Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds and Butterflies

[ChanellG]

There is so much information out there already, but at the request of @Trellum, I'm starting this new thread specifically to talk about feeders and plants for hummingbirds and butterflies. I'm in the process of organizing the nectar plants I've collected to make a little plot under my bedroom window to invite the friendly flutterers.

First things first - simple syrup. Simply take one cup of sugar (I like the raw stuff) and one cup of water, and dissolve the sugar in the water over medium heat in a non-reactive pot. Personally, I think that's really sweet, so I use a different proportion of water. (Basil simple syrup is amazing!)

You could make a honeysuckle syrup by steeping a cup or so of blossoms in the syrup as it cools, but plain old sugar water is what most folks use.

Second, as for making your own feeders, you can use a 2 liter soda bottle. Paint the bottom red (the color attracts the birds) and make holes to allow the birds to drink.

Here are a couple links from Pinterest to get you started:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/310818811753174110/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/94012710941613329/

 

[marlingardener]

We make our own syrup also, 1 c. of white sugar and 4 c. of water, bring to a boil and let cool. This keeps well in the fridge.
Since we are in a warm climate, I change the feeder's syrup every two days if the temps are 95 or above, and every three or four days when we are in the 80's.
We have three glass feeders up, and take them down when we are sure the migration is over. Our hummers stay all summer after arriving in late March or early April, and haven't left yet.
You'll see honeybees and butterflies at the hummingbird feeders, but that isn't a bad thing!

 

[claudine]

Thank you for creating this thread, ChanellG!
Like you know, in my area there are no hummingbirds, probably because it's too cold for them here. But butterflies visit my garden everyday I'll definitely make sweet syrup to attract even more of those beautiful creatures.

 

[DancingLady]

A great plant for humming birds is the Garten Meister fuschia. It has long trumpet like orange blossoms that the hummingbirds really like. I had one for a while and we had a number of humming birds coming regularly to it. Sadly, out winter was so harsh last year that it died even thought it was right by the house and was cut back and buried really well. I mean to get another one next year though.

 

[Trellum]

Thank you Glad you decided to do it! I love how you keep your post simple and nice, I really like how you organize the info Do you think the flower syrup can be done with roses as well? I'd love to try with simple syrup and a flower one, just to see which one they like most. I'll bookmark this

 

[Trellum]

A great plant for humming birds is the Garten Meister fuschia. It has long trumpet like orange blossoms that the hummingbirds really like. I had one for a while and we had a number of humming birds coming regularly to it. Sadly, out winter was so harsh last year that it died even thought it was right by the house and was cut back and buried really well. I mean to get another one next year though.

You mean one of these?

My grandma had one of those and I must admit I did saw a lot hummingbirds over there. I was too little back then tho, so I really don't remember if all of them were always near that plant or her feeders as well. It's such a beautiful plant

 

[ChanellG]

Thank you Glad you decided to do it! I love how you keep your post simple and nice, I really like how you organize the info Do you think the flower syrup can be done with roses as well? I'd love to try with simple syrup and a flower one, just to see which one they like most. I'll bookmark this

Well, the thing about roses is that a) not all of them are fragrant or flavorful, and b) they are not nectar flowers visited by hummingbirds. I would stick to straight sugar and then maybe hang an additional feeder with something like a honeysuckle syrup. You don't want to go too far outside of what they would find naturally in the wild.

I wanted to keep it simple to start off, and then add more information as we "talked" more about the subject. Also, if a post is too long, people don't always want to take the time to read it.

@claudine, you might want to create a butterfly feeder like this one:

You just put some overripe food in a pan for them, with or without a syrup. Here's the link for the pin:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335844937387/

 

[Trellum]

Well, the thing about roses is that a) not all of them are fragrant or flavorful, and b) they are not nectar flowers visited by hummingbirds. I would stick to straight sugar and then maybe hang an additional feeder with something like a honeysuckle syrup. You don't want to go too far outside of what they would find naturally in the wild.

I wanted to keep it simple to start off, and then add more information as we "talked" more about the subject. Also, if a post is too long, people don't always want to take the time to read it.

@claudine, you might want to create a butterfly feeder like this one:

You just put some overripe food in a pan for them, with or without a syrup. Here's the link for the pin:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335844937387/

Great info It's all about providing them with the things they'd naturally find in the wild I'll surely try it in the future As for the post lengths, you are right, no one likes long posts I personally find easier to read the short ones; the shorter the better

 

[ChanellG]

Here's something I found on Pinterest just now on what to plant to attract hummingbirds. The easiest thing is to find out from a local nursery what native plants in your area draw them to the garden, but if you are familiar with the plants here and have seen them nearby, at least it will give you a starting reference:

Plant B is one of my absolute favorites! I happened upon it this year on CLEARANCE for $1 at Lowes! There were three plants in the pot, which desperately needed replanting. I separated them into three 12" pots and they are all doing great! If you can find bat face near you, it's the coolest little flower!

