Penny's Passion: Thinking Out Loud Thursday - March 30, 2017

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - March 30, 2017

Happy Thursday!  We've almost made it to the weekend.  Thanks for stopping by Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

Today I'm reflecting on my grandmother and her love for hummingbirds.  Every time I see one, I immediately think of her.  I've tried for a couple years to attract them to my yard with only modest success.  This year is going to be different!



After doing a little research, I believe one of the problems has been my lack of getting my feeder out early enough.  These little guys migrant, so your feeder should be out and visible in time for their trip north.  According to the map below, they should be getting to my area any day now.

Ruby-throated map for North America

We (watch out Eric - this means you) are going to do a little planting this year too.  According to Birdwatchers.com, hummingbirds are attracted to the following ~

Flowers
Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
Lantana Lantana camara
Columbine Aguilegia spp.
Fuchsias Fuchsia spp.
Impatiens Impatiens spp.
Coral-Bells Heuchera sanguinea
Hollyhocks Althea spp.
Penstemen Penstemen spp.
Petunia Petunia spp.
Flowering Tobacco Nicotania alata
Geranium Pelargonium spp.
Begonia Begonia spp.

Shrubs
Azaleas Rhododendron spp.
Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii
Flowering Quince Chaenomeles japonica
Honeysuckle Lonicera spp.
Weigela Weigela spp.

Trees
Flowering Crab Malus spp.
Tulip Poplar Liriodendron Tulipifera
Locust Robinia
Eucalyptus Eucalyptus spp.
Vines Honeysuckle Lonicera heckrottii
Morning Glory Ipomea ssp.
Trumpet Creeper Campsis radicans
Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens

There are so many cool feeders on the market.  Would one of these make a great Mother's Day gift for you?  Ian and Kayla got me the first one a few years ago and I love it!

Click HERE to purchase
Click HERE to purchase
Click HERE to purchase
Wondering what to put in those feeders?  Well, you can purchase nectar concentrate.
Click HERE to purchase

Or you could whip up a batch of the feed yourself.  Here's a recipe ~

1 Part Sugar 
4 Parts Water 
Boil 1-2 Minutes 
Cool & Store In Refrigerator

Remember to clean and change your nectar every 3-4 days.  If it's super hot, you should really change it even more frequently.

Do you have hummingbirds in your yard?  What tricks have you found to attract them?

So that's what is on my mind today.  Please link up below and share what you're thinking out loud about today.




Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at:
This is How We Roll
This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks!

6 comments:

  1. We just saw hummingbirds when we visited Phoenix, but I don't think I ever see them here in Denver?? Maybe it's just because we don't put out a feeder or have many flowers around our place (I have a brown thumb--ha ha)
    jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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  2. This is so great! I just checked out birdwatchers.com and had NO idea the extent of information there is on there! I think, in addition to a bird feeder, I want a bird bath!

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  3. I love hummingbirds and those feeders are beautiful!!

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  4. I love hummingbirds! My aunt always kept a feeder on her deck at her cabin and I remember watching them in the summer!
    Beth
    http://www.thebethnextdoor.com

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  5. Oh I really love hummingbirds and wish we had them here in Germany as well! When we lived in the states I had a feeder and I loved watching them!

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  6. We live in the north so we have hummingbirds all summer; we use our own mix of sugar and water. I just have one feeder but we plan to get another this summer. They are just fascinating to watch!

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