Anne Readel

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Anne Readel

Key PointsThe shape and color of hibiscus flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, plus they offer plenty of energy-rich nectar. Choose from tropical, woody shrub, or native perennial hibiscus types that best suit your climate and space—all attract hummingbirds. Get the most out of your hibiscus by planting them where you can easily see them, avoid pesticides, and be patient—hummingbirds will eventually find your garden. Want to see more hummingbirds in your yard this summer?

1 week ago | smithsonianmag.com | Anne Readel

Ornithologists and locals wonder what the future holds for this chick being raised by much taller, but still doting parents The first time I saw the family, I did a double take. Two tall sandhill crane parents strutted through the marsh, their downy red colt toddling behind them. And then, just a few steps later, came another chick—rounder, fluffier and distinctly yellow. A Canada gosling.

3 weeks ago | sierraclub.org | Anne Readel

Last year on October 30—as fall was in full swing and most bees had vanished—Bob Plamann stepped into his front yard in Madison, Wisconsin, and noticed a bee in a cluster of borage flowers. The plants' delicate blue blossoms, still open late in the season, had attracted the visitor. Plamann pulled out his phone and snapped a few photos. When he showed them to his wife, Judy Cardin, she felt a surge of emotion. “I actually got tears in my eyes when I saw her,” Cardin told Sierra.

3 weeks ago | sierraclub.org | Anne Readel

Last year on October 30—as fall was in full swing and most bees had vanished—Bob Plamann stepped into his front yard in Madison, Wisconsin, and noticed a bee in a cluster of borage flowers. The plants' delicate blue blossoms, still open late in the season, had attracted the visitor. Plamann pulled out his phone and snapped a few photos. When he showed them to his wife, Judy Cardin, she felt a surge of emotion. “I actually got tears in my eyes when I saw her,” Cardin told Sierra.

1 month ago | bhg.com | Anne Readel

Credit: Ulrich Hollmann / Getty Images Frogs and toads are some of the most charismatic wildlife in the garden. Their calls mark the arrival of spring, their presence indicates a healthy ecosystem, and their antics bring joy. However, many species are in serious decline from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. Fortunately, our yards can help them.