My recent post about the trees and shrubs you can grow to attract birds into the garden emphasized their role as natural insect pest controllers. But here the idea of attracting hummingbirds is purely for the enjoyment they provide to us a spectators. Jean Starr writes about her success in attracting hummingbirds in an article on her Petal Talk blog.
Who doesn’t like hummingbirds? I can’t get enough of them, with their unmistakable cackling buzz startles me every time I hear it.
It’s a sign they’re closing in on a nearby plant. I like to make sure I have a regular hummer smorgasbord so that they’ll put my garden on their flight path.
According to the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, hummingbirds are territorial. I actually knew that, and have seen two hummingbirds in my garden chasing each other around. But it’s hard to consider something that weighs less than a nickel threatening.
Hummingbird love affair with Cuphea ‘Vermillionaire. The hummingbird “meat and potatoes” plant seems to be Cuphea ‘Vermillionaire,’ an unobtrusive tropical that asks for little in fertilizer or water. I actually wintered the plant over in the mudroom, which gets little light but seldom falls below 50 degrees F.
See more at Petal Talk
