Yesterday I put up my hummingbird feeder for the summer.
I usually have several hummingbirds come and visit my garden during the hot summer months, and I just love them! It seems they always come whizzing overhead when I'm crouched down in the dirt weeding. Often I hear their speedy little wings before I see them. The first time that happened I thought it was a far-off neighbor cranking out his weed whip!
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The first season I had hummer-feeders I bought the nectar in the store. Silly me.
There are several variations on making your own, but here is the traditional one I use. It's so easy, I almost feel embarrassed to post it. :)
How to Make Homemade Hummingbird Nectar
This recipe makes one cup of nectar. You can increase the amounts if you need a larger portion.
1. Measure out 1/4 cup of plain white sugar in a microwave safe bowl.
IMPORTANT: Do not use honey, molasses or sugar substitutes. These are not safe for the birds.
2. Add one cup water. (If you are increasing the recipe, you want 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.)
3. Microwave for 2-3 minutes or until boiling. Mix well until the sugar is dissolved.
4. Let the mixture cool completely before filling your feeder.
5. Enjoy watching the hummers sip the glorious nectar in your garden!
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I do not promise results like the above photo, but wouldn't that be amazing? *Disclaimer* This is not me! I found this photo while googling hummingbird images. :)
Do you have hummingbirds in your garden? What are they attracted to the most?
Ooh, great tip! And there was silly me thinking the store bought hummingbird mixture was a secret trade recipe like Coca Cola :)
ReplyDeleteI love the hummers on the hand photo, how cute is that!! They are so darling.
Thanks! That's easy enough. That last picture is amazing, I have never seen anything like that:)
ReplyDelete@Dawn: Haha...maybe it is like a Coke trade secret, but the sugar water seems to work just as well.
ReplyDelete@Masha: I know, it's incredible!
They are delightful to watch, aren't they? Good post. I've never seen a nest here but I've heard them high in an oak tree.
ReplyDeleteI gave up hummingbird feeders. They're still visiting. Fresh dripping water is always available here for all birds. Keeping feeders clean and sterilized got to be more of a chore than I could bear. I worried about failing to clean a feeder and ruining their livers from fermented sugar by my neglect when the temps reach triple digits here....
This morning I saw one at an Iris flower by the birdbath. Their favorites here are Camellias, Shrimp Plant and Esperanza. Recently I saw one visiting Larkspur.
Thx for the recipe..I always forget the ratio and only put it out until the flowers bloom..then they won't touch it...they only want the flower nectar then...must be a NY thing...
ReplyDeleteI make my own too! I don't like the store bought because it is silly to buy when it is so easy to make your own but the store food often has red dye in it which is unnecessary. I am always amazed when I see photos of hummers on people. The hummers in my garden are way too nervous to get that close to us. Just when they get use to us in the garden it is time for them to leave. In addition to the feeders they enjoy the salvia, honeysuckle, columbine, bee balm, and sage in my garden.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Donna about them in NY. The hummingbirds here go for my trumpet vine rather than a feeder which is low enough for me to photograph. I will try again this year with the feeder since I cut the huge vine down. See if they still come.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I haven't seen any hummingbirds in my neighborhood, but I thought about planting lavender and bee balm this year to attract them. Maybe a little homemade nectar will do the trick too. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you get many hummingbird visitors this year!
I make my own hummingbird food too. Just way to easy not to. The hummingbirds are loving the Texas betony right now. Soon the acanthus and cuphea will be providing lots of food for them!
ReplyDelete@NellJean: That's why I usually only make a cup's worth at a time. How nice that you have some visiting your garden already!
ReplyDelete@Donna: It MUST be a NY thing...mine are happy to eat from the feeder and the flowers.
@Karin: I've had a few get very close to me, but none actually have landed on me yet. :) I planted honeysuckle last fall...will be interested to see if they like it here too.
@GWGT: I hope they do! :)
ReplyDelete@BumbleLush: You may as well try...I know I saw more hummers once I put up the feeders than I did when I just had flowers.
@Cat: Yup, like I mentioned before, it's so easy I almost feel silly posting it!
Thanks for the recipe! I plan on getting a hummingbird feeder this week so I'll give your syrup a try.
ReplyDeleteHi - thanks for posting about how to feed the Hummingbirds, they are an amazing creature - the picture you posted with the lady's hands feeding the Hummingbirds...I found her site...it is a sweet story, you may want to try what she did...http://www.abigailsings.com/hummingbirds/
ReplyDeleteHi - thanks for posting about how to feed the Hummingbirds, they are an amazing creature - the picture you posted with the lady's hands feeding the Hummingbirds...I found her site...it is a sweet story, you may want to try what she did...http://www.abigailsings.com/hummingbirds/
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