I have to admit, I’m kind of crazy about wild birds. Honestly they are the perfect pets. I fill my bird feeders and then all I have to do is sit back and enjoy watching them as they stop by to visit and enjoy a free meal.
Here at Nature Way we border a state park and we’re blessed with a large array of wildlife. This place is for the birds, literally! We have daily visits from wild Turkeys, Finches, Sparrows, Woodpeckers, Doves, Blue Jays and Red Tailed Hawks, to name a few.
Every summer we get to enjoy the baby turkeys.
We get visitors of all kinds here at Nature Way.
But I must admit that my favorite visitors are the Hummingbirds. They come visit my Lantana in the mornings while I am out in the garden giving my plants a drink of water before the heat of the day sets in.
They are the sweetest little things with their iridescent colors, and dainty little bodies flitting from one flower to another.
If you provide a water source and food, it’s easy to attract Hummingbirds to your garden.
during the hot summer months.
Here is a list of some common easy to grow plants that appeal to Hummingbirds. There are many more than what’s on this list, but these are plants that I’ve successfully grown in my Zone 9 area, and thrive with a minimum of attention. Stick them in the ground, give them a good drink of water when the temperatures rise and you will be rewarded with beautiful blossoms all summer long.
- Lantana
- Trumpet Vine
- Honeysuckle Vine
- Impatiens
- Rose of Sharon
- Crocosmia “Lucifer”
There are dozens and dozens more plants you can choose from that will appeal to Hummingbirds, but these are plants that I have personally grown and I can attest to how easy it is to grow them.
If you don’t have a large outdoor space for plants another alternative is to place a Hummingbird feeder in your outdoor space.
I fell in love with this lovely feeder and soon found out that Hummingbird nectar is quite expensive. So I went on the hunt to find out if I could easily make it at home. I mean how hard could it possibly be? Turn’s out it’s not hard at all!!! It’s a basic recipe that’s very easy to make! It uses ingredients you have on hand, and costs a fraction of what you will pay for the manufactured nectars at your local gardening centers.
Hummingbird nectar requires only two ingredients, plain old tap water and regular white table sugar; 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.
Bring the water to boil on the stovetop and then remove it from the heat. Stir in the sugar until it is completely dissolved. Allow solution to cool to room temperature. Boom! That’s it!
A Note of Caution: Do not use honey or artificial sweeteners in your nectar, it is fatal to Hummingbirds. And never add red food coloring to your nectar, it could be harmful and isn’t necessary. Purchase a red feeder instead to attract them.
Once the nectar has cooled to room temperature it is safe to fill your feeder and put it out for your feathered friends to enjoy.
Store extra nectar in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
It’s a good idea to deep clean feeders every so often. Mold can grow in them which can be harmful to Hummingbirds. Use a vinegar solution consisting of 1 part white vinegar and 4 parts water. I like to use a bottle brush to get it nice and clean on the inside. The vinegar solution helps to ensure you are killing all the mold and any bacteria that may have accumulated. Using bleach is not recommended because any bleach residue that might be left behind on the feeder could be harmful to Hummingbirds.
If possible, place your feeder in a shaded spot near an area where birds can easily perch and close to a water source.
All that’s left to do is to sit back and enjoy the feathered visitors that will come to enjoy the bounty in your garden.
If you decide to make your own Hummingbird nectar, don’t forget to comment and let me know if it attracts any Hummingbirds to your garden, or tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
Happy Hummingbird watching!
Snap a pic and hashtag it #naturewayblog — I love to see your creations! Don’t forget to comment and leave a review, or tag me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!
May I ask a small favor? If you enjoyed this blogpost would you be so kind and like the page? It lets me know what you are enjoying the most. It also helps me focus my attention on creating content that will be most meaningful and beneficial for you, my readers. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss out on all the latest that’s happening here at Nature Way. Thank you!