Create a Garden of Eden for Hummingbirds
Mar 25th, 2010 by Kathy
Besides being some of the cutest creatures on the planet, hummingbirds are some of the most fascinating. Flitting from flower to flower, in their endless quest for nectar, they beat their wings some 70 times per second; during a high-speed dive, it can be up to 200 times per second. Yep. That’s all in the blink of an eye.
These spectacular wonders of nature are a joy to behold; so it’s no surprise that people are always trying to attract them to their yards. This is pretty easy to do, once you get to know about these birds and their needs. Then, you can establish a hummingbird garden that will draw them like crazy. Actually, much more than a simple garden, it will be a complete habitat for hummingbirds. Done correctly, it will be a kind of Garden of Eden for them, where they can live happily ever after.
Of course, you’ll be pretty durned tickled, too. When you share your outdoor living space with them, you’ll be able to watch your playful little charges as you lie in your hammock, relax on your porch swing, or dine at your picnic table. Moreover, even when there are no hummingbirds in sight, you’ll have a stunning, vividly-colored garden to enjoy. Anyway, once they find that paradise, where there is a steady source of nectar, they will never want to leave.
The first thing to do is to decide where you’re going to put it. Naturally, you’ll want to be able to observe the hummingbirds, whether you’re sitting at your kitchen table, or your outdoor dining table. You will also have to figure out how much space you have available for the garden, which can be as small as a window box, or as big as all outdoors.
Wherever you put it, though, it must provide shade, as well as sun. While hummingbirds love the sun, they also need shady places where they can rest, cool off, and build their nests. It’s also important to provide water for them to drink, and to bathe in. You can buy a small birdbath, or use a shallow bowl; just remember to change the water and clean the bowl frequently. You can also get a mister, which hummingbirds love.
Of course, the main attraction will be the flowers. Hummingbirds are extremely visual, and they love bright, vibrant colors, especially red; and this is what will bring them into your garden. Because they don’t really have a sense of smell, fragrance is unimportant. They particularly like tubular, or trumpet-shaped flowers, like the ones that grow on Trumpet Vines.
Once they arrive, they’ll be looking for that sweet nectar, which they need for survival. They have very high metabolisms, and must eat every 15-20 minutes. Because some hummingbirds like to feed at ground level, while others prefer higher altitudes, it’s a good idea to train some flowering vines up pergolas, trellises, arbors, and gazebos. Be careful in selecting flowers, because some hybrid versions may not produce as much nectar as their wild relatives.
These are just a few of the things that you should know before you start your hummingbird garden; in future entries, I will have more information. But, speaking of wild relatives, I just reminded myself that it’s my Aunt Lulu’s birthday, and I have to run out and get her a present!
Yours Outdoors,
Kathy
