From the Ground Up: Feed hummingbirds and they will come

Q: I love seeing hummingbirds, and I'd like to attract more of them to my garden. How do I do that?

A: Hummingbirds are wonderful creatures to watch, and it's easy to get them to hang out where you are.

The trick is finding things for them to eat and flowers for them to visit so we can enjoy watching them. It's also important to make sure your yard is safe for them.

Now is a great time to start your hummingbird campaign; they usually show up in Iowa in mid-April (depending on the weather).

Hummingbird feeders come in many varieties and costs. You can find a simple one for only a few dollars just about anywhere that sells garden supplies. The hummingbirds don't care what it looks like or costs, so buy what you like.

While glass is a little more expensive, it's easier to keep clean. Buy several and hang them in various spots around your yard in places where you can see the birds feed. Remember, the feeders are for humans; hummingbirds don't need them.

Fill the feeder with boiled sugar water - 4 parts water and 1 part cane sugar (no honey or artificial sweeteners). Make sure the sugar is dissolved.

You might want to make up a large quantity and store it in the refrigerator. Don't use red food coloring; it isn't good for the birds and makes no difference in attracting them. Honest.

You'll need to clean the feeder often, at least weekly, and more often in the hot summer months. If the water in the feeder gets cloudy, it's time to clean. Clean with hot soapy water and, if the mildew is bad, with bleach water and wash thoroughly with clear water.

Hummingbirds like plants that have a tubular shape that they can feed through. They stick out their tongues and lap nectar. Their tongues are 1/25 of an inch wide, and they feed at nine sips per second.

You probably have lots of flowers in your yard or garden that will attract hummingbirds. Look around for plants with that tubular shape - hosta in blossom, coleus, petunias, fuchsia. Avoid trumpet vine; it is extremely invasive.

Hummingbirds also seem to like fragrant plants such as honeysuckle and lilacs. Some other favorite plants of hummingbirds are:

' Penstemon

' Salvia

' Mandeville

' Monarda (bee balm)

' Columbine

' Buddleia (butterfly bush)

Hummingbirds probably will leave by mid-October, but it's OK to keep the feeders full until later. When they are ready, they will be gone.

Have fun watching your hummingbirds this summer.

For all your gardening questions call the Linn County Master Gardener Hortline at (319) 447-0647.