Susan's Hummingbird Gardens

Archive for 2007

Black-chinned hummingbird

Auntie and I were gossiping and sipping tea in her hummingbird garden. How I loved her English style garden… almost as much as I loved my Auntie Elizabeth!

I don’t know exactly how it started – our companioning. More than likely it was during my visits while a toddler. Among my first memories are of sitting on her lap, blowing dandelion tufts into the breeze.

As I smiled with the memory, she whispered, “Do you hear him? He’s behind me somewhere.”

Looking past her, maybe two feet, was her friend, The Deacon. “Yes, Auntie. He’s just behind you, working his way along the honeysuckle trellis. In just a second, he’ll be along side you. Ok, you should be able to see him now. Why do you call him The Deacon?” Read the rest of this entry »

Hummingbird feeder with hungry hummer

Here’s a great hummingbird nectar recipe that I figured you’d like to have…

HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPE

We love hummingbirds and love to watch them throughout the day, especially after a long day, relaxing in our backyard nature retreat.

We have 4 feeders that are strategically located throughout our gardens. The red, hummingbird nectar feeders ( red attracts hummingbirds) are placed in areas that are naturally defined “territories” ( as you know, hummingbirds are very territorial) which helps cut down on the fighting. Read the rest of this entry »

Hummingbirds love syrupy petunias

Why Do Hummingbirds Chose Petunias And Not Roses?

Why in the world would a hummingbird pass up a heavenly scented rose in favor of a rather non-event petunia! 

Well, you could say the little guy is too busy staying alive to “smell the roses” along the way. But actually, it’s because hummingbirds aren’t drawn to fragrance. What attracts them are color and nectar. 

This is a key element to remember when creating landscape gardens for hummingbirds. Fortunately, there are at least 150 North American flowering plants that attract hummingbirds to your garden… without relying on fragrance. Read the rest of this entry »

Select plants that appeal to you as well as to those little hummers

Designing Small Hummingbird Gardens

Are you a “couch potato” gardener?

Wait… no offense intended! I am, too. It’s just an expression describing those of us who enjoy flowers and birds and butterflies, but don’t enjoy having to traipse through the garden looking for them.

Actually, my husband is more precise… he calls me a “garden potato”. He must love me, though… he rewards my “potato-ness” by placing potted plants close to the patio and porch.

Actually, we both relax every day watching our treasured hummingbirds feed and squabble and play. Only when you’re close to them can you appreciate how anatomically marvelous they are. And, container and patio gardening is the answer for the easy-does-it gardener! Read the rest of this entry »

Can you see the hummingbird?

(For the 1st part this article, see…
Blueprint to a Hummingbird Garden-Part 1)

Now that you know which shrubs and flowers to plant in your hummingbird garden, the next essentials are water, shelter, and food.

Step 2: Provide Water Misters to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden…

Just a simple hose attachment aimed into the air makes a nice arching spray, and will work just fine. As long as it’s beyond the range of cats and dogs, it will draw hummingbirds like a magnet!

It’s also helpful to direct a mister toward shrubs to turn leaves into miniature water-puddle bathtubs. Read the rest of this entry »