Gardening to Attract Hummingbirds

There is nothing quite as magical as seeing a hummingbird flitting around your garden. The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird that migrates through our area. They are the only hummingbird that breeds east of Mississippi River and they winter mainly in tropics. (Smart little critters!)

Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backward as well as hover in one spot like insects. They are constantly in motion, perching on twigs or wires only briefly to rest and to survey their surroundings, or when they are at the nest. Hummers average only 3-1/2 inches in height and weigh only 1/8 of an ounce!

These little wonders are attracted to tubular colorful flowers such as salvia, trumpet creeper and honeysuckle, as well as some of the others in the following list. Hummingbirds will also gladly feed from feeders filled with sweet liquid. Add a few of these to your garden along with a water source and you just might have hummingbirds in your garden.

To make your own butterfly nectar, all you need to do is mix is one part sugar to four parts boiling water. Pour in feeders after the mixture cools. It is advisable to clean the feeders once a week.

Click here to view a PDF of plants that attract hummingbirds

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