P H O T O S : (F E E D E R ) P A R -A -S O L ; (S A L V IA A N D P E P P E R ) B L A IN E M O A T S ; (G A R L IC ) M A T T H E W B E N S O N ; (B U C K E T ) S C O T T L IT T L E

THIS MONTH

IN THE GARDEN

ways to

attract

■ Grow late-blooming nectar sources.

Hummers favor tubular-shape blooms

in bright red and orange, including

salvia, bee balm (,

Monarda

), hyssop

(

Agastache

), phlox,

Buddleja,

butterfly

weed (

A sdepias

), cardinal flower

(Lobelia cardinalis),

and lantana For

more plant suggestions, go to

BHG.corryhummingbirdplants.

■ O ffer shelter. It may seem as if they

never stop their frenetic search for food,

but hummingbirds do rest. And when

they do, they prefer perching on hidden

branches, particularly those o f evergreens.

hummingbirds

■ Serve fast food. Sugar water is

the hummer's equivalent o f an energy

drink. Fill a feeder like the Bloom

(parasolgarden.com),

below,

with

homemade nectar (boiled, then cooled)

made from

4

parts water to

1

part sugar.

Contrary to popular belief, the solution

need not be tinted with red food

coloring Clean feeders every few days

and refill with fresh sugar water.

■ Provide moving water. Hummingbirds

drink and bathe on the fly as they dart in

and out o f oscillating sprinklers. They also

love birdbaths with misters.

miles

That’s the flight Rubv-Throated I Iummingbirds—

the only widespread nummer species east of the

Rockies—make every fall when they migrate from

Northern climes to their wintering grounds in

Mexico and Central America The trip includes a

600-mile crossing over the Gulf of Mexico.

garlic bulbs,

above,

w hen half

the leaves turn brow n. Hang

bulbs in a shaded area to cure.

Cloves are ready to eat w hen a

papery outer skin develops.

above,

are m ost potent w hen

they’re red. W ear rubber

gloves to handle— the juices

can irritate the eyes and nose.

Use hot peppers fresh, o r d ry

them by hanging indoors.

west

T ire d o f the daily

drag o f w atering with your

garden hose? M ake a slow -drip

irrigation system : Use an ice

pick to poke holes in the

bottom o f a 5-gallon bucket

and fill it with water,

above.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS AUGUST 2010

1 1 3