Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden, Part Two

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Red perennials and annuals attract hummingbirds. Since Lillies don't last long it is good planning to have other red or brightly colored plants in your gardens so hummingbirds return often.

Hummingbirds and Birds

Hummingbirds:
Are attracted to color so planting gardens with continuous color will help attract hummingbirds throughout the spring, summer and fall. Keep your hummingbird feeders clean and replace the food every other day and more frequently in very hot and humid weather. Make a snag perch for hummingbirds. Hummingbirds like to perch on the end of exposed branches. They rest, preen and mostly hunt from this advantage point. You can create a hummingbird snag perch by sticking a sturdy, dead branch into the ground so it stands vertically. Hummingbirds are domineering, so having more than one feeder will attract multiple hummingbirds and cure their territoriality.

Flowers that attract hummingbirds include:
Bee Balm - Cardinal Flower – Columbine – Coral Bell – Hollyhock – Day Lilies – Foxglove – Honeysuckle – Impatien – Liatris – Lantana - Obedient Plant – Phlox - Red Salvia – Snapdragons – Trumpet Vine

Birds:
Birds need fresh water for drinking as well as bathing. The sound of running water will also attract birds. The key to having a well attended bird bath is to change the water at least every other day. Every now and then give it a scrub with a stiff brush using just water to clean the birdbath. Birdbaths should be no deeper than three inches at the center. If yours is deeper consider adding flat rocks to raise the bottom.

Hedgerows and shrubs make excellent shelter for birds giving protection against the weather and predators. Try to include some evergreen species in your yard and gardens, they are denser than deciduous trees and provide shelter all winter. Placing bird houses and nesting boxes in trees and shrubs also provides shelter and a safe place for birds to lay eggs and raise young birds.

Flowers that attract birds include:
Flowers that produce a dried seed head such as Black Eyed Susans and Coneflowers, plus shrubs that produce berries such as Viburnums.