Hanging a feeder from an eave will attract these little bundles of near-perpetual motion to your yard; however, a feeder that is strategically surrounded by certain summer plants guarantees many repeat visitors.  Hummingbirds are attracted to a safe place to hang out, talk to each other, flirt, bathe and eat.  So, if you want to draw a large population to your yard, your landscape should include plants, trees, shrubs, and colorful vines that these little birds especially like.

FEEDERS
We have a great selection of feeders from inexpensive plastic to beautiful glass.  Hang in a location that it not in the direct sunlight to prevent the ‘nectar’ from spoiling more quickly.  Change ‘nectar’ every 3 to 5 days to prevent mold and fermentation.  Our hummingbird food is free of preservatives and food color and is easy to mix.  No boiling required!  Clean your feeder once a week with hot water and a dilute bleach solution and a bottle brush.  Never use honey in your feeder as it easily ferments and can be fatal to Hummingbirds.

PLANTS
Tiny insects provide the protein and flowering plants provide the nectar that hummingbirds need to keep going.  Because hummingbirds ingest half their weight in food every day, they visit a large array of plants and especially enjoy plants with brightly colored tubular flowers.
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Herbaceous Plants:
Bee Balm
Begonia
Butterfly Weed
Canna Lily
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia)
Dahlia
Delphinium
Four O’ Clock
Foxglove
Geranium
Gladiolus
Hollyhock
Impatiens
Lantana
Nasturtium
Nicotiana
Petunia
Phlox
Red Hot Poker
Salvia
Scabiosa
Sweet William
Verbena
Zinnia
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Ferns:
(Provide ‘Downy’ Nesting Material)
Lady Fern
Southern Shield

Shrubs:
Abelia
Azalea
Butterfly Bush
Flowering Quince
Weigela
Firebush/Hamelia patens

Vines:
Bleeding Heart
Honeysuckle
Jasmine
Morning Glory
Trumpet Creeper

Trees:
Chaste Tree (Vitex)
Chinaberry
Flowering Crabapple
Hawthorne
Mimosa
Red Buckeye
Tulip Poplar
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HABITAT
To attract even more hummingbirds to your garden, provide them with an ideal habitat.  Important elements of hummingbird habitat include:[one-half first]

• Nearby trees for shelter and nesting
• Areas of full sun, partial shade and full shade
• Blocks of color in your flower beds
• Plantings with mixed levels of flowers
• Plantings along ‘edges’ of meadows or forests
• Source of ‘downy’ plant material for nest building
• Splashing or spraying water

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