1 Winterberry
ILEX VERTICILLATA, ZONES 3 TO 9
A close relative of the Christmas favorite, holly, this hardy shrub tolerates almost anything nature throws at it. It grows best in moist, acidic soils and easily handles winter cold. To get berries, plant male and female types.
Why we love it: Unlike other hollies, winterberry’s leaves fall away during winter, exposing its red berries and creating a perfect setting for photos.
2 Mountain ash
SORBUS SPP., ZONES 2 TO 7
Mountain ash is a fall beauty. Its leaves turn beautiful shades of yellow and red, and its berries red-orange. This small, low-maintenance tree reaches 10 to 25 feet tall and prefers acidic, sandy, moist soil.
Why we love it: These oval-shaped trees produce white flowers in spring that are attractive to butterflies and bees along with fruit-loving birds.
3 Cotoneaster
COTONEASTER SPP., ZONES 3 TO 7 A
colorful plant throughout the year, cotoneasters produce pink, white or rose flowers in late spring. Leaves turn purple, red and bronze in fall when red berries develop, to remain in winter. Some cultivars can’t take the heat, so research and choose a plant that thrives in your growing conditions.
Why we love it: Cultivars like Autumn Fire are more than just pretty—they’re also pest-resistant.
4 Crabapple
MALUS SPP., ZONES 2 TO 9
Crabapple trees are as beautiful as they are hardy if you choose a cultivar with disease resistance. They tolerate a range of soils, growing best in full sun. Pink and white flowers bloom in spring, and the persistent fruit develops over the summer.
Denne historien er fra December 2019/January 2020-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
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Denne historien er fra December 2019/January 2020-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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
