Hummingbirds - nature's speed freak on the wing

"I believe there were no flowers then,
In the world where the humming-bird flashed ahead of creation.
I believe he pierced the slow vegetable veins with his long beak"
D.H. Lawrence 

Having wildlife share your garden space with you can be a rewarding and enriching experience.







For those of us who regard our gardens as a spot where we seek a respite from the day, having some of our favorite birds pay us a visit while we relax is just icing on the relaxation cake.

They can be your home garden's most unique visitors, at once beautiful and hypnotic, seeming to defy the laws of nature as they hover motionless in the air, their tiny wings beating a 1,000 times per second.

Ranging from Alaska to the Chilean coast, hummingbirds are one of North America's most extant animals, with over 300 different species. Known for their speed in flight and for their sometimes genial disposition when it comes to human, many people endeavor to attract them to their home gardens.

And while hummingbird feeders are a perfect way to provide the tiny birds with their daily dose of nectar, it takes more than that to attract them and keep them around.

While it's true that hummingbirds will be attracted to the nectar feeders, in order to keep them coming back again and again - or even set up shop in your backyard - then you've got to plant the right flowers, shrubs and plants to attract them.

Hummingbirds are attracted to a variety of succulent shrubs and flowers, including: azaleas, butterfly bushes, Cape Honeysuckle, Lantana, Manzanita,Tree Tobacco, Turk's Cap and many more. They're also partial to honeysuckle, cypress vine, morning glories and trumpet creepers.

Perennials like canna, yucca, four o'clocks, foxglove, lupines, hosta, columbine and cardinal flower are also quite appealing to hummingbirds. They're also quite partial to the color red, so make sure that your feeder's tube has a red appendage - preferably one that resembles a flower.

Once your garden is ready and you've picked out your feeder, It's time to fill the feeder. First either purchase hummingbird nectar or make your own at home by boiling over 4 cups of water, and mixing it with a cup of granulated sugar until dissolved. Place the bowl in the refrigerator over night. Add the syrup to your feeder and reassemble it. Then place the feeder in your garden away from noise and traffic. 

The nectar should be changed once every three days or if the syrup becomes milky or otherwise looks unhealthy. Fresh nectar will ensure that the hummingbirds will return time and time again.