By Edna Gaston, May 2105
It’s spring so now it’s time to plan for our summer feathered friends. One of my favorites is the hummingbird. In my yard they are especially fond of my hanging baskets and containers. Hanging baskets easily brighten any space and if they will attract birds then so much the better.
So here are a few suggestions.
1. FLOWERS – red is the color usually associated with hummers. This is a color that can be seen from a distance but mine also go to white, yellow and other pale colors. But select plants with tubular flowers. Also hummers seem to like floppy, open form plants that produce numerous flowers. I’ve
seen the birds visit five or six different flowers on one visit. Be certain the plants will bloom over a long period of time. More than one plant in the same basket or several baskets in the general vicinity provide a nice buffet. They don’t have to be the same plant.
It’s spring so now it’s time to plan for our summer feathered friends. One of my favorites is the hummingbird. In my yard they are especially fond of my hanging baskets and containers. Hanging baskets easily brighten any space and if they will attract birds then so much the better.
So here are a few suggestions.
1. FLOWERS – red is the color usually associated with hummers. This is a color that can be seen from a distance but mine also go to white, yellow and other pale colors. But select plants with tubular flowers. Also hummers seem to like floppy, open form plants that produce numerous flowers. I’ve
seen the birds visit five or six different flowers on one visit. Be certain the plants will bloom over a long period of time. More than one plant in the same basket or several baskets in the general vicinity provide a nice buffet. They don’t have to be the same plant.
2. CONTAINER – some of my containers hang on shepherd’s hooks, others from convenient tree limbs but some are sitting on posts, the well cover, tree trunks cut to “table” height, one on top of another inverted container, just about anywhere I can find to put them. While hummingbirds will visit my smaller containers, they seem to prefer the larger ones since these pots have more selection. Maintenance for these is the same as for any container.
3. PLANTS – Go with what makes you happy, keeping in mind the location of the container / hanging basket (shade, sun, etc.), water requirements and the type of plants the hummers like. Go with the traditional container rule of “thriller, filler, spiller” if that strikes your fancy. Some of my favorites are Scarlet Sage (I usually plant red and white salvias in the same pot), herbs (thymes are especially nice), Angelonia, Lantana, Impatiens. Sometimes I will stick in a Coleus for the extra color in the leaves and possibly an ornamental ivy or some other fun plant as the spiller. The list can go on and on. Mix and match, vary the leaves, flowers, height - just have fun.
4. CREATE – after selecting the plants and the container just follow the usual guidelines – good soil, fertilizer, planting depth, care and attention during the growing season, etc.
5. LOCATION – place your creations around your porch, deck, garden. Pull up a comfortable chair, grab a glass of lemonade and have fun watching these amazing birds.
Happy Gardening and Birding (perfect combination for a spring day),
Ladybug
Read more: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/small-space-gardening/diy-container-garden- hummingbirds/#ixzz39koos6Gx
3. PLANTS – Go with what makes you happy, keeping in mind the location of the container / hanging basket (shade, sun, etc.), water requirements and the type of plants the hummers like. Go with the traditional container rule of “thriller, filler, spiller” if that strikes your fancy. Some of my favorites are Scarlet Sage (I usually plant red and white salvias in the same pot), herbs (thymes are especially nice), Angelonia, Lantana, Impatiens. Sometimes I will stick in a Coleus for the extra color in the leaves and possibly an ornamental ivy or some other fun plant as the spiller. The list can go on and on. Mix and match, vary the leaves, flowers, height - just have fun.
4. CREATE – after selecting the plants and the container just follow the usual guidelines – good soil, fertilizer, planting depth, care and attention during the growing season, etc.
5. LOCATION – place your creations around your porch, deck, garden. Pull up a comfortable chair, grab a glass of lemonade and have fun watching these amazing birds.
Happy Gardening and Birding (perfect combination for a spring day),
Ladybug
Read more: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/small-space-gardening/diy-container-garden- hummingbirds/#ixzz39koos6Gx
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