THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 5, 2025 Page 13 Saugus Gardens in the Summer Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener A s we turn the corner from summer to fall, kids are back in school, the evenings are cooler and the air has become less humid. Several holidays connected with birds occur this weekend and three of them coincide tomorrow: The first Saturday in September is International Vulture Awareness Day and also National Hummingbird Day. Saturday falls on September 6, which is World Shorebirds Day. The following day, September 7, is National Threatened Species Day. We will also be able to enjoy this month’s full moon, the corn moon, on that day. Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) are fairly often seen flying over Saugus. They are carrion eaters that benefit the environment. Since they are quite large, they are noticeable as they circle above the town looking for roadkill or other carcasses. They nest in tree cavities and fallen logs or directly on the ground and usually choose places that are somewhat remote from human activity, so are not likely to have nest sites in our gardens or other populated areas. Several pairs nest each year in wooded areas off of Route 1. Hummingbirds are, of course, frequent visitors to our gardens. One of my neighbors has observed a hummingbird coming to her bright red hummingbird feeder every evening at dusk, and frequently at dawn as well. I sat out in her garden after sunset last Saturday and was lucky enough to see it come up to feed. Hummingbirds seem to remember where they have found food in the past, so it is most likely to attract regular visitors if the feeder is placed in the same location every year. In addition to those birds who spend the summer in town, in the fall we may be feeding some migrating hummingbirds well into October, after the earliest migrators have already reached Mexico and our southern states. While there are Dee LeMay’s pink rose mallow is blooming profusely this week, with four blossoms open at once. (Photo courtesy of Dee LeMay) A monarch butterfly enjoys nectar from a butterfly bush in the Saugus Iron Works gardens. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) several hummingbird species out west, the only species that is seen in Massachusetts is the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). Tubular flowers and the color red are especially attractive to hummingbirds, and many gardeners plant these especially to attract them. World Shorebirds Day was established in 2014 as people became aware that the populations of many shorebird species are in decline. While we usually think of herring gulls and other sea gulls, which have adjusted pretty well to human presence, there is considerable concern about piping plovers and many other species. Many communities are involved in a global shorebird count that takes place September 1-7 each year. Some of these shorebirds can be found in the areas near Rumney Marsh and the brackish sections of the Saugus River in East Saugus. Julia Aston’s harvest of Chinese lanterns provides plenty of fall decorations. (Photo courtesy of Julia Aston) ‘Peach Melba’ crocosmia sets off the autumn mood with its vivid orange blossoms. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Counts of birds and other animals by citizen scientists can help keep track of populations of plants and animals at risk of extinction. The term “threatened” refers to three categories: critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable. The most at risk are in the category critically endangered. Monarch butterflies are among the familiar garden visitors whose populations have noticeably declined in recent years. They benefit from nectar-producing plants like the butterfly bush, but it is also important to increase planting of milkweeds, which are necessary for their reproduction. Julia Aston’s Chinese lanterns White water lilies bloom in Silver Lake at Breakheart Reservation. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) A snowy egret is about to take flight from the Saugus River near the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) (Alkekengi officinarum, formerly called Physalis alkekengi) are producing a very good harvest of dried seedheads that look GARDENS | SEE PAGE 22
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