Create a "Living Nectar Screen" for Hummers!


© Naomi Mathews

'Tis the season for hummingbirds!

Will these little jewels of the sky with their Lilliputian wings find the sweet nectar they need for survival in YOUR backyard this year? If not, they will of necessity seek this vital life-giving food elsewhere that they depend upon for their survival.

Are you looking for a unique, yet a very functional backdrop where you can plant some great flowering nectar sources for your hummers? Something that isn't mundane, or isn't like what most of your friends or neighbors already have? Something really different?

Perhaps you've grown dispassionate about having ordinary hummingbird nectar feeders hanging from the eaves of your house. Understandably, maintaining hummingbird feeders can be quite demanding, especially if you have a busy summer schedule planned, or if you know you will be away from home more than usual. Of necessity, those feeders must be kept clean and fresh so your hummers remain healthy. It truly is a commitment to care for hummingbird feeders properly. Of course, you could just take them down; the hummers would still manage to find nectar somewhere.

On the other hand, if you'd really love having hummers come without having to put their feeders out, even when you are at home, don't despair! I would like to suggest another unique, maybe a more lasting means to provide nectar for your hummers that just might work well for you.

Create a "living nectar screen" by planting nectar source climbers on both sides of it!

You may already be wondering exactly what a living nectar screen is, and how or if you can make one yourself. A divider of this type is known as a "free standing" divider because it is placed so that the trellis is free on BOTH sides. This will allow you to plant hummingbird attractant climbers on BOTH SIDES of it as opposed to a trellis situated with one side against a fence or wall. By planting on both sides, free standing dividers soon become "living screens" having masses of color and foliage that can last the year-around in many areas.

Many different kinds of dividers are used by gardeners and are commonly called "ornamental dividers." Dividers have many different uses, and are particularly useful for hiding eyesores such as run down outbuildings, compost piles, or maybe even your dog house! Dividing different types of garden areas with ornamental dividers is also a very popular strategy, and is especially striking for separating flower gardens from vegetable gardens.

       

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

4.   Jun 24, 1999 8:11 PM
Sis, in doing a bit of reading in my butterfly book, those blue ones could be "Spring Azures." They are common in all areas of the U.S. and are some of the earliest ones to show up in the spring. I'm ...

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews


3.   Jun 23, 1999 5:33 PM
Hi, sis. I forgot to mention that when we were in Spokane last week end Kristi tried to cath some of the prettiest little bright blue butterflies. They look like the swallowtail on that BD card site - ...

-- posted by Sarah_Sunn


2.   Jun 23, 1999 3:46 PM
I can see a free standing screen would be great to hide your neighbor's clutter, Sis. But there's always next year...after all, Rome wasn't built in a day. (-:

Speaking of your many goldfinches, I' ...


-- posted by Naomi_Mathews


1.   Jun 23, 1999 2:14 PM
Well, sis, another fantastic set of ideas! You know, I've gathered so many exciting ideas for a carefree yard from your articles, as well as some great discussions, that I could quickly fill at least ...

-- posted by Sarah_Sunn





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