100 Plants to Feed the Birds: Turn Your Home Garden into a Healthy Bird Habitat by Laura Erickson


100 Plants to Feed the Birds: Turn Your Home Garden into a Healthy Bird Habitat
Title : 100 Plants to Feed the Birds: Turn Your Home Garden into a Healthy Bird Habitat
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1635864380
ISBN-10 : 9781635864380
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 256
Publication : First published December 1, 2022

The growing group of bird enthusiasts who enjoy feeding and watching their feathered friends  will learn how they can expand their activity and help address the pressing issue of habitat loss with 100 Plants to Feed the Birds.  In-depth profiles offer planting and care guidance for 100 native plant species that provide food and shelter for birds throughout the year, from winter all the way through breeding and migrating periods. Readers will learn about plants they can add to their gardens and cultivate, such as early-season pussy willow and late-season asters, as well as wild plants to refrain from weeding out, like jewelweed and goldenrod. Others, including 29 tree species, may already be present in the landscape and readers will learn how these plants support the birds who feed and nest in them. Introductory text explains how to create a healthy year-round landscape for birds. Plant photographs and range maps provide needed visual guidance to selecting the right plants for any location in North America.
 


100 Plants to Feed the Birds: Turn Your Home Garden into a Healthy Bird Habitat Reviews


  • PamG

    100 Plants to Feed the Birds: Turn Your Home Garden into a Healthy Bird Habitat by Laura Erickson is the second book that I have read by this author. The title describes what this non-fiction book covers for the United States and Canada. While the novel has narrowed the list of plants, it looks at native plants that provide seeds, fruits, and nectar as well as those that host caterpillars and other insects needed for protein and those that provide nesting materials or nesting and roosting sites.

    It starts with a good table of contents for easy reference followed by a short section on creating habitat for birds. This is then followed by the section for plants. The plants are divided into conifers, broadleaf trees, grasses, herbaceous perennial and annual plants, plants that grow on trees, shrubs, vines, and cactus and yuccas. Each of these is broken down more specifically. It includes some of the bird species that use them, how they are typically used, color, most useful seasons, native range maps, and some species within each category.

    Not all of the species in the book should be planted in all areas of the USA or Canada. The author is very specific in urging readers to look for locally native species in the categories and provides an appendix that includes North American Native Plant Societies. Another excellent appendix is one that includes the favorite plants of common North American birds. It includes the species and their preferred food(s) and nesting choices. The bird photos are great as well, but I wish there had been photos with the plants in gardens designed to attract and feed the birds.

    Overall, this is a well-organized and beneficial reference for those who want to garden to attract birds.

    Storey Publishing, LLC and Laura Erickson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 06, 2022.

  • Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤

    Do you enjoy feeding the birds?

    True Story: As I peer out my bedroom window, the sky is dark, the grass is brown, and the weather is cold. Not a bird to be seen. Today my go-to escape from winter dull drums is this extraordinary book on plants and birds. Soon I can change my backyard into a beautiful garden! Humm....what plants should I pick to attract birds and butterflies?


    "100 Plants to Feed the Birds" is a treasure trove of information on trees, plants, shrubs, and vines with a guide on what to pick for your specific region. It includes details on planning a natural reserve for your particular space that attract birds. Laura Erickson gives facts containg North American birds favorite plants for beauty and health of the birds. The photographs are exquisite! With this book you can soon enjoy beautiful colorful flowers and bird watching!


    Thank you NetGalley and Storey Publishing, for the honor of reviewing this e-book. It brightened my day and gave me tons of new ideas for my backyard! Mark your calendar!! The book will be published December 6, 2022, just in time for my son to buy me the hardcover for Christmas!! (Wink, Wink!!)

    #100PlantsToFeedTheBirds #LauraErickson
    #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #Audiobooks #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta

  • Alicia Bayer

    This is a great guide for what trees, vines, annuals, perennials and shrubs to plant to feed the birds in North America. They are divided by sections (trees, vines, etc.) and each one is detailed with native range, photos, photos of birds they help feed, growth information, etc. There are numerous stock photos. There is also an extensive section on what birds need, how plants help them in multiple ways (nesting materials, bringing insects, etc.) and the problems with invasive plants, etc.

    I appreciate that the book focuses quite a lot on the caterpillars and other insects that some of these plants provide since so many people only think of seeds and perhaps berries and nectar. Most birds need insects more than anything else, especially to feed their young. Some plants like cherry and oak trees support hundreds of different types of caterpillars, for instance, which are a crucial food source for many birds. The book also goes into the many other ways each plant helps (protection, nesting options once short-lived trees die, etc.) and the pros and cons of each and when they're not recommended.

