Z6 here too. I always leave 1 up till it starts to freeze. Just in case. Makes me sad seeing the feeder with no hummers but 1 is easy to keep up with. No frost here yet so plants are still blooming too.

Thanks bdriver71,

When was the last time you saw a hummer? How many do you have during the peak?

I could put one back out, but the levels have not dropped at all since beginning of September. :c(

I also have not had a hummer for about two weeks now and the last hummer I had stuck around for 2 or 3 days using flowers only, so its not just feeders it does help to have the plants for the young ones that have not yet learned to use feeders. I have had several below freezing mornings already but still have some blooms alive as evidenced by the bumblebees still working. Lady-in-red is one in particular that is still throwing out new buds. Even though frost has gotten some flowers on the same plant not all flowers are bitten.

Sept. 17th was the last day I saw them. 3 lttle ones were the last. The 1 had the little red flecks under his neck I could only see if he turned his head just right.

The most I ever saw here this summer were 6 at the same time, on my front and back feeders. I can view them both from inside at the same time. My other feeder is hidden by a big Rhodo from inside, so I don't know what activity was there then. I've planted a lot of their favorite plants and the yard is pretty big so it would be hard to get a good count. They move around so fast. How about you? My salvia, cleomes, and coral honey suckle are hanging in there but the frost the last couