Simply For The Birds

Now is the time to start planning what you want to put in your summer garden and or planters.  If you are a hummingbird lover like I am, you might consider adding some plants that will attract hummingbirds to your containers.  Here is a list of some flowers you might want to consider in your planning~

Superbells, bright red cuphea, weigela, verbena, fushia, supertunia, honeysuckle, columbine and jasmine. This list is a suggestion and by no means exhaustive of the flowers you can use to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden.

Be creative with the colors you choose so the planter is pleasing to your eye as well.  Keep in mind that hummers like colorful flowers, especially reds and deep pinks.

Don’t forget to set out a feeder or two as well!

If ants are causing a nuisance with your hummingbird feeder, there are several things you can try.  There is a gooey product that can be applied around the hook on your feeder called Tree Tanglefoot Pest Barrier.  The ants can’t go through it.  Another thought is using an ant moat to protect the nectar.  A clear ant moat works well so that you can see when it is full of ants and time to change the water.  A red one will help attract hummingbirds to the feeder.  Affordable way to keep ants from taking over your feeders.

By getting the right kind of feeder, you can draw more hummingbirds to your garden or backyard.  So make sure to purchase a hummingbird feeder if your aim is to attract flocks of those tiny, brightly colored new world birds with a long, thin bills and narrow wings that move quickly, and frequently while making a humming sound.
 
Hummingbird feeders can be made of metal or plastic.  Needless to say, the metal variety is more durable than the plastic kind, and can last for many, many years.  It is also waterproof and weatherproof, with colors and designs that will never lighten or tarnish.  If you prefer a more attractive type of feeder, go for a decorative feeder.  As its name implies, the decorative variety has more intricate designs and is more pleasing to the eye than an ordinary feeder.  The best way to entice hummingbirds to your garden is to fill your feeder with nectar.  Hummingbirds love this sweet stuff.  A good buy would be Clear Instant Nectar, whose eight-ounce package makes 48 ounces when mixed with tap water.  It requires no boiling, besides being color-free and scientifically-developed to attract hummingbirds to your feeder.

Hummingbirds can be very territorial when it comes to their feeding sites.  A way around that, is to provide multiple hummingbird feeders - that way you can attract more Hummingbirds to your backyard.  Once you have Hummingbirds coming to your feeders, they will come back year after year. 

There are commercial hummingbird nectars widely available for purchase.  However, if you would like to make your own, here is a simple recipe.  Boiling water for several minutes will help keep nectar from spoiling.  Once water has boiled, measure 1 cup water to 1/4 cup white cane sugar.  Stir until sugar is dissolved.  Cool before placing in hummingbird feeder.  You can make a double batch and store in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.  This mixture is approximately the average sucrose content (21%) of the flowers favored by North American Hummingbirds.

Don’t allow your nectar to ferment.  If a hummingbird gets a taste of fermented nectar from your feeder, he will most likely keep his distance from the feeder for a long time.