I'm an avid backyard birdwatcher who really loves hummingbirds. I also have a growing curiosity in wanting to know the names of all the butterflies that flutter across my path. This new book from Bill Thompson III and Connie Toops just really hit the spot for me! Hummingbirds and Butterflies
is a fantastic home and garden companion. It covers in depth just about all you need to know about safely feeding hummingbirds, identifying hummers and butterflies, and gardening to attract both to your little garden of Eden.I've met many a birder that was also a bit of a lepidopterophile (one who enjoys butterflies and moths). Birders tend to have a full appreciation of the broad spectrum of nature, especially for beautiful creatures that one can identify!
My favorite parts of Hummingbirds and Butterflies
has to be the plant lists by region and the butterfly species profiles. The hummingbird species profiles are great too. Connie gives excellent suggestions for effective garden plans. I have always had an interest in landscape design, especially for landscaping that is attractive to birds, so this books serves as a very helpful guide.Bill and Connie are both great writers making this a fun read. So if you are wanting to attract beautiful hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard, get this book now before the season passes you by. You will love it! (Oh, and if you forgot to get your mom something for Mother's Day, order this for her!)
This is another fine publication of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt who provided me with a review copy. Thanks! This book also make a fine companion set for Bill Thompson III's previous publication Identifying and Feeding Birds which I reviewed last fall.
Nice review. I agree with you that birders tend to have a full appreciation of all things nature related. Can't wait to get my copy!!
ReplyDelete@Alan - Thanks for the comment Alan. It really is a great book, especially as a reference book for what to plant to attract them.
ReplyDeleteI need this book! My wife and I are doing a lot of replanting around the house and I want to put in more hummingbird attractors! I'm on it!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds very interesting. I didn't have any such resource when I was planting my garden 7 years ago so I walked around the neighborhood and watched which shrubs and trees were attracting birds - then went and planted similar ones in my yard. AND it worked!
ReplyDelete@Larry - I look forward to posts about your new landscaping and to see photos of the birds enjoying it!
ReplyDelete@Mick - A friend of mine in Idaho started seeing what plants birds enjoyed and kept track. He know owns his own landscaping company specializing in native plants and wildlife friendly landscapes. His yards are always the most beautiful in any neighborhood in which he works.
...I bet this is a good book! I'll have to look for it.
ReplyDeleteRobert:
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the nice review. Connie and I worked hard on this book and we're pleased to learn that's it's being well received.
Appreciate your shining a light on it for your blog readers.
Also great to meet you and your wife in person at the GSLBF last week. I had a fine time in Utah, where all the Birding is Fun!