How to Attract Humming Birds and Butterflies

Attracting the little critters can be quite challenging but rewarding and fun once you have a cycle in place. Here is how we get them to come and stay at our house.

Hummingbird
One of the first things you will need to know is the migration pattern of these little critters. Guess what, there are actually folks out there that will do this part for you. Where are the hummingbird maps, click here to track them and find out when they will be coming your way. This page is full of wonderful information on all species of hummingbirds, a real good place to start and refer back to in time of question.

Once you get the map done, you will have to prepare a feeder and a nectar. Hummingbird feeders are one of the cheapest on the market, you can purchase them just about anywhere, they come in a variety of shapes and designs. The shape or design does not matter as much as the color. RED, RED, RED pulls these little fellows in fairly well, having red on your feeder will also let you make a clear nectar verses putting food color in as an attractant. You can also hang a few red ribbons from the bottom if you need more color, once they are there and the food is available, they will stay. This year we have 3 fighting over 2 feeders and for some reason, even though there is 4 feeding holes in each feeder, they will put on quite a show and get quiet loud challenging each other for the feeder.

Nectar
Simple to make, Four cups of boiling water, one cup of sugar! thats it 4 parts water and 1 part sugar. Stir till sugar is dissolved, let cool and fill your feeders. You can leave the nectar clear as long as you have a colored feeder, ribbons on it or some type of flower they like planted. They will come.

Plants
Alot of different plants attract these birds, hummingbirds seem to like anything that is in a bell shape, they go crazy after my hostas, tiger Lillie's, daffodils, morning glories, all these plants and vines are bell shaped and colorful.

Butterflies
Our three year old loves the butterflies, You can plant a garden dedicated just to them. You can discover a whole world of butterfly gardening. Doesn't have to be fancy, this is something that the kid and I do together, I let her have tons of input, so read up and get gardening.

I find that whatever the hummingbirds like the butterflies do too.

Please be kind enough to keep your feeders clean, because this nectar is sweet it will attract insects also and ruin your interaction with both the hummingbird and butterflies.

This is what works for us, goodluck and enjoy your gardening.