Birds and Blooms - An Excellent Way to Brighten Anyone's Day!

This is my favorite magazine. Why? The reading is topped by the most beautiful photos you can imagine - bringing wildlife (the birds) and cultured beauty (the blooms) up close and personal for those who only WISH they could get out and stalk the birds or grow such beautiful flowers.

AND this extremely high-class (all glossy) magazine is almost sans advertisements. Recently, one page near the back of the magazine has advertized birdfeeding items(which may actually be owned by the parent company that produces "Birds and Blooms"). At any rate, there are no intrusive ads.

The photos on the covers as well as within the pages are vibrant full-color. A particular bird or flower or butterfly, usually seasonal, is featured each issue, and detailed information is found in a meaty article on that species.

There are many reader-contributed columns in each issue, making it an easy place for would-be writers to "break in". (Contributor's guidelines are printed inside front cover.) They particularly seek out gorgeous photos captured by readers. Here are some of the featured articles in the latest (Feb/March) issue:
Top BillingYellow-Throated Warblers; Glad You Asked!Experts answer questions about flowers and birds; Wild About Birds"We couldn't have found a more colorful personality to kick off this new feature about people who go to remarkable lengths for feathered friends." Blooming Beauty Snapdragons; Home Sweet HomeBirdhouses modeled after castles.
Worth SeeingSouthern Louisiana is like a whole different world when it comes to birding - state's Cypress Island Preserve.

In addition, the more solidly reader-contributed departments are: "Setting the Table" (tips to bring birds to backyard feeding stations), a 9-page "Walk" through a gorgeous flowering parks with fantastic photos and minimal print accompaniment (which may be by staff instead of readers), a couple of pages of "Hummer Happenings", a couple of pages of "Flying Flowers"(butterflies), "Kindergarden" (pictures of kids with birds, blooms, butterflies, etc.), OOPS! Another ad, for Alaska Yukon trips!, "Backyard Banter" reader-shared tips, "Reader's Scrapbook" pictures (some REALLY fascinating, rivaling professionals), that other one-page ad I mentioned, and the find-the-acorn contest. If you find the hidden acorn, you win a (nice) prize. I DID find it this time, probably because I was looking more carefully for this review!

This magazine does have very useful and concrete information. I save them all, and have OFTEN cheered a stay-at-home neighbor, or a bored or sick relative, by loaning them a few of these cheerful, winter blues-beating magazines. Gift subscriptions are one of the best gifts you can give; after you're a subscriber, you'll get great offers on gift subscriptions. On my current subscription, I got a 3-year subscription, which was quite a savings. AND if you absolutely hate the wait for the bimonthly issues - REJOICE! Now there's an INTERIM publication, Birds and Blooms Extra! for the off-month! Also, you can buy this magazine on better news-stands, if you'd rather pick and choose which months to buy. $4 each that way, and STILL a bargain!