Topics
Special Series
Birds
-
Milkweeds—Easing the Plight of the Monarch Butterfly
Modern agriculture has made much of the U.S. farm belt inhospitable to Monarchs. In the East, industrial, commercial, and residential land use is gradually effacing the habitat that supports them. This is where gardeners come in. We can make a big difference by growing the plants that are most important to the lifecycle of the Monarchs—milkweeds.
By Claire Hagen Dole -
Bumble Bees—The Essential, Indefatigable Pollinators
We live on a planet pollinated primarily by bees. Bees fertilize most of our favorite flowers, and pollinate a third of the plants we eat. They are also the exclusive pollinator of several rare and imperiled wildflowers, including native monkshoods and lady's tresses orchids. Without these essential insects, farm productivity would plummet and wildflowers would become extinct. In short, bumble bees and other bees are essential for our own well being and the survival of a good deal of the world's biodiversity.
By Janet Marinelli -
Cardinal Flower—Spectacular Scarlet Blossoms That Hummingbirds Adore
In the early fall, as you approach the edge of a woodland stream or the banks of a secluded pond, you may glimpse a flash of red. This spark of scarlet is from what may be the most brilliant of our native blossoms, the cardinal flower.
By Dr. Cathy Donaldson -
Twelve Ways to Design a Bird-friendly Garden
Twelve general guidelines on how to design a garden that appeals to both birds and people.
By Stephen W. Kress
