Tuesday Tip: Gardening & Attracting Hummingbirds

In keeping with the beautiful time of year, let's continue to have many reasons to get outside…
admiring the impressive Hummingbird.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird  Male

Some interior designers love to use their gift they have for designing interiors in the same way for outdoors too by creating gorgeous gardens.  By layering textures, colors and adding depth/scale in using these similar techniques applied indoors, a garden can possess an attraction for homeowners in the say way and be a space to enjoy for many years to come…and if done right, grabbing the eye of hummingbirds too!

Hummingbird in the Garden Photo: Jim White 

Besides providing a natural way to feed them (feeder), they feed by sight on routes that they regular follow.

Hummingbird feeder

Why not consider ways in which to attract them to you?  Hummingbirds are inquisitive by nature, so providing them with a possible new food source, you maybe lucky enough to have them linger longer in your yard.

 

Male Ruby Throated Hummingbird

photo by Terry Sohl

Because they are also very visual creatures (most birds do not have a sense of smell), consider creating a hummingbird habitat that provides an abundance of nectar/food that they will visually be attracted to.

Images from Pinterest  storyboard created using PSE

Plants, Trees & Shrubs  

 (just a few suggestions): 

Azaleas

Butterfly Bush 

Cape Honeysuckle

Flowering Quince 

Lantana

Morning Glory

Columbine

Coral Bells 

Foxglove 

Hosta

Trumpet Creeper

Fuchsia

Impatiens 

Petunia 

Salvia 

Additional Features  Hummingbirds Will Enjoy

Water (ideally mist, fountain) 

Gazing Ball (blue or red) 

Perches (small to grasp onto in an open area to keep an eye out) 

  I couldn't help but share a few stylish Hummingbird Feeders nice enough perhaps even for the pickiest  peeps (designer approved) that may want to add a little pizazz to their gardens while having an additional feeding source for the hummingbirds.

Images/sources found on Pinterest

Note:  Ruby-throated Hummingbirds found in the Eastern part of the US, are very territorial and tend to defend their flowers and feeders.  So, you may want to consider putting up several feeders out of sight from each other.

Feeders in North America should be put up early enough as the hummingbirds are in their migratory pattern (timing will vary greatly depending on where you are located, can be as early as January in Florida).

Hummingbird Food Recipe (re-fresh every 3-4 days)

1 Part Sugar

4 Parts Water 

Boil water 1-2 minutes, add sugar till dissolved. 

Cool & Store in Refrigerator 

Sometimes seeing something void of color can be just as beautiful. 

A rare site to behold: an Albino Hummingbird.  Photo by Kevin Shank 

Time to get busy!  Don't forget to let us know how your new garden turns out.