Attracting Hummingbirds :

Three hundred forty species of hummingbirds have been discovered, all of which reside in the western hemisphere. Sixteen species visit the United States, but only the ruby-throated hummingbird occurs regularly east of the Mississippi. Hummingbirds feed on floral nectar and tiny insects. Your garden will become a hummingbird “hot spot” if you grow flowers that provide nectar and add a few feeders.

Plants for Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds instinctively investigate red, tubular flowers. More than 160 native North American plants rely on hummingbirds for pollination. The following red-flowered species are among our favorites for attracting hummingbirds:

Scarlet (Texas) Sage Bee-balm Cardinal Flower Coral Bells

Cypress Vine Trumpet Honeysuckle Trumpet Creeper Red Buckeye

Tips For Maintaining Hummingbird Feeders
1. Boil four parts water, stir in one part white sugar, and cool. (Do not substitute honey or artificial sweeteners.)
2. Since the sugar solution will spoil in hot weather, place no more fluid in feeders than will be used in 3 days. Refrigerate excess solution for use within two weeks.
3. Clean feeders with diluted vinegar, then rinse thoroughly before refilling. Hang in a shady location.

Hummingbird Facts
1. Ruby-throated hummingbirds weigh 1/10 ounce. During migration, they travel nearly 600 miles across the Gulf of Mexico without stopping. Their wings beat about 60 times per second.
2. The world’s smallest bird is the Cuban bee hummingbird, measuring 2 ¼” inches. It is approximately the size of a bumblebee.
3. Because of wing structure unique to this group of birds, hummingbirds can fly forward, backward, sideways, or hover in place.
4. Hummingbirds endure cool nights or short periods of cold weather by lowering their body temperature and becoming dormant.

Contact us via email for more details about wildlife habitat landscaping workshops that emphasize gardening for hummingbirds and about photo classes with opportunities to photograph these amazing creatures.