Ten Flowers for Hummingbirds

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Sure there are areas of my profession that are somewhat ordinary operations of any landscaping firm. There’s the lawn mowing, the maintenance thereof, seasonal pruning and so forth; but often I find that when designing beds or planting flowers and shrubs, I tend to think of what can I do to help the environment or wildlife. Then I begin to think of hummingbirds and how entertaining they are. When designing beds outside bay windows (often dining areas or living room areas of a home) I also tend to think of line of sight from within the residence, perhaps even table level viewing to the outside.

Everyone loves watching them flirt by or hover nearby. So how do you draw them in? You are certain to lure lively Hummingbird Feeding into your backyard gardens with these plant selections. One good way to enjoy the company of hummingbirds is planting a hummingbird garden. The flowers detailed below will provide them with a rich and natural diet. A hummingbird garden is an excellent way to attract birds to your nearby feeder, since hummingbirds feed by sight on regularly-followed routes – called traplining – their inquisitive nature will quickly lead them to investigate any possible new source of food..

The following are the top ten selections in order by the All American Selections committee. AAS is a group comprised of seed industry professionals conducting trials of seed varieties throughout North America. They grow established floral varieties next to newer entries for comparison of growth, flower and/or fruit size and other factors. Only the best win.

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One of the easiest ways to help hummingbirds is simply to feed them. Putting out hummingbird feeders with appropriate nectar gives these birds a ready food source to help fuel their migration and mating, ensuring they will have better survival chances
1.  Plant Hummingbird Flowers
Planting flowers to attract hummingbirds is another great way to offer a food source responsibly. Native flowers are most familiar to these birds, and they offer a nutritious source of crucial nectar. Furthermore, hummingbird flowers can be beautiful additions to any bird-friendly landscape.
2.  Avoid Insecticides
Nectar may be hummingbirds’ primary food source, but it isn’t their only one. Hummingbirds need to eat dozens of insects daily to get enough protein and other nutrients in their diet to stay healthy, and insects are a particularly critical food source for young hummingbirds.
3.  Provide a water source
Hummingbirds get all the water they need to drink from the nectar in their diet, but offering a source of water such as a mister, dripper or bubbler will give these birds a way to stay clean and keep their feathers carefully groomed. Preening is essential for hummingbirds’ flight, and water will help keep them flying right.
4.  Offer nesting materials
Hummingbird nests are masterful creations woven from different nesting material, but soft items such as natural cotton are a popular choice for hummingbirds to use when building their nests. Offering clean cotton for the birds to use can help them create nests to protect and shelter their chicks, and doing so can even encourage them to nest in your yard.

As we stated before in a previous post about bulbs (patience is a virtue); the thrill and joy of watching and espying hummingbirds is well worth the wait.