    I do wish the book had photos that showed the plants used in landscaping. They tend to be up close photos or photos of them in isolation, and I would love to see more examples of these plants being used in bird-friendly gardens and landscapes. It's an excellent guide though, and will be very helpful for anyone who wants to design their yard to help the birds.

    I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

  • Valleri

    My thanks to Storey Publishing, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of 100 Plants to Feed the Birds.

    I am a part of the growing group of bird enthusiasts who enjoy feeding and watching their feathered friends! 100 Plants to Feed the Birds contains profiles for planting and caring for 100 native plant species that provide food and shelter for birds throughout the year. I appreciated the information on plants that are invasive and shouldn't be planted, as well. The photography is breathtaking! I never guessed I would become a bird nut but I totally have become one!

    I also appreciated the links to native plant societies. I'm eager to look some of these plants up since I live in an area that's 100° in the summer and completely under ice and snow all winter. Oh. And I need to know which plants are deer resistant. (Other than all of that, haha...) I'm excited by the prospect of planting some things that will grow here and that will make the birds happy!!! Thanks to the author for giving me a place to start.

  • Lyndsey Bookish Nature

    ~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

    1oo Plants to Feed the Birds is a lovely collection of photographs and informations. The books has hundreds of bird and plant images as well as zone maps. It is well organized from: Trees, grasses, perennials and annuals, shrubs, vines, cactus, and lastly charts of bird species matched with coordinating plant species, as well as information about native plant societies for each state. This book is a wealth of information, easy to read, and enjoyable to peruse. I am an amateur gardener and birder; I strive to plant native plants to my northern Michigan local that will create healthy habitats for and attract birds. I definitely recommend this book if you have similar interests!

  • Amanda

    A guide to 100 of the most important garden plants for supporting birds in North America.

    Plants are organised by conifers, broadleaves, grasses, herbaceous plants, miscellaneous (including lichens, parasites and epiphytes), shrubs, vines, cacti.

    Each plant is described in terms of its use in supporting and encouraging named species of birds to the garden. A key identifies the parts of the plant most attractive to birds, or insects on which birds feed. An information box sets out the plant’s uses, requirements for exposure (sun/shade), soil moisture, seasonality, colour and height, with a map illustrating the plant’s range in the US.

    Beautiful full-colour photos throughout of each plant, with some of the bird visitors it may attract.

    Also comes with basic planning advice, a list of invasives (to be avoided), a resource list and a glossary.

    My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

  • Linda

    This is a big thank you to NetGalley, Laura Erickson and Storey Publishing for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review. In five words: I loved this reference book.

    It was loaded with simple, but descriptive language, colorful photos and peppered with interesting facts. If you don’t know it already, our birds are in peril. Some are on the border of extinction and others are already gone. Cornell University did a study and ”found that 2.9 billion migratory birds have been lost from the U.S. and Canada since 1970” alone. Imagine what is going on around the world?

    Usually if I read a reference book in e-format and love it, I want the book in hardcover or paperback because I don’t think the e-format does it justice. Not so with the version they sent to my NetGalley shelf. Seriously, I will return again and again to access this book. It was that interesting.

  • Talya Boerner

    Last winter when my backyard was covered in snow, our temperatures plunged to 20 below zero Fahrenheit, and I found myself trudging out to refill feeders multiple times a day, I began giving more thought to the birds nesting in our backyard and migrating through. Birds need much more than seed from a bag. In 100 Plants to Feed the Birds, author Laura Erickson address this basic issue of providing food and habitat for our feathered friends via trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, etc. She includes stunning stock photographs and helpful visual aids; layout is well presented and on par with a beautiful coffee-table book. Specific plant charts detail moisture levels, exposure requirements, and native range. While the book is comprehensive in scope (and not regionalized), this may also be viewed as a weakness. I found myself skipping over those plants that won’t thrive in my growing zone 6b. With respect to growing zones, including each plant’s USDA Plant Hardiness Growing Zone designation would be a valuable addition—the growing zone is one of the first things I verify for any plant I add to my garden. The author discusses the importance of planting native and avoiding invasive species which in my opinion can’t be stressed enough. 100 Plants to Feed the Birds provides a straightforward resource for anyone concerned over boosting bird habitat and providing food the natural way.

    Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

  • Sophie Crane

    My Mum, Myself & A Pen-Pal of My Mum's All Enjoy Feeding the Birds 365 Days of the Year & This Book has Helped us with some Alternative Options of Food.
    (Thanks to Net Galley & Laura Erickson for this Book).

  • Jilly

    This is a really thorough and helpful book explaining which birds are attracted to which plants and trees for food and habitat. I thought it would be more useful but I live in the UK and didn’t realise it was about birds in North America. It’s packed with photos and illustrations. Thank you to the author, Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

  • Kat Dietrich


    100 Plants to Feed the Birds by Laura Erickson is a guide.  The title says it all.  It is what it is.

    First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Storey Publishing and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


    My Synopsis and Opinions:
    First, I must say that this is a beautiful book, with amazing photographs and a lot of information.  Reading on an e-reader, tablet, or computer will not do this book justice.  It really must be purchased and set somewhere for everyone to enjoy.

    The book is set up in different parts.  The first is just setting up your backyard, and creating a welcoming environment for birds.  It delves into the relationship between birds and plants, and why feeders aren't the only thing that birds need.  It explains that plants not only nourish birds with their seeds, and insects,  but also provide nesting materials.  It also looks into the different seasons, and reminds us that even in the winter, trees and shrubs hold not only a safe habitat, but nourishment for birds in the form of insect larvae and beetles.  The book also talks about native vs non-native plants, and highly recommends you investigate your own local native plants.

    Part 2 delves into the actual plants...and there is a lot of detail. It is separated into different types of plants.  Headings include Conifers (which include things like cedars and firs); Broadleaf plants (which include birch, willow, maple, oak); Grasses; Herbaceous plants (basically flowering plants); Plants that grow on trees; Shrubs;  Vines; and Cactus and Yuccas.  Under each heading, each individual plant/tree segment has information as to the benefit it provides to birds, -- for example where in North America it can be found (or will grow), which birds will nest in it, what nourishment it will provide,  in what season it will be used, etc. 

    After this, there is a chapter on Favorite plants of North American Birds; a chapter on North American Native Plant Societies; and an extensive Index.

    Overall, I highly recommend this book.  The information is extensive, the book is easy to read, and the pictures are glorious.


    For a more complete review of this book and others, (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog:
    http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

  • Brannigan

    This review was originally published on NetGalley.com. I was given an ebook freely by NetGalley and the book’s publisher in return for a voluntary and honest review.

    100 Plants to Feed Birds
    By Laura Erickson

    This is an all encompassing book overflowing with information. The layout is so good and easy to use and understand. Laura Erickson truly shows how passionate she is on the subject.

    Erickson breaks the plants down by tree, grass, flower, shrub, vine and cactus. She also uses individual graphics that easily tell you the many different ways a plant is used, food, attracting insects, nesting material, shelter, and so on.

    For each individual plant we get a brief description along with where it can grow. How much water, sun and type of soil it needs as well as how useful it is to birds during the four seasons. Then you see what birds use the particular plant.

    At the back of the book there are two sections; common birds of North America and their favorite plant for food and nesting. And Native Plant societies for each state and providence.

    For anyone interested in birds or plants this is worth adding to your reference library.

  • AndiReads

    Are you an avid bird watcher? Did the loss of bird activity during 2020 cause you dismay? Then 100 Plants to Feed the Birds is for you! The book has beautiful photos to compliment the vast plant and shrub information.
    Organized first by plants (trees, grasses, shrubs) the book gives step by step directions to creating a space to "Birdscape your Property" Utilizing this book you will be able to add native and non native plants to your yard and enjoy bird watching again! #StoreyPublishing #NetGalley #NetGalleyReads

  • Rowan

    Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

    This is a North American-based book, so if you live outside of the continental US/Canada, unfortunately it won't have much specific information for you.

    Lets get into it though! Narrowing down plants to feed birds in North America to just 100 is a HUGE task & B I G kudos to the author for this undertaking! I think it will be useful to bird lovers and plant lovers alike. The visual guides, including native range maps for the plants & noting things like plants that may be native in part of the continent, but may be invasive elsewhere, is such good research and information.

    I absolutely love the whole entire concept behind this & it delivered! The photos are clear & beautiful, the graphics are easy to read & understand, and overall I think this is a WONDERFUL resource for anyone looking to diversify the plants in their yard, whether they live in a city or out in the country.

    It's wonderful to see the native plant societies for the US states & Canadian provinces listed in the back, as well as some common bird species and plants that they prefer (that way if there's something you particularly want in your yard.. you know what to find!)