I tell you, I am in love with this flower! The fact that it attract humming birds makes it that much more fabulous!

Here's the link to the source: http://www.gardengatenotes.com/2012/05/01/hummingbird-cafe/

 

[Trellum]

Oh my, now that's what I call the perfect hummingbird cafe Can you imagine how amazing it would be to get all those plants together in garden?! It'd look amazing! I bet that batface plant looks absolutely fabulous!!!! Once I get my own place I'll surely plants those as well as the butterfly weed Thanks for sharing, what a beautiful assembly of flowers

 

[claudine]

These plants look beautiful together! I'd love to have them in my garden. The fact that they attract hummingbirds makes me love them even more. I quite like the climate in my country, but sometimes I wish it was warmer here, so I could wear summer dresses all year long and watch hummingbirds flying around exotic flowers

 

[Mechanic]

Chanell
Do you live far enough south to get overwintering Rufous hummingbirds? If we get a mild winter ( definitely not like last year) we get them to stay and have hummers all year.

 

[gmckee1985]

I'm also interested in attracting some hummingbirds to my garden. I'll definitely take advantage of some of the tips in this thread. I think they are just beautiful little creatures. Wish I saw more of them. I live in the South so I'm surprised I don't. Hopefully I'll be able to attract some when spring comes.

 

[ChanellG]

Chanell
Do you live far enough south to get overwintering Rufous hummingbirds? If we get a mild winter ( definitely not like last year) we get them to stay and have hummers all year.

I don't know. I have only ever seen hummingbirds here when it was warm, and though I can't say for certain, it was probably late summer or early fall. You would expect to see them in spring, but even the butterfly activity is higher at this time of year than spring. I do plan on looking into the subject further once I get the garden established though.

 

[ChanellG]

I'm also interested in attracting some hummingbirds to my garden. I'll definitely take advantage of some of the tips in this thread. I think they are just beautiful little creatures. Wish I saw more of them. I live in the South so I'm surprised I don't. Hopefully I'll be able to attract some when spring comes.

I have only ever seen them here twice. Once in my own yard when I lived in mid city several years ago and once just recently just a few miles away from where I live now. I don't know how prolific they are in the area, but then I didn't see the monarch and swallowtail caterpillars and butterflies either until I grew the host plants.

 

[Mockingbird]

Now I know this is a weed but the butterflies love it and it really does smell quite nice. I had some Milkweed start in the yard, probably from birds, and since it was in a clear area I decided to let it stay. Mine grows about 3-4 feet high and usually smells lovely when the flower opens, the plant can become very profuse very fast so never feel like you can't pull it out. It does not transplant well so start from seeds. Monarch butterflies and all sorts other butterflies love this plant, unfortunatily so do the bee's and the wasps so be careful. One year in minutes I got stung on my head and my leg. That was not nice, so if you let it grow make sure it is away from where you frequent

 

[ChanellG]

I grow milkweed and I have never had trouble transplanting it. Maybe it's the variety in your yard? Mine came from the nursery and I've had some come up from self-seeding. I've also started it from stem cuttings. In fact, I just recently cut mine back and put the stem tops in the soil with their parent plants. I still have one that needs to move up to a larger pot, though I am debating whether or not to put some in a raised bed.

 

[ChanellG]

Butterfly guide for those interested in identifying butterflies in their yard. I'm hoping to see more variety of these in my garden next year. Can't wait to see if my butterfly bush cuttings take. They make such beautiful flowers!

 

[Mockingbird]

I grow milkweed and I have never had trouble transplanting it

You just replant it at the stem? i tried just to dig it up root and all and move it to an area not as full. It seemed like it was taking at first but then it just never grew. Now this was later in the season and even though i watered it might not have been enough. To me it seems like Milkweed likes the soil that is a bit more clay like, not the loose loamy type in the beds what kind of soil are you using?

 

[Cereus]

Indiana has a lot of gorgeous butterflies, it's a shame that nobody grows anything for them here. The first year I moved to Indiana I was living in a location where I could do some gardening, created a huge raised flower bed since the soil was too clay like to grow plants in and just went wild with mint, lavender, sunflowers, carnations and just about any other flower I could grow. All summer-autumn long that box was filled to the brim with butterflies of all sorts. It even attracted golden finches as well. I wasn't really aiming to grow things that would attract butterflies, but I guess since the neighbors weren't growing anything, that the butterflies were willing to take anything they could get.