Create a Hummingbird Garden
Here in the Missouri Ozarks, as in many other places in the country (and all over the world), Hummingbirds, are a big deal, attracting them, watching them, feeding them. We have spent hours on our screen porch and at our dining room table watching them frequent our humming bird feeders and circling our trumpeter vines, honeysuckle vines, and columbine.
As far as hummingbird feeders goes, they are fun to put up and watch; however, they require a rather strict maintenance. They must be refilled and cleaned every 3-4 days to one week, depending on the temperature (the hotter it is, the more often they need cleaned), how many feeders you have hung, and how many hummingbirds you have around. A hummingbird garden takes actually much less time and maintenance. The mixture for hummingbird feeders is 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Do NOT add dye or food coloring, red or otherwise, honey, brown sugar, or jello.
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One good way to enjoy the company of hummingbirds is
planting a hummingbird garden. In addition to providing them a natural
diet, a hummer garden is an excellent way to attract birds to your nearby
feeders, since hummingbirds feed by sight on regularly-followed routes
- called traplines - their inquisitive nature will quickly lead
them to investigate any possible new source of food. A hummer garden is
also a great way to capture the birds on film or video, and makes a much
nicer backdrop for your photos than the typical plastic feeder. If you
plan carefully and select a variety of plants that flower at successively
later dates, you will be rewarded with happy hummers throughout the season.
Using pesticides around hummingbird plants is a very bad idea. Killing garden pests will also eliminate the small insects hummingbirds rely upon for protein. In addition, hummers might directly ingest pesticides sprayed onto flowers, which could sicken or kill the birds. Remember: if you wouldn't eat it yourself, don't feed it to a hummingbird! (Well, maybe not the bugs...)
Since hummers, like most birds, have virtually no sense of smell, the flowers that attract them tend to have little or no fragrance, apparently directing their resources instead toward high visibility and nectar production. Note also that cultivated hybrids often make much less nectar than wild strains. While you should visit your local nursery for suggestions specific to your climate and area, you can click on the nest page to find a list of some of the best plants to consider if you're planning a hummingbird garden: