Archive for May, 2008

Learn How Easy and Inexpensive Feeding Hummingbirds Can Be!

I consider hummingbirds to be the most interesting of all wild birds. I love watching them as they dart around the yard looking for hummingbird food and water. Hummers can fly so fast from one side of your yard to the other that they are hard to follow. Making sure that hummingbirds are regular visitors to your yard is easy, just supply a food source.

Adding natural sources of hummingbird food to your yard is the best way to attract hummingbirds. Add a few hummingbird feeders to your garden and you can have hummingbirds near your home from spring until fall. Natural sources of hummer food are really easy to set up and maintain. These plants not only attract hummingbirds but they will also make your yard more attractive. Most flowers that attract hummers are red and very attractive.

Natural Hummingbird Food

Hummingbirds sip nectar from flowers. They are attracted to red flowers like coral bells, red bee balm, scarlet salvia and cardinal flower. Once planted maintenance is fairly easy. If you choose perennials they will come back year after year creating a natural food source for feeding hummingbirds for years to come. Hummingbirds also eat small flying insects.

“Artificial” Hummingbird Nectar

Having a yard isn’t always possible. Or you may not like gardening. You may live in a nursing home, a second floor apartment or a condo in the city, but you can still attract hummingbirds. You can use flowering hanging baskets or hummingbird feeders. Hummingbird feeders come in several different sizes, shapes and colors. They can be hung from windows, patio eaves and even porch balconies.

When using hummingbird feeders look for ones that have red coloring on them. Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red. Hummingbird feeders come in many shapes and sizes but that is more a personal preference. The hummingbirds only care about the nectar inside.

Hummingbird Feeders

Hummingbird feeders are available in two styles - bottle and dish. Bottle feeders are upside down glass or plastic bottles fitted with feeding tubes extending from the bottom. Many bottle feeders feature a red plastic flower to help attract hummingbirds. You may also find bottle feeders that have bee-guards on the feeding ports to stop flying insects from invading your feeder. Hanging your bottle feeder out of direct sunlight may keep it from leaking. Leaking is caused when the sugar water gets too hot and expands.

The dish hummingbird feeder is normally made of plastic although some very beautiful ones are made from blown glass. A dish style feeder is in essence a covered dish with feeding ports built into the cover. The feeding ports in the top make them less appealing to bees and wasps. Several dish feeders are now designed with a storage bottle to distribute the sugar solution from above. Since the hummingbirds may not be able to eat all of the solution, this style feeder should be cleaned and re-filled more often. I prefer this style of feeder for feeding hummingbirds.

Hummingbird Food Recipe

Making your own hummingbird nectar is easy. The only thing you need to remember is four parts water, one part sugar. You can make as much as you need just follow the 4 to 1 formula. Some people say that a stronger ratio of 4 parts water and 2 parts sugar will attract hummingbirds faster to a new hummingbird feeder location.

Boiling the water before adding the sugar will help the mixture blend thoroughly. You can also just stir the sugar into cool water but it will take longer to blend. Do not add red food dye to the mixture, it may be harmful to the hummers that eat it. If you have a problem attracting hummingbirds just tie a few strips of red cloth the feeder. The color and movement should draw them to your feeder. If you make extra nectar just store it in the refrigerator until you need it. The mixture will keep for a few weeks if kept cold.

Hummingbirds will visit your hummingbird feeders into the fall. Many of the hummers you see at your feeders in the fall are migrating from locations farther north. The nourishment they receive from your feeders will provide the energy needed for the long flight to their winter home.

The effort you put into attracting hummingbirds will be rewarded for years to come. Studies have proved that hummingbirds will come back to the same feeding grounds from year to year.

If you love feeding hummingbirds I want help you attract more of them. Using plants and hummingbird feeders will bring these attractive birds flocking to your garden. Just apply these easy to follow tips.

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May 31 2008 | Gardening | No Comments »

Landscaping Basics For The Front Yard

The front yard is the first thing that most people see, so this tends to receive the most focus. There are many different ways to style the front yard. Even more are the countless landscaping ideas mulling around the minds of homeowners. In this short article you will find some basic landscaping concepts for your front yard.

Building Materials

One of the most common building materials for front yard landscaping is bricks. Bricks can be used in a variety of different ways to add height to the front yard, as well as create paths and borders. Additionally, bricks can be used to designate an area specifically for sitting and relaxing. Bricks can be easily used without the need for professional help, as well as being quite inexpensive.

In some situations, concrete may be more suitable. Although it is generally less desirable than bricks, it is often better for people who are in wheelchairs or serve drink or food on a trolley. Although concrete may need repair every couple of years, it is very useful in making patios.

Front Yard Landscaping For Desert Climates

Hot and arid climates limit one’s choice of landscaping designs for the front yard. It is important for landscaping enthusiasts in desert areas to adopt a practical approach and use soil and plants that can stay healthy in desert conditions. Ideally, these should be of the kinds that do not depend heavily on water supply. Purple Sage, Longwood Blue Bluebeard and Oleander are some of the desert plants that do well in desert conditions and look good in front yards.

Driveways

Landscaping driveways is central to front yard landscaping since driveways lead the people to inside the house. One can think of numerous landscaping styles for the driveway. Generally, it is better to plant firm trees along the sides rather than small plants, especially if playing children use the driveway. Also, if the budget allows, it is recommended to gate the driveway. Gating makes the driveway more secure and beautiful. Building a small wall to protect people and animals from treading the lawn is also an important part of front yard landscaping.

Solar Lights And Footpath Shrubs

The footpath leading from the driveway to your front door should ideally be made from bricks or stones. By planting flowers and lush plants along one side it will look more pleasant. Try to use medium rocks rather than large ones. The more popular stones used for this purpose are pumice, limestone and granite.

Shrubs can dramatically increase the beauty of front yard landscaping. They give a soft and fresh look to any place, while also defining the yard’s boundaries. As well, they help to provide a great deal of privacy. Solar lights help to add a decorative touch as well as sufficient lighting during the evening hours. As well as being very decorative, they are also very cost effective.

Visit Emma Richardson’s website for more landscaping ideas

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May 27 2008 | Landscaping | No Comments »

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