1 Double Scoop Watermelon Deluxe coneflower
ECHINACEA X HYBRIDA, Z
ONES 4 TO 9
With hot pink double blossoms exploding in late spring through late summer, this sun-loving coneflower makes a bold statement with lush layers of petals. It is compact, grows up to 2 feet high and 20 inches wide and prefers well-draining soil.
Why we love it:
This award-winning upright variety is deer-resistant and has long-lasting flowers.
2 Kalama Blood Orange tecoma
TECOMA STANS, ZONES 8
TO 11, ANNUAL ELSEWHERE
Trumpet-shaped orange petals and a dark orange center ring add a warm, tropical vibe to sunny spots in the garden. Fertilize it every two weeks, and it will bloom from June until first frost. Watch it grow up to 2 feet high and 18 inches wide.
Why we love it:
Heat-tolerant and low-maintenance, this compact variety branches well and is ideal for small spaces or containers.
3 Passion Fruit lantana
LANTANA CAMARA, ZONES 8 TO 13, ANNUAL ELSEWHERE
Tucked into hanging baskets or containers, this plant's abundant pink, orange and gold flowers will trail and spread all summer long in full sun. Its dark green leaves are shiny and scented. It loves well-draining soil and weekly fertilization to keep its clusters of multicolored blooms at their best.
Why we love it:
This drought- and heat-tolerant annual also attracts pollinators.
4 Bressingham Dark Fire crocosmia
CROCOSMIA, ZONES 5 TO 9
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Sense or Nonsense? - Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't
Does a porcelain berry taste like a blueberry to a gray catbird? Does a block of lard smell like frying bacon to a northern flicker? The short answer is no. While some avian species do have a well-adapted sense of taste or smell, they can't distinguish between flavors and odors the way humans can. They're not picking up every ingredient in the suet you put out, says José Ramírez-Garofalo, an ornithology researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the director of Freshkills Biological Station in Staten Island, New York.
Maple Mania - Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Food-Focused and Fierce - Meet Canada jays and learn why they eat almost anything they can find
Even if you haven't heard of Canada jays, you've heard of their relatives. Members of the corvid family, they belong to the same group as American crows, blackbilled magpies, and jays including blue, Steller's and scrub. "Unlike many of the other jays, a Canada jay doesn't have a crest of any kind; it just has a rounded head," says Dale Gentry, director of conservation for Audubon Upper Mississippi River.In 2018, the Canada jay's name was changed from gray jay, but Dale thinks the former adjective was fitting. "Most of its body is shades of gray with some white," he says. "There are different subspecies that have different physical traits, but most of them have some lighter coloring on their foreheads, upper breasts and throats, each with a darker streak that starts at each eye and goes back."
IN GOOD COMPANY
BIRDS OF A FEATHER MAY FLOCK TOGETHER, but what about other collectives of critters-and what do you call them when they do?
YOUR OWN Perfect Prairie
Learn how to cultivate an oasis of grassland flora in your backyard
ON THE MOVE
Birds approach the challenges of migration in surprising ways. Learn about how they walk, swim or take the scenic route during their travels.
Autumn Wonders
Fall colors offer befitting backdrops for these stunning reader photos
Sparrow Look-Alikes
Distinct sounds help separate these similar species
Embracing the Darkness
From black plants to moody decor, Gothic garden elements can offer a unique outlet to express your dark side
Red-Hot Plants
Scarlet-hued berries add a pop of color to any garden
