Hummingbird Hotels

by Elizabeth Griffin—Intern

One of the best components of any home garden is the variety of visitors at different times of the year; one of my favorites is the hummingbird. Usually, these iridescent travelers arrive in West Tennessee in late March or early April. Sighting one in your garden is a sure sign that Spring has sprung, and Summer is on its way. But how do you keep these migratory friends coming to your garden every year? Here are some steps you can take to create a hummingbird hotel, a stop along the way for your vibrant guests.  

Step 1: The first step is to ensure that your garden has plenty of food sources for the visiting hummingbirds. They eat once every fifteen minutes to sustain their metabolisms, so obtaining a vast quantity and variety of flowers for your garden is essential. The hummingbird’s favorite blossoms are ones with long, tubular ends that accommodate their beaks.

The flowers with the highest nectar concentration to add to your garden are:

Jewelweed

Trumpet Creepers

Bee Balm

Million Bells

Trumpet Honeysuckle 

Hollyhock

The most suitable varieties of these flowers are red and orange because these colors signal that food is within reach; however, hummingbirds also enjoy blues and pinks. 

Hummingbird feeders are also crucial for nutrition; hang them from a porch or tree in the shade to ensure that hummingbirds can easily access the feeder. Use one part sugar to four parts water, or, for example, one cup sugar to four cups water to create a sweet treat for the birds. Red and orange colors are also best for the feeders, but make sure not to use dyes or food coloring in the solution because it can be harmful to them.

Step 2: The second step is to ensure that the hummingbirds have a place to rest on their journey. In West Tennessee, the ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common type of summertime visitor. This variety usually nests in areas on the edge of the forest because they are a safe place to hide from predators. In this case, adding small trees at varying heights or perches will create an environment that welcomes the hummingbirds. Because their feet are so tiny, bushes with thin branches, such as a butterfly bush, will work. 

Step 3: The third step to create a sanctuary for hummingbirds is to reduce any threats or predators that might be lurking around. This is not only limited to other animals; potent pesticides and chemicals can be harmful to hummers. When you can, choose organic soils for potted plants, and try to refrain from spraying weeds around the flowers intended for hummingbird feeding. 

A quick tip: If you have an outdoor cat or animal, hang the hummingbird plants from your porch so that they have a safe place to feed! Make sure they are not directly in front of a window, however, because hummers can be confused by the reflected landscape and injure themselves. 

Hummingbirds are one of the most beautiful guests that visit gardens each year. If you can, plant flowers that bloom at different times of the year to ensure that the different varieties of hummingbirds that migrate throughout the year have a safe place to stay. With these steps, you can proudly create a hummingbird hotel.