Your Backyard Hummingbird Habitat

Hummingbirds have always fascinated me. Even after years of attracting them to my garden, I still marvel in amazement whenever I see these tiny creatures sipping nectar from the hummingbird feeder or from plants in my garden.

So what is the attraction? Their diminutive size? (They are about three and a half inches long and weigh about an eighth of an ounce) The fact that I only see them for a few months out of the year? The challenge of attracting them to my yard? I'd have to admit to all of the above as reasons for wanting to attract hummingbirds to my yard.

But I'm not alone. As a landscape designer, people often ask me to create a haven for hummingbirds in their yard. Since I enjoy watching these birds myself, I am happy to help others share in that enjoyment in their own backyards.

If you have room in your yard, I'd recommend getting a feeder and a variety of tempting annuals and perennials to provide a nectar source for the birds. Those lucky birds get to eat more than their weight in food on a daily basis, plus they eat about every 10 minutes. With a feeder and appropriate plantings, it is only a matter of time before you see your first hummingbird!

There are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing a hummingbird feeder. I've tried a few different styles over the years, but I've had the most success with a glass feeder. With their sturdy design, glass feeders will last for years. My feeder has a built-in ant moat on top, and a slender glass reservoir that is easy to clean and refill with sugar solution.

You can make your own homemade nectar by combining one part ordinary white cane sugar with four parts water. Commercial nectar mixes are unnecessary and sometimes harmful. I've read that it is not necessary to boil the water, so I add the sugar to slightly warm water so that it dissolves faster. After the solution cools to room temperature, I fill up the feeder. Make sure to rinse out your feeder thoroughly each time you refill it about every two to four days, but don't use soap. Also, don't let the solution get cloudy (this indicates spoilage) and don't use honey because it promotes the growth of harmful bacteria. Avoid red food coloring and artificial sweeteners as well.

It's not too late to create your own hummingbird habitat this year. There is still a wide selection of plants at area garden centers; you just have to know which ones to select.

When it comes to flowers, hummingbirds prefer those with tubular shapes. Because they have elongated bills and a long forked tongue, they are able to sip nectar easily from these types of flowers. Although they visit many colorful flowers, they have a strong preference for those that are red.

Optimally, you want to have a succession of hummingbird-attracting perennials to round out the plants in your yard. A variety of native shrubs and perennials will help keep the insect population thriving in your yard. Hummingbirds and other birds rely on insects as a source of protein in their diet and especially the diet of their young.

Hummingbirds enjoy the nectar of various flowers including: cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), bee balm (Monarda species), native honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), phlox (various species), Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica), gayfeather (Liatris species), and trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans). Avoid planting Japanese honeysuckle, the exotic invasive species.

Colorful annuals will help you attract these little creatures. Consider adding these annuals to pots, containers or planting beds in your yard: salvia, fuchsia, petunia, impatiens, nicotiana, begonia, geranium, hibiscus, nasturtium, and lantana.

It's the little things in life that give pleasure. If you are interested in attracting hummingbirds to your yard, I hope you succeed! With the right plants and a good feeder, you should be off to a great start! For more information, please visit: http://hummingbirds.net.