Innholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2026 i Birds & Blooms

When it comes to a Christmas tree, my husband and I have always agreed: We will be a “real tree” household. But what we haven’t always agreed on is whose job it is to keep it watered. I’d like to think it was a combination of a not-so-great tree and just a bit of neglect, but one year, our tree became so dry and brittle that we’d wake up to ornaments falling to the hardwood floor. I thought he was watering it, and he thought I was. To make sure your precious ornaments don’t come crashing down as ours did, follow the tips in “Christmas Tree Do’s and Don’ts” on page 16. And here’s one more: Assign someone the title of daily tree waterer as soon as your tree is…

1 Philodendron PHILODENDRON Known for being very easy to grow, philodendrons have green or variegated heart-shaped leaves. They are tolerant of almost any type of light, including low-light areas, and humidity. Although stems trail down, their aerial roots enable them to climb up poles. Why we love it: Stem cuttings of philodendrons root easily in water and can be inserted in outdoor floral containers as “spillers” or in hanging baskets in the garden for the summer. 2 String of Frogs ficus FICUS PUMILA ‘QUERCIFOLIA’ String of Frogs has woody vines and small leaves, creating a flat appearance. This plant needs well-draining soil and indirect light, but it’s not as drought tolerant as other houseplants, so keep an eye on the soil. It is perfect for terrariums and small containers, or use…

American Holly Ilex opaca, Zones 5 to 9 Grow year-round cheer with this hardy, broad-leafed native evergreen. It does best in moist, well-draining, slightly acidic soil and in a location sheltered from winter wind and sun that can dry out the leaves. It produces dainty white flowers in spring, and iconic red berries in fall and winter. Attracts: Light needs: Partial to full sun. Size: 15 to 30 feet tall on average but can reach 50 feet. Grown for: Dense foliage is perfect for nesting shelter for birds, and they love the berries. Foliage: Dark-green, leathery leaves with pointed teeth. Berries: To bear fruit, at least one male plant is needed for up to five female holly plants. A HISTORY OF MYSTERY Because holly leaves stay green even in winter,…

Keeping a Christmas tree vibrant isn’t much different than caring for a bouquet of flowers—just water it well. But besides water, here is some expert advice to try (and some things to skip) to keep your conifer looking fresh and festive for as long as possible. Plan Properly Pick a tree that’s at least 6 inches shorter than your ceiling. Trees from choose-and-cut farms will last longer than ones from precut lots. Either way, try to look for green, flexible needles. “Also gently shake the tree,” says Dan Herms, horticulturist and vice president of research and development at the Davey Tree Expert Co. “If a lot of green needles fall off, pass.” If you want a tree that lasts, Dan recommends balsam and Fraser firs. Avoid Scotch pines and blue…

As the cold settles in, backyards quiet down. But just when you think you’re familiar with all your winter feeder visitors, a flock of pine grosbeaks flies into town. These birds tend to be sweet and approachable, and they aren’t easily scared off by nearby humans. They’re so well-known for their slow, sluggish behavior that people in Newfoundland have nicknamed the birds “mopes.” Like other northern bird species, such as redpolls and snowy owls, pine grosbeaks move south if their source of food is in short supply, in a type of irregular, seasonal migration called irruption. Veggie-Friendly Typically, pine grosbeaks reside in the boreal forests of Canada, Alaska and the high mountains of the West. Their strong, thick bills are perfect for snipping through tree buds, seeds and nuts. Pine…

While visiting Chagrin River Park in Willoughby, Ohio, I enjoyed watching beautiful birds like this blue jay forage through the snow for food.Roni Leatherman WADSWORTH, OH FOLLOW THE FRUIT Bohemian waxwings find their way into areas with an abundance of berry-producing trees. This white-throated sparrow enjoyed a crisp winter morning.Mark Palmer WORTHINGTON, PA LOOK DOWN When white-throated sparrows visit backyards, they’ll likely be on the ground under feeders, eating fallen seed. IT’S A SIGN For many, cardinal sightings are comforting reminders that loved ones who have passed are never forgotten. COLOR VARIATIONS Northern flickers are either yellow-shafted (in the East) or red-shafted (in the West). WINTER FAVES Attract tufted titmice, known for being favorite feeder birds, with sunflower seeds, suet or peanuts.…

Q It is often said that certain birds migrate south for the winter. What exactly does south mean? Is it the southern United States or is it referring to South America? Marceleen Burke PITTSBURGH, PA Kenn and Kimberly: Most North American bird species are at least partly migratory, but they have many different destinations. Some from the Arctic, such as snow buntings, fly only as far as southern Canada and the northern states. Brown thrashers and common grackles go no farther than the southern states. On the other hand, many Baltimore orioles migrate to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, while red-eyed vireos fly to northern South America. Some shorebirds, such as American golden-plovers and pectoral sandpipers, migrate from breeding grounds in the Arctic to wintering sites near the southern tip…

Artist Jody Hildreth of Waterville, New York, makes fun figures from natural objects and photographs them. She says she hopes it can inspire others to creatively explore nature. SHARE YOUR CAPTION Your funny caption for this cute scene could appear in the next issue. Share your clever idea at birdsandblooms.com/caption. LAST ISSUE’S WINNING CAPTION “Hmm … How do the blue jays do this?!” SHARE YOUR BEST FUNNY NATURE PHOTOS! Follow the Submission Guidelines on page 64.…

Find the Hummingbird In each issue, we hide a hummingbird like the one above left. Enter to win at birdsandblooms.com/contests if you find it. Winners get a one-year subscription to Birds & Blooms. In the October/November issue, we hid it on page 24. HIDDEN OBJECT GUIDELINES No purchase necessary to enter to win. Purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents age 18 years or older of the U.S., its territories and possessions, or of Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec). Sweepstakes begins on Nov. 19, 2025, and ends on March 24, 2026. Visit birdsandblooms.com/contests for official rules. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC. Contact Us! CUSTOMER CARE For subscriptions, renewals, gifts, payments, account info and inquiries: Email: customercare@birdsandblooms.com Visit:…

The 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count is Feb. 13-16. Learn more at birdcount.org. 800,000 More than 800,000 people participated in the count in 2025, creating 655,549 Merlin Bird IDs and 387,652 eBird checklists. 2025 People identified more northern cardinals, dark-eyed juncos and house finches than any other birds in the U.S. in 2025’s count. 15 Joining the count is easy! Birders count for as little as 15 minutes a day for up to four days. 1998 The Great Backyard Bird Count was started in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, creating the first online citizen science project. 200 Observers from more than 200 countries and subregions participated in 2025, recording more than 8,000 bird species. 100 Interest in the annual bird count keeps growing.…