Gardens Galore: Bring on the Hummers by Karen Brewka

This is the time of year when we are looking at seed and plant catalogues and dreaming about what will be new in our gardens next summer. I would like to see more hummingbirds in my garden. I've never put out bird feeders of any kind so attracting hummers will be a new thing for me.
When the caragana on the side of my house is blooming, I see a few hummingbirds flitting from the big spruce to the yellow flowers so I know there are some around. How do I entice them into the back yard so I can enjoy them close to the deck?
Brent Johner (Nature's Corner), a writer based in Calgary, has lots of info about attracting hummingbirds. He says it might take years for the birds to put your place on their map. They come north to breed with the males showing up ahead of the females in early to mid May. First comes the Rufous, then the Calliope and then the Ruby-Throated. They stake out territory with dense vegetation nearby and wait for the females to choose them and their territories for nesting.
The hummingbirds need to feed heavily towards the middle of August to get ready for the long trip south.
Johner sets out his feeders in early May and again in mid August to fit in with the travelling schedules of the hummingbirds. He uses fake red flowers to attract them to his feeders in the spring and then relies on garden flowers to attract them later in the season.
The feeders have to be kept clean with the nectar changed daily if it is hot and every 2nd or 3rd day if it is cool. If the nectar gets cloudy, it needs to be changed right away. Bacteria and fungus can cause disease in the birds. Only use nectar that is made up out of 4 parts sterilized (boiled) water and 1 part white sugar – no dyes, no artificial sweeteners, no honey or molasses.
Johner also mentions that the feeders need to be protected from ants and wasps and, of course, be set up so that cats can't get at the birds.
So, if you have natural areas close by, the chances of attracting hummingbirds are good. There are lots of garden flowers that will attract hummers even without the use of a feeder. Johner recommends Bee Balm, Coral Bells, Weigela, Delphinium, Monk's Hood, Columbine, Scarlet Trumpet Honeysuckle, Lilac and Red Maltese Cross. Lois Hole also recommended Beardtongue, Campion, Day Lily, Foxglove, Hollyhock, Lilies, Garden Phlox and Pinks.
These are all great plants to have in the garden whether or not your plan is to attract hummingbirds.
Have a gardening question or a problem? Send it along to the Gazette gazette@telus.net and Karen will answer it in her column.
The Valley Neighbours Garden Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at Valley Neighbours on Sunset Boulevard in Turner Valley. The club welcomes new members. For information call Bea at 403–933–7131. The Horticultural Club meets every second Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm. For information call Sheila at 403–931-3989