Hey Animallover,
I'm just up the road from you, Deland, well, actually Deleon Springs. Small world!!
Here is a picture of one of my favorite shrubs I have:
Leucophyllum frutescens 'Compacta' I've always known it as Texas Sage or Texas Ranger.
The Hummers and BF's love it.
mj
Well, we do have 20's and 30's. Every few years, we'll have a 22 or 23, but that's about as cold as we get. But, it doesn't stay around long. We had 5 inches of snow (which is very rare) last Thursday, and the next Thursday it was 80 degrees. So, we don't get down and stay down for too long. I've also got the dwarf bottlebrush 'Little John', and it gets a little more unhappy in the cold, but the leaves just die back and new one's replace them the next spring. I haven't lost any from the cold (or the dog pee). I'd say it's worth a try.
I may just have to give that a try. Merry Christmas Everyone!
Lisa
Nilly, I've been gardening for hummingbirds for many years, and the numbers of hummers that live around my house has increased every year. I used to have only one hummingbird feeder but I plant lots of hummingbird flowers which seemed to keep the hummers from fighting too much. In August, there were so many hummers around that the fighting just got too intense to enjoy watching. I usually enjoy watching them chasing each other around the yard but this year they started wrestling each other to the ground and were rolling around squeaking. I decided to put up another feeder on the other side of the house so there would be more nectar available and that seemed to help the situation. One bird usually dominated the one feeder and another bird dominated the other but other hummers got quick tastes at times.
I live in OH in zone 5b and I've had the best luck with several types of salvias. Salvia guaranitica and Salvia involucrata are the hands down favorites at my house. They ignore Salvia coccinea and many other plants that are said to be hummingbird favorites when these salvias are in bloom. The plants that work well in the spring and early summer are trumpet honeysuckle, the native wild columbine, crossvine, Indian pink, fire pink and coral bells. I have purchased several varieties of coral bells but the hummingbird favorite here is an old fashioned variety that I got from my grandmother. I don't know the variety because my grandmother grew it for decades. The plants are the 'typical' ones you see in older gardens, they're tall and pink. The hummers also really like Monarda 'Raspberry Wine". I have several other varieties of Monarda but they seem to ignore them. Once Salvia guaranitica and Salvia involucrata start blooming, the hummers seem to ignore eveyrthing else. I have also seem them using Salvia 'Scarlet Spires'. I have grown other salvias that they don't seem to use much and I'm going to be trying many more species of salvias this coming year to find out it the hummers like them. I hope this helps you.
Hey hummer folks.....Dave has put the BirdFiles database in motion!!!!! You that have knowledge and great pictures need to build up some hummer info on there!
Hello all. I never tried to attract hummingbirds to my yard. I only just began attracting birds since the Spring of 2008. However, I would like to attract them this year but don't know when they begin to appear in Maryland (zone 7a).
I would like to start with a feeder(s) but altimately have a garden that attracts both butterflies and humming birds and to satisfy my daughter. I have already designated a spot for flowers that me and my daughter will plant this spring. At 7 she loves flowers. This is my 2nd attempt at flower planting - no green thumb - but I am adamant that we will grow something.
Also, can I still maintain my other bird feeders in the backyard along with the hummingbird feeder(s)? What hummingbird feeder would you recommend to a 1st timer.
Thanks for any insight
Al
I have all types of feeders... but this one is my favorite... easy to clean
https://www.shopatron.com/product/part_number=1011/567.0.25206.25752.0.0.0
oh and I usually check this site for when they are getting near
http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html
That feeder OneWish showed is also very easy to refill on busy days. You just lift the lid and pour some more in. I have Orioles and a few other kinds of bigger birds (*and *squirrels) that enjoy my feeders too.
I got a hummzinger this year for Christmas too so I could get an unobstructed view of the little darlings.
The Hummzinger has SIX ports and is only $22 on this site. Love mine. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=9089+10468+7706&pcatid=7706
Can you believe how HUGE they can get? I only WISH i had enough hummers to warrant that.
oh, forgot to mention that I also got this window one
http://www.hummzinger.com/window-feeder.htm
Like that one too Mrs_Ed!
I always worry they will fly into the window
I'd bet that Mrs. Ed gets some great picture of the hummers with that window one!
here's hoping
Thanks for the info. I will take a look at those sites.
Thanks all, for the plant lists - I didn't expect to be away for so long!
I'm getting back to it all now though and will be going through the lists as I have time.
Hope to trade seeds with some of you!
peace.
Hi, Nilly, (just noticed this is an old thread, but I'll post it anyway sorry)
Noticed not too many north of the Mason-Dixon line chimed in here so I'll add that many experienced HB gardeners in our region find these four plants essential:
old fashioned red cannas
red salvias
red trumpet vine (can be very invasive so be careful with it)
coral honeysuckles.
If those are all you have, you will have many happy HBs. Of course, we have those and much more because I'm addicted to pleasing them! I have lots more HB info and links for our region in my DG 'diary/blog whatever they are calling it now' if you want to check it. (But I don't know how to link it here.)
Let us know when you get your visitors this year! t.
I'm in the Hudson valley of NY and haven't seen any yet, I've had my feeder out for a week now.
i just put out my first hummingbird feeder--a mothers day gift--it is under the patio eaves and so i wonder if it will be harder to find--i have made some strings of red, pink beads to hang close by to sort of show the way--i also have some red beads hanging from the planter along with some red ribbon--
Saw my first hummer 2 days ago! Small female red throat!
I saw a hummer 2 weeks ago while at a park in Northern VA (Monticello Park). Not sure what kind though.
I have not takers at my hummer feeder and it's been up for over a week now.
This message was edited May 13, 2009 8:38 AM
The most visitors to our hummingbird feeder thus far have been red-bellied woodpeckers and downy woodpeckers. A few ruby-throateds, too, but they have to wait in line for the big guys!
I had a pine siskin a few days ago! HA!
I have a large collection of fuchsia's which the hummingbirds defend vigorously all year round here. As they bloom year round in Zone 9b.
But every spring, I am happy to also see the Hooded Orioles return! And they are back! They nest in my neighbors huge old willow every years, and teach their young to pull the bee guards off of my hummingbird feeder so they can get the nectar out faster. I can always tell when they have showed up, even before I hear their distinctive call, when the hummingbird feeder suddenly has to be refilled every day :-D
I don't know if I can post a clip here, but I have a little video of more than 14 hummers swarming my feeder this Febuary. For a couple of weeks, it would happen every evening just before sun down. It was awesome to watch.
This is a photo of the resident male keeping watch over the feeder hanging down below him.
