2020 Summer Home and Garden

Page 34 2020 Summer Home and Garden Lincoln Daily News June 11, 2020 In the video below, we also learn that the cone flower and black-eyed Susan are favored during the winter months, so leave the flowers on the plants even though they have died down and this winter the birds will take advantage of the seed heads to harvest their own meals. The video also talks about water features. Birds enjoy baths and they like moving water. Fountains can be purchased with pooling effects that will permit the birds to have that favored environment in your back yard. Attract Birds to Your Garden: Everyone Can Grow a Garden 2019 #31 Hummingbirds Hummingbirds are fascinating little creatures that most of us long to see frequenting our back yards. They little birds flit around with such speed that often times the only time you get a good view of one is when they are at their feeders, or playing around a plant in your garden. Hummingbirds begin arriving in central Illinois mid spring, in May and June. While these are migratory birds, they have excellent memories of the gardens they have visited, and will return year after year, if you provide them with their necessities. Hummingbird nectar mixes can be purchased in a variety of stores, or you can make your own. Here’s a caution though. If you make your own, do not use red food coloring, it is not healthy for the birds. Mix four parts water to one part sugar, heat until sugar dissolves. Don’t boil the mix as that will thicken it. Let cool completely then fill your feeders with the clear liquid. While the hummingbird is reported to be attracted to red, this can be accomplished in the color of the feeder or by doing something very simple, like tying a piece of red ribbon around the feeder. Also, don’t fill the feeders. Store the extra nectar in the fridge for refilling later. The reason you don’t want to fill your feeders is that the nectar needs to be changed every few days to avoid spoilage that could harm the birds and even cause them to leave your lawn. Filling feeders creates wasted product that must be poured out when you change it out for fresh. The following video will give you a little insight as to how to bring hummingbirds to your lawn with flowering plants. The take away from this video is that hummingbirds prefer plants with trumpet shaped flowers. While this video is made in Idaho, you will recognize these plants as ones that also grow in Illinois. In addition, we noted that the creator said the flowers don’t necessarily have to be red to attract the little creatures. Another take away from this video is that hummingbirds are territorial and will defend their feeders. The more feeders you have the more hummingbirds you will attract. Also, space the feeders so that they are not all visible from one viewpoint. CONTINUED u