How to Attract Humming Birds
to Your Rose Garden
photo courtesy of lora 313
Learn how to attract Humming Birds to your rose garden!
Your rose garden is already an ideal spot to attract the little flying jewels, as long as your garden is organically maintained. By that I mean that you do not spray with pesticides.
Pesticides can sicken the humming birds. Not to mention that those little humming birds like to feast on the small bugs in your garden, (aphids, gnats and spiders).
Humming Bird Facts:
Most Humming Birds live on the average, about 4 years, depending on the species.
They flap their wings about 55 times per second.
When in flight, they rotate the whole wing.
Flight speed is around 25 m.p.h.
They can dive around 60 m.p.h.!
They can fly in any direction, left, right, backwards, and even upside down.
There are about 343 different kinds of Humming Birds
The weight of a humming Bird ranges from 2 to 20 grams
They spend a lot of time sitting on twigs resting between feedings
Because of their high heart rate and small body size, they need lots of calories.
They eat small insects for protien.
They love to take baths! They will dive in and out of sprinklers, or a spray of water, shaking their feathers and preening.
They are one of the smallest birds in the world.
The answer to the question "How to attract Humming Birds" to your garden, is to provide them with what they need!
They prefer bright, bold red or orange flowers. Tubular ones are favored, because the nectar is easily extracted.
Hummers have a long tongue that can extend to its beak length. This allows them to reach deep inside where most insects can't go.
Plant nectar bearing flowers with blossoms that open out.
90% of their diet is nectar.
Plant flowers with different bloom times, to encourage them to stay, once they've found the garden.
They feed by sight on regularly followed routes. They have no sense of smell.
Encourage them to stay and Nest!
Encourage them to stay, by providing the food source they need.
(Nectar bearing flowers)
They build their nests in the forks of tree branches.
They like soft, downy material for nesting. (Ferns, moss, lichens, and spider webs)
Willow and eucalyptus provide wonderful nesting material.
Humming Birds are very territorial. They aggressively protect their nectar source.
Planting these flowers, is how to attract Humming Birds.
Enjoy the humming sound made by the ooh... so tiny beating wings!
Perennials
Bee Balm
Canna
Cardinal Flower
Columbine
Coral Bells
Hosta
Humming Bird Mint
Lupine
Penstemon
Yucca
Liatris
Phlox
Hollyhocks
Annuals
Beard Tongue
Fire Spike
Red Salvia
Fuchsia
Impatiens
Jewelweed
Petunia
Shrimp Plant
Vines
Coral Honeysuckle
Cypress vine
Morning Glory
Scarlet Runner Bean
Trumpet Creeper (A favorite!)
Trees and Shrubs
Azalea
Butterfly Bush
Flowering Quince
Mimosa
Tree Tobacco
Turks cap
Weigela
Flowering Crab Apple
Rose of Sharon
Hardy Hibiscus
MY Favorite Humming BirdFlowers
I know how to attract Humming Birds to my garden!
My garden is a haven for Humming Birds and Butterflys. I have lots of their favorite flowers such as: Coral Honeysuckle ( which blooms all summer long), and Red Trumpet vine, which is the Humming Birds favorite!
I love watching them when I'm out in the garden!
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