birds can be hard to spot. Their field markings give them great camouflage that allows them to blend in with their surroundings. “Most often you’ll hear them and not see them,” says Zach Ladin, an ecologist for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Thrush species, including wood thrush, are known for their dreamy, flute-like song and complex trills. “For this reason, identifying wood thrushes by their song is a great m ..read more