To entice more glittering hummingbirds into our gardens, we can provide a habitat that supplies their needs. One sure attraction in the desert is to provide water. Of course, hummingbirds generally do not drink at birdbaths, however they will catch water from a sprinkler or drip system. They also will bathe and drink in water that catches in the leaves of plants. It is quite easy to set up a mist system in the garden for the hummingbirds.
Of course, the easiest way to attract hummingbirds is with flowers that supply their needs for nectar and pollen. Many drought tolerant and native plants that bloom from early spring to fall feed hummingbirds.
Penstemons begin blooming in early spring and are a hummingbird favorite. Parry’s penstemon (Penstemon parryi) with its bright pink flowers or Superb penstemon (Penstemon superbus) with coral flowers succeed brilliantly in our desert gardens. Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii) blooms with bright red flowers in late spring and summer.
Salvias also are a hummingbird favorite. Cherry or autumn sage (Salvia greggii) begins blooming in March and continues at least until November. This small shrub covers itself with red, pink or white flowers. With adequate water, it will thrive in full sun, though it prefers a little afternoon shade.
Many blue and red salvias are not only blooming powerhouses in the garden, but a feast for the hummingbirds. Look for brilliant blue Mealy cup sage (Salvia farinacea), which is a native perennial or Red Lady Sage (Salvia coccinea), which is a bright red annual. Salvia superba, which blooms in many shades of blue to purple, is sold under a variety of names including May Night, Blue Queen, Rose Queen and others. For late fall blooms, plant Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha), which grows to four feet tall and has velvety purple blooms.
Mexican Flame (Anisacanthus wrightii) sports bright orange tubular flowers in the late summer and fall. This native shrub seeds easily and grows to about three feet tall and wide. The hummingbirds hover over it all day as they fill up for their fall migration. For the safety of the hummingbirds, it is best not to use pesticides in the garden.
Hummingbirds use spider webs to build their nests. Hummingbirds also eat hundreds of small insects, and baby hummingbirds are fed an insect diet in the nest. With some planning, every garden can become a hummingbird haven.
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