I have only seen a few hummers this spring, each time I see one or two I think they are really back. No such luck, these are just isolated sightings.

I put out a finch sock and now have loads of them.....I have a birdhouse near the sock and a snake seems to have moved into it! This is the third day that he has been in there. My husband will move him as soon as he has time, we think he is a black snake and usually a good guy, but I don't want him messing with the little goldfinches. I am just a bit too edgy to go out there and do something myself!
Kiki

Finally! My daughter helped me get the sock while H.W. Longfellow watched our every move! The sock is now near one of the hummingbird feeders, please tell me the finches and hummers will be okay with that.

Kiki

I finallly started seeing hummingbirds coming back which makes me very happy. I dont't know a lot about finches, what are you feeding the finches in the sock? You have a very brave daughter for helping you get the sock down. Am I understanding correctly that there was a snake inside the sock? I'm not too sure if the hummingbirds and the finches are going to be territorial. Or is this something you've done in the past? I guess as long as the snake isn't bothering the birds, Possibly the birds dont care. Hang in there. Snakes are very scary. I guess the snake needs a home, too.

Take care,
HummerLover

He was not in the finch sock but in a birdhouse just a foot or so away and now he is gone! After we moved the sock of black thistle seed he left quickly. I will watch when I am home (work evenngs) and see if it seems that the birds are getting along okay. I can move the sock if need be. I know this is not a finch forum, but since the situation could bother the hummers I didn't think y'all would mind if I posted here. Also, I have been seeing a few hummers off and on all morning. Every time I think they are really back I seem to jinx myself by talking about them and they seem to stay away.
Thanks,
Kiki

I'm sorry I misunderstood where your snake was. I really don't think there should be a problem with a finch home being close to a hummer feeder. I don't mind hearing about other types of birds. Everybody needs a little help once in a while.

Thank You
HummerLover

HummerLover

I have a really stupid question. Since I have a hummer feeder,
I was afraid to fill up my bird feeder which is about say 4 or 5 feet away. I was afraid it would attract crows and other types of big birds, and I've heard they'll eat hummers. So I was hoping to get some advice if I should find a completely different location for the bird feeder or just forget about it, because the hummingbirds are a big deal to me.

Thank you so much
HummerLover

I think the one downside of attracting finches to a feeder near the hummingbird feeder is that the finches may discover what's in the hummingbird feeder and will then climb all over it to try to get the nectar from it (I have seen a number of somewhat humorous photos of various types of finches on hummingbird feeders). I expect their doing this would eventually become a nuisance for the hummers and you.

Hey Jenny,

Thank You so much for your help, the hummers are a big deal to me and dont want any other animals messing with it period.I was hoping to maybe get a few ideas of maybe what to plant to atract the hummers they use the feeder but I would like to have them in my yard more often.

Thank- You
HummerLover

I moved the finch sock back across the yard as I did not see them using it near the hummers.....maybe the finches and hummers didn't get along.
Thanks y'all for your help.
Kiki

Hey Kiki,
You didnt have to move your sock on my account. I`m happy to hear that your snake is gone. Kiki, what plants do you possibly reccomend to attract hummers? I dont have tons of money to buy tons of plants, but I would love to fill my whole yard, my budget is also for other things.I found bee balm yesterday, but what kind of bee balm? I just have roses in containers right now.

Thank -You
HummerLover

Hummingbirds like flowers that have a tube shape. They like petunias, an annual. Bee Balm that you have already found will be good, no matter what kind. They like red flowers but once they are established in your yard they'll use most any flower. They are even attracted to the flowers on hostas. Any agastache -- a plant from the mint family -- They really aren't too hard to please. I just moved from the country and am trying to attract more hummers myself and have planted a nice size flower garden. I know I'm just trying to lure them away from other people's feeders which doesn't seem too fare -- one reason I like to give them lots of natural nectar from flowers as well as the sugar water. Carolyn

I would like to tell everyone thank -you for all the help.
It`s so nice to go to a place where everyone is interested in the same thing.Hummingbirds are so exciting. I appreciate all the help with all the questions I have asked.I dont think there is a single thing wrong with wanting to attract more hummmers into your yard. I had a
few ideas of what to plant but I was not to sure . At a
previos house that I had before ,I had found a hummer and
butterfly mix .I wasnt to sure what all the plants were.
agastache is from a the mint family? Does this possibly mean their attracted to mint? I have mint growing from
someone else planting.Thank you for all the help.
Hummerlover

Agastache has a different type of flower than the other mints I have so I don't think it is just any mint they like. It is also called anise hyssop and there are other names and colors.... these are bluish lavender. They also like trumpet flower and someone said coral honeysuckle. They like fuschia plants in hanging baskets.
Kiki

Kiki,
thank-you for all your help.I look forward to your advice in the future.I`ll try to find some of flowers that you reccomended. I appreciate it. Also let me know how your hummers are doing. Let me know if the scary snake comes back!It`s nice being able to talk to someone about hummers,
my husband is`nt really into nature but he listens to me.
takecare
Hummerlover

A couple of basic hummer plants are:
Monarada (Bee Balm) 'Jacob's Cline' Perennial
Coral Honeysuckle Perennial vine
Salvia coccinea Annual

If those are the only three types of plants you add your hummers will thank you.

There are many more and quite a few agastaches that will be good nectar sources for hummers. One particular good selection is Agastache Cana

The best variety of fuchsia for hummers is Gartenmeister Bonstedt. The flowers are long tubular flowers very similar to coral honeysuckle

Penny

Hummerlover, you've gotten some very good suggestions on plants, but here are some more:

Aquilegia canadensis (the eastern native columbine) I had good luck with these this spring. I was discouraged for awhile that my hummers seemed more interested in my feeders than in my plants, but this is one that they definitely visited.

Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) I just planted mine this spring, and as they are a late summer bloomer, I don't know yet how they'll be. Everything I've read, though, suggests that they're at the top of every hungry hummingbird's list of favorite flowers. They like moist to wet soil.

Fuchsia "Billy Green" is similar to "Gartenmeister Bonstedt," but more of a two tone pink color, instead of red. I think I saw one of my males visit it. I'm sorry I didn't get a clear look, but I was looking out the window, and there were some trumpet vine tendrils partially blocking my view. All I know is he lingered there near my Billy Green, and was probably feeding from it.

As for ones already mentioned, Salvia coccinea is also working for me. Trumpet vine is also excellent, but you may have to wait for years for it to bloom.

I have three Agastache plants that I planted this spring. I have a single plant called "Pink Panther," that has been blooming for a few weeks. I have not seen any hummers at it, and am starting to wonder if Agastaches are as good as everyone says. The other two plants are a variety called "Big Bazooka," and they are just on the verge of blooming. They are taller than "Pink Panther," and later blooming. Like "Pink Panther," they also have rosy pink flowers. Once they start blooming along with the "Pink Panther," I'll have a larger stand, and maybe the hummers will become more interested. I'm thinking that maybe they're lazy, and figure just the one plant isn't worth the trip! Maybe three plants in full bloom will get their attention.

I do think that large masses of attractive flowers are more likely to be successful in attracting hummers. I have no real proof, just a suspicion.