In Digging up Trouble, Nina tells you how to build a backyard hummingbird garden (see below). All in the name of research, I took it upon myself to see if she actually knew what she was talking about.

This past summer, with the help of my boys, I created a small hummingbird garden in my backyard, planting Lucifer, Jupiter’s Beard (which our hummingbirds love!), Candytuft (a spring blooming perennial), dwarf Columbine (my favorite—they’re beautiful), Penstemon, bee balm, and petunias. Within a month, the hummingbirds came, with four who visited regularly that we recognize with names like Mr. Skinny, Pudgy, Crazy Hair (we’re very original). They flitted from the plants to the feeder full of homemade nectar on the kitchen window, where they made it easy to snap a few pictures. Imagine my shock—Nina really does know her stuff.

Take Your Garden by Surprise
by Nina Quinn

Creating habitats for hummingbirds, or hummers, isn’t only a rewarding gardening experience, but it can provide hours of enjoyment watching these amazing colorful creatures that average less than four inches long in size. To build just the right environment, you need to keep in mind what hummers need most. Food, water, shelter. Providing extras such as shade in the summer, protection in the winter, places to hide, perches to rest, and space to flutter free of worries, will increase your chances of drawing hummingbirds to your yard.

Although hummingbirds are naturally attracted to the color red, they will be drawn to any nectar-rich plant, as nectar is their primary food source. Therefore it’s important to choose the right varieties of flowers, shrubs and trees for your hummingbird garden. Below are some good choices.

Annuals: impatiens, begonias, petunias, red salvia, geraniums, scarlet sage, penstemons, four o’clocks, velvet trumpet flowers, phlox, nasturtiums, zinnias.

Perennials: columbine, hollyhock, bee balm, trumpet honeysuckle, hosta, coral bells, cardinal flower, foxglove, dragonflower, monarda, aster, perennial salvia, verbena, cosmos, dahlias, delphiniums, flame acanthus, fuchsia, lupines, monkeyflower, sage, scarlet sage, butterfly weed.

Vines: trumpet creeper, trumpet vine, scarlet morning glory, bougainvillea, cardinal climber, flame vine, lantana.

Shrubs: Fuchsia, azalea, butterfly bush, abelia, bottlebrush, hibiscus, lilac, weigela.

Trees: mimosa silk tree, crab apple, willows, tulip poplar, locust, eucalyptus.

Research is a must. Not only to check to see which plants will grow in your hardiness zone, but also some varieties (such as phlox, penstemon, four o’clocks) could be annuals in some areas, perennials in others; and some perennials could be shrubs in some zones. Visit your local garden centers—they can point you in the right direction and might have additional suggestions that will make your hummingbird garden perfect.

Additionally, it’s important to supplement your hummingbird gardens with feeders for the times nectar might run dry. The standard mixture is four parts water, one part refined sugar. Be sure to boil the water before mixing to ensure proper measurement and to purify the water so the hummingbirds don’t contract any illnesses. You can also buy ready-made hummingbird food at any bird store and often in your local supermarket pet section. Never add honey to your hummingbird feeder. It can grow a fungus disease that can be fatal to these birds.

Hummers also eat insects and spiders, so be sure never to use pesticides in your hummingbird garden. Pesticides will not only remove an important food source but can also endanger a hummingbird’s life.

It’s important to keep a mister, dripper, or shallow bird bath near your hummingbird garden so the hummers can bathe and keep hydrated. Did you know hummingbirds drink eight times their body weight a day?

Hummingbirds won’t use houses—they nest in trees—so don’t bother buying one. These birds spend 80% of their time resting so make sure they have perches near their food source. Twigs, branches, fences, clotheslines or even nearby trees will provide the rest your hummers will need.

Remember to space your plants to accommodate fluttering wings, which can beat 20-200 times per second. Research, plant, and sit back and enjoy your hummingbird garden year after year.

Best wishes for happy gardening!