I have some blue cranesbill geraniums which spread aggressively in my garden and even in with the weeds. These are not the red double geraniums sold in all the flower stores. These are cranesbill geraniums (Geranium maculatum “Rosanne”).
The native wild geraniums are pink and are only about 6 inches tall. They have been hybridized to blue colored “Rosanne” geraniums which are about 18” tall.
I like them because they are good pollinating flowers to attract bees and butterflies. I don’t like them because they are so aggressive.
From the pictures you can see that they have beautiful leaves. They also develop seeds very quickly and look like legumes with their pointy seed pods. Several generations of the plant are able to develop in one summer.
Most of the birds, however, will have only one nest of baby birds. The birds that nest at the beginning of the summer are already encouraging their babies to fledge. Their little birds will be learning to fly and ready to migrate in the fall. Before that time they will travel slowly southward, training the young ones how to find food and how to avoid danger.
Now it will be time for the late summer birds to raise their young. Birds such as goldfinches, which delight in eating dandelions and thistles wait ‘till later in the summer to raise their young. They look forward to the fall seeds and berries to feed their babies. Late summer birds also feed their babies caterpillars, so keep the butterflies coming.
Another bird that raises young later in the summer are the Cedar Waxwings. They feed on berries and wild fruit as well as insects. My blueberries and thimbleberries are just ripening this week, so I know they will find fruit to feed their babies. The cedar waxwings continue to wait around for the mountain ash berries to ripen in the fall before they head south.
It is fun to have the variety of the birds. I will miss the warblers that are finishing up their parenting for the summer, but I look forward to these late nesters as well.
Now I am on the lookout for what birds and insects will forage on the seed pods of my cranesbill geraniums. Save those dandelions, too! Save them for hungry goldfinches and chickadees.
