I must ask about homemade nectar...I just read this week that the sugar and water needs to be boiled. Is this just for people with treated water? I have never boiled my sugar/water mix...
Wrennie . . . how very informative . . . I appreciate the advice, and will try this next spring. We see a few hummingbirds, but they are always attracted to the hanging baskets on my porch. What kind of flowers do they like the best?
Hummers love all nectar producing flowers. The ones with 'necks' such as what Bethie listed and foxglove, bee balm (monarda) bleeding heart, lobelia cardinalis, snapdragons, penstemon,columbine,delphinium, fuschia, cardinal climber vine, hollyhock, nasturtium, petunias, flowering shrubs such as rhododendron, rose of sharon... the list goes on. (you see a few there that will do well hanging) Red flowers attract them first mostly because bees/wasps see the color red as black and are attracted to them last, as they do compete for the same nectar foods.
So if I'm mixing well and giving fresh nectar daily, it's OK if I don't boil it first? Gee, I wouldn't want to harm the little guys...
If you change it every day and be sure theres no build up inside the feeder I don't see a problem with it.
Thank you Wrennie . . . this will help me decide what hanging baskets to choose in the spring. That is so interesting about seeing black. I am learning so much on this site. YAY!
The last few years I've planted the Wave petunia baskets on my front porch. They do great with little care, and the hummers love them. I know they always say hummers like red, but they didn't seem to mind the purples and pinks in my hanging baskets. I have quite a few perennials throughout my yard which keeps them coming...they're so tame, I've had them land on my shoulder while I was watering!
Oh how COOL!! They do like all colors, red is a favorite but they'll go to others. Yellow is a least favorite because it is a bees first choice.
