Hi Karen!
I have seen it several days off and on. I think that it is coming back daily, but since I work, I am not able to see it except on the weekends. And I do see it then every Sat. and Sun. :-)
The corner of the fenced backyard that I have all the red nectart plants is exactly where it is coming to! Lots and lots of red all over the place. I think that is what got it's attention to come see and find out what I have for nectar. I also have lots of small insects as well. I hope more start coming! I have 3 feeders on a pole in that area too! It's a hummer buffet!
The more nectar flowers you have grouped in an area, the better, Karen! Good luck! If I get more, I'll whisper in their ears to go see YOU! lol
OMG ... GUESS WHAT???
YEAH BECKY! !!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you - I know how long you've waited and planted all their favorite plants !!! Oh this is sweet sweet news. They try to drink from anything and everything, ... you know my first hummer was on a purple verbena - and I know they favor red, but they love so many different things. Mine really love the phygelius rectus (winchester and pink elf) winchester suckers, so I keep those in pots.
I'm so happy for you, you deserve a whole flock of hummingbirds !!
Do you have3 balamcanda? They are wondeful drippy for hummer.
Maggie
HOORAY, Becky!! Last year, I had a couple that stayed around until Christmas - as long as my Salvia bloomed! Maybe, being warmer down where you are, he'll stay even longer! This year, though, everybody left in mid October & have not returned - makes me think we'll have a COLD winter! As long as it kills the lovebugs, I'm all for it! Congrats - you've done all the hard work up front, now, sit back & enjoy!! Samantha
My hummers like the scarlet honeysuckle vines and also the John Clayton yellow one. These have long trumpet blooms and they go from flower to flower on them. It was their favorite plant this year.
A cheap and prolific plant is the Balsamina Impatiens. They self sow and the hummers love to drink from them.
I have found that thye do not necessarily hang around red plants.They just visit anything to try it out.I have even seen them sipping out of the zinnias in the morning to get dew.
Mine are gone now. During the months they are here they have a nest high in the oak tree next door. They seem to fly straight up like little helipoters and disappear into the tree branch.
Also, they like the obedient plants, which are a lilac, pinkish color. At one point I thought they had migrated only to find them feasting in the back yard instead of in the front. They were loving my obedient plants.
So, you really don't have to focus only on red, anything with a good nectar supply will hold their attention.
I've seen them at apple blossoms here in the early spring. (pale pink/white)