Spring has sprung and every gardener is trying to attract those beautiful hummingbirds to their garden. Hummingbirds
spend much of their time darting from flower to flower in search of nectar and
small insects to eat so to attract and keep them in your garden you need to make sure they have something to eat. 'Hummers' drink from any color blossom but seem to prefer
brightly colored, tubular flowers. Plan your landscape to provide flowers
continuously throughout the growing season for these entertaining nectar
sippers!
Some favorite hummingbird plants
include:
Begonia Begonia spp annual
Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii perennial
Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis perennial
Hibiscus Hibiscus spp annual
Impatiens Impatians spp annual
Lantana Lantana spp annual/perennial
Petunia Petunia spp annual
Phlox Phlox spp annual/perennial
Hollyhock Althea spp shrub
Salvia Salvia spp annual/perennial
Trumpet Creeper Campsis radicans vine
Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera semipevirens vine
Do:
·
Fill
the feeder with a cool mixture of 1 part white sugar dissolved in 4 parts
boiling water. Store extra solution in the refrigerator.
· Clean
the feeder regularly - every 3 days or so in hot weather - to prevent mold from
growing in the sugar solution.
· Hang the feeder in March and leave it up until
at least October or year-round in southern part of state.
Do Not:
·
Do
not add red coloring to the sugar solution.
·
Do
not use a sugar substitute or honey to make the sugar solution.
·
Do
not hang feeder in full sun - the solution will spoil more quickly.
Remember - keeping feeders up throughout the
winter will not prevent hummingbirds from migrating and but will increase your
chances of seeing a rare species of hummingbird!
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