    This is just such a wonderful resource with so much information - I already added it to my list to pre-order because I need a physical copy for sure!

  • Terri (BooklyMatters)

    Absolutely beautiful book, as at home on display on a coffee table as it would be bedside reading, when planning your next bird-friendly garden. The full color photos of plants and birds are spectacular, and the augmentation with maps showing the native ranges for the recommended plants, as well as a plant classification by graphical icon key, are not only visually stunning but extremely useful for the reader. Organized comprehensively to include evergreens, deciduous trees, plants, shrubs, vines and grasses that provide natural feeding grounds, shelter, nesting or shaded habitat for specific bird species, this book is a bird-loving gardener’s dream.

    With details on plant growing requirements, characteristics and recommended species, this information will be invaluable in helping to decide on suitable plants to introduce to welcome more birds into the garden, as well as the insects, butterflies, seeds, and other nesting materials they depend on. Specific references to endangered bird species and suggestions to aid in their protection were welcomed as well as warnings regarding plants on the invasive list, leaving me feeling somewhat better armed to make all-around eco-friendly decisions that will hopefully make a difference.

    I can’t wait to buy and share copies for several friends I know of who will love this book as much as I do. The hardest part will be waiting for the May 2022 publication release date!

  • Cayla G

    100 Plants to Feed the Birds: Turn Your Home Garden into a Healthy Bird Habitat by Laura Erickson is a wonderful starting point for incorporating more bird friendly plants into your home garden. As a first time home owner I'm very excited to begin working on landscaping in the front and backyard. I've been looking for guides to incorporate more biodiversity in my yard.

    I appreciate that this book does a great job in emphasizing that readers should consult local gardening and birding groups for more specific recommendations of native plants. I thought it was very important that the author discussed invasive species and how dangerous they can be to local ecosystems. I was pleasantly surprised that the author also discusses the different needs of birds for nesting and feeding. I read this book with a mindset that this book would inform you on plants that birds will typically feed on (fruit and insect). It hadn't crossed my mind to consider the nesting needs of birds as well.

    My only recommendation for this book would be to include better pictures of the plants discussed. The book contains beautiful images of the birds, which typically are close up images of the plants. I would appreciate a better visual of the plants. I can't wait to read other books by Laura Erickson! Thank you to Storey Publishing, Laura Erickson, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

  • Lucy

    A truly brilliant learning resource to refer back to. I've been recently feeding the birds in my garden a lot and didn't think about all the other things that I could be using to help them, such as relying on my garden, shrubs, plants and trees to help perk them up.

    Obviously this book covers more than just feeding them, it also educates its reader on the importance of shelter, which naturally leads to nesting which is the end goal really of what we all want.

    The photo's in this book are really very gorgeous, I'm thinking of getting this book as a point to refer to in the future.


    With thanks to netgalley for the free ARC in return for my honest review, a very interesting book!

  • Noorilhuda

    I am sure this book fulfills some consumer need. It has good graphics and photography layout and good research on the subject-matter, but all that effort is on a topic that requires nothing further than commonsense and would be of no use to anyone unless the book is meant as a coffee table book for waiting rooms of clinics and businesses where casual bored observers flick through pages to kill time.

    Does anyone need to know the pretty basic stuff that fruit trees and flowering creepers and plants attract birds? If your garden has a bougainvillea, an orange tree and spinach, what kind of birds frequent it? You already know. And the kind of trees, plants, veggies and flowers you can grow depends on your geographical location. Do I need a picture book to tell me that?

    And nature's ecosystem is a circle not a singularity: you put in the hours, energy, effort and money to grow a tree, you eat the fruit, share it with others, use the peel and seed to make powder and more plant saplings, and,(depending on the tree/plant) you can even boil the leaves and make herbal tea or face and hair tonic, and save what's left as organic material which goes back in the garden to nourish the trees etc. When tree blooms, it attracts bees and birds and insects (and cats and snakes), all feed on it, and depending on the tree type, some birds even make nests on them. you enjoy the tree's shade, the tree helps produce oxygen and suck out the environmental pollutants, and working in the garden / field is mentally soothing and humbling, and encourages kids to work hard without judgement and peer pressure while recognizing nature's beauty and resilience as well. So why should I focus on simply what birds are getting out of the ecosystem?

    There's a serendipity and magic in watching a garden bloom and letting nature take its course. When I first started planting flowers, evergreen and fruiting trees and a veggie garden, I used to call my mom and cry that no birds came to my garden, it was so soundless. Over the years, I have seen birds that I don't even know the names of and there's music and motion in the garden even in silence and stillness!

