Humming Bird Gardens

Humming bird garden is very simple and no matter, about the size of the garden. Even the smallest garden can provide the humming bird with food, water, perches, nesting sites as well as shelter. These are the basic requirements of a humming bird.

For creating a humming bird garden, you should plant a number of perennials and annuals for the first year. Then you can plant the shrubs, vines and trees. Humming birds like to suck the nectar from the plants. So provide them with a wide variety of plants and flowers for the nectar to be sucked from. Plant different variety of flowers and trees tall and short in height.

Humming birds are attracted to bright and colorful flowers especially red ones. Some of the favorite flowers of the humming birds include cardinal flower, trumpet honeysuckle, gladiolus, coral bells, Columbia lily, bee balm, etc.

A humming bird garden should contain a number of good feeders along with a water element like a mister. It can be used by the humming birds to bathe around or have a wash. Also provide for a good source of drinking water. They like to play in water. So providing a water source nearby will be a good idea.

The humming bird garden should attract as well as breed small insects and spiders. These can be used as a source of fats and proteins for the humming birds. Placing the old bananas or fruits will attract a number of small flies that are the favorite food of the humming birds. The feeder of the humming bird is usually has a red colored cloth or a ribbon. This is so because red color, being their favorite color, attracts the humming birds. They are the lovers of sweet. You can place the home made nectar in the feeder. Boil water and sugar in the ratio of 1:4 and then place it in a container at the bottom of the feeder.

Your humming bird garden should also provide the materials like fern, lichen and moss that are needed by the humming birds to build their nests. Providing all the above amenities in your humming bird garden will make your garden bright and colorful with a lot of humming birds residing there.

Attracting Humming Birds

A garden without the presence of humming birds is not a complete garden. Also humming birds are the best friends of the gardener. Humming birds are very quiet and hard working birds. They also perform the important role of pollinationby drinking the nectar from one flower to another and thus carrying the pollens to the different flowers.

If you want humming birds to wander around your garden, you should know some simple and basic things. Below is given the guideline of how to attract the humming birds to your garden.

Humming birds like quite and a peaceful location. So when you are selecting a location to place the feeder, it should be comparatively in a quiet place. Humming birds like bright, attractive colors like orange and red. Many feeders available in the market are made of brilliant red colors for attracting the humming birds.

Planting red and orange flowers in the surrounding area will also be very helpful. Plant the red flowers as much closer as possible so that they will appear as a big bunch of red flowers. This will make your garden readily visible for the humming birds.

Place several feeders at different places full of fresh nectar. For preparing the nectar, use only sugar and water in the ratio of 4:1. Avoid adding artificial red color, molasses or honey.

You can also purchase a mister to be hooked to your garden hose. The humming birds like to rub themselves against the wet dripping leaves and also to fly along the mist to have a cool bath.

You can also place the old bananas to which the fruit flies will be attracted. These tiny insects are the favorite food of the humming birds.

There are some common species of flowers to attract the humming birds in your garden. These flowers are morning glory, coral bells, trumpet honeysuckle, trumpet creaper, columbine, etc.

Humming birds generally search for certain plants and materials for building their nests. You can encourage the hummers in your garden by providing them with these materials readily such as lichens, ferns and moss.

Have patience and then you will see a number of humming birds enjoying incredibly in your little garden.