    What's next? 100 plants to feed the bees? Do I need to buy such a book? I don't think so. But maybe some dentist (or honey maker) does.

    All the best to the author.

  • Ashleah

    100 Plants to Feed the Birds: Turn Your Home Garden into a Healthy Bird Habitat is a gardening and landscape design resource book by Laura Erickson. The eBook version is around 256 pages and has tons of full-color photos of various birds and plants.

    The book is separated into two parts. Part one details how to create a good habitat in your home garden for local birds. Erickson notes that though over 50 million North Americans feed birds, the suet, sugar water, and birdseed they provide doesn't actually offer a complete and balanced diet for any of them.

    Locally native plants are very important to add to home landscaping in order to help support American birds. These plants are great for overall bird welfare, as they can produce seeds, fruits, nectar, and other essential foods for our feathered friends (like insects that birds need for protein). They can also provide nesting materials as well as roosting and nesting sites. There are quite a few pages noting how important it is to avoid non-native and invasive plants.

    The second part of the book is a lot bigger than part one, and details the eponymous 100 plants that support birds that were mentioned in the title. These plants are separated by type: coniferous trees, broadleaf trees, grasses, herbaceous plants, miscellaneous plants (like lichen), shrubs, vines, and cactus and yuccas. Each plant is detailed over several pages, including many images, their uses, what conditions they prefer, their most useful seasons, their colors, their maximum height, and a map with their native range.

    In the back of the book, there is a chart of favorite plants of common North American birds. There are also further resources like a chart of North American native plant societies, a glossary of terms, and an index.

    Special thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book for me to review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

  • Annie

    Originally posted on my blog:
    Nonstop Reader.

    100 Plants to Feed the Birds is a well written and beautifully photographed manual full of practical tips and information on building and maintaining welcoming habitats for birds aimed at readers in North America written and curated by
    Laura Erickson. Due out 20th Dec 2022 from
    Storey, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

    This is a well organized pictorial guide and plant encyclopedia. The first section covers the need for homeowners to help support and build habitat to mitigate the damage of habitat loss due to large scale farming, forestry, and urban sprawl. The bulk of the book contains 100 detailed plant profiles with range maps, sourcing information, habit, and uses. Each of the profiles contain descriptions, uses, culture info, specific species information, and photos of each plant which include wildlife nesting, using, and interacting with target plant species. Botanical nomenclature (Latin name) is used alongside some common/layman names to help with specific sourcing and remove confusion about which specific plant is being discussed.

    The photography (mostly stock) is clear, illustrative, and in color.

    Five stars. This is a useful guide and will make a good selection for public and school library acquisition, for homeowners, gardening groups, smallholders, activity groups, and similar.

    Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

  • A Broken Zebra

    "A book of nature cannot possibly list all the best choices for every yard. The plants listed here, all native to the United States and Canada, are good possibilities to start with, but state and local native plant organizations and birding clubs should be able to provide you with invaluable advice relevant to your local situation." - Laura Erickson

    Informative with a layout that flows and is pleasing. This guide has a nice balance of words, photos, and facts on the pages, and is divided in a manner that makes sense; easy to navigate! The back includes an index as well as photo credits.

    The book addresses four-season support for gardens versus the typical color consideration for its visual allure, saying "Well-thought-out landscaping for birds has aesthetic appeal, too, but it also embraces the full annual cycle, from winter through the following winter, of a variety bird species", and that gardening for birds is more than just a hummingbird garden. Erickson goes on to say that a bird garden may be tricky due to the confusing nature of species names. "When the American Ornithologists' Union published the first 'Check-List of North American Birds' in 1886, they included an English name and a Latin scientific name for each...(d)espite the many checklists and guidebooks published since, bird names are still hard to keep straight. Plant names are even less standardized." So, the book lists their recommended genus alongside some species representing good choices for various parts of the country.






  • Yvonne

    This is a fabulous book that is full of photos, information and advice for helping the feathered friends that visit your garden. I didn't realise that is a book based in America, so there are some birds that we don't get in the UK. That being said, it is still a fabulous book to flick through and pick up ideas for my own garden.

    The first thing I liked about this book was the gorgeous photos of the birds, as I mentioned there are birds we don't have in the UK, but that didn't matter at all. We have our own variations of many of the birds. Also mentioned in this book are tree species, and again there are some we don't have.

    The book is gorgeous, I got a kindle copy and it was great flicking through on the larger PC, so I was able to see the images in greater detail. This book is full of many tips for helping to promote your own garden and to encourage the wild birds to visit. In doing this you will also encourage insects that will then be beneficial for pollinating your own flowers and vegetables.

    The basic advice is given as well as more detailed advice, quick hints and tips are given as well as themes that may take longer to come into their own, especially if you are planting slower-growing plants.

    This is one that anyone interested in nature and encouraging nature into your garden will enjoy. You can be an armchair gardener as well as an active one with plots and plants. An informative and interesting book that I have taken some tips for planting next year, ideal as it isn't due for publication until 20th December 2022, making it an ideal Christmas present.

    Well laid out, gorgeous to look through and one I would definitely recommend.

  • Gill

    I love the birds that visit and make nests around my yard. For years I've been thinking about the decline of many song birds in the United States and have been wondering what I can plant in my yard to aid them. Most environmentally minded folks know about native plants but I needed more knowledge.

    100 Plants to Feed the Birds by Laura Erickson is just the resource I was looking for. Erickson begins the book with a look and information about birds. Then beautifully moves the book in a beautifully organized way to plants. We get a detailed look at trees, grasses, flowers, bushes/shrubs and vines. We get a look at what grows best in each area of the country, which birds like and what purpose does the plant bring. WIth a key in the beginning we can see what is great for caterpillars, nesting, etc, Covers much more than just feeding the birds. They need shelter and areas to nest as well. 100 Plants to Feed the Birds has beautiful detailed photographs that not only compliment the book but make identification of both birds and plants simple.

    I'm looking forward to adding a physical copy of this book to my gardening library. Also, looking forward for spring to get to work planting some species on Erickson's list!

    Thank you #NetGalley for the early read. All opinions are my own. #100PlantstoFeedtheBirds

  • Kanihilation

    I LOVE this book! I can completely understand how hard is must be to write a book that contains helpful information to all the states. This book touches upon each variety of plant and recommended species to your area - that was my favorite part. Also, as someone who lives in Arizona and feels like they are highly knowledgeable on the plants here, this book contains tons of desert plant information and I have learned so much more! Love the bird info with the plant info. Love the variety of trees and how well they are explained. This is such a great book to buy and keep referring back to, which is what I’ll be doing. It’s also inspired me to go to my local plant nursery and buy some of the recommended bird-loving plants.

    Another great thing is that this book of course includes scientific names, buts it’s not heavy on the usage, so these plants are easily found and readable within the pages.

    For other Arizona readers, I’d also recommend some plants that may not have been mentioned in this book that birds love - Madagascar ocotillo, all types of lavender, Azure Bush Germander, Mexican Bird of Paradise (verdins love!), Mulga acacia tree for bugs and seeds, Elephant Food (quails eat the leaves), and Tall Slipper Plant (Pedilanthus bracteatus) - a favorite of hummingbirds.

  • Mardi

    [unpaid review of uncorrected page proofs from NetGalley]
    Practical advice for long-term planning: what to plant, what not to plant, and why. I particularly enjoyed the information about common invasive plants. She includes in her list of bird-friendly plants some species of plants that I wouldn't dream of having in my yard on purpose: Virginia Creeper and Sumac. They both seem fairly invasive to me in that they will make themselves right at home and edge out other plants. But, apparently, birds love 'em!
    For each plant in the book, Erickson includes information to help you make the best choices for your area about soil requirements, native range, sun exposure requirements, growing season, maximum height, etc.
    This book doesn't publish until December 2022 and the galley didn't include the promised glossary or index but it did include a couple of lists I think readers will appreciate: Favorite Plants of Common North American Birds and North American Native Plant Societies. Storey typically provides great illustrations in their titles so I look forward to the finished product!

  • Erica Robbin

    This was excellent! I’d recommend it to any gardener, whether novice or expert.

    I would like to thank Storey Publishing for providing me with an advance readers copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program.

    The Story
    Covered a variety of trees and grasses for sanctuary insect pollinators, particularly birds.

    It’s very accessible and includes plant care and time commitment for geographical and agricultural zone references for gardening success. Also is speaks to historical information, as well as pros and cons, environmental conscience, and presents ideas through multiple seasons, focusing on birds, which was refreshing to read and unique for this sort of gardening topic.

    I enjoyed the historical bits about fireweed.

    I was surprised about yellow iris, height of the thistle, and all the variety of berry types that I had not known much about.

    The Writing
    Well-organized, visually appealing with definitions and tidbits, and great photos.

    Really a joy to read and I will look forward to adding a copy reference for my bookshelf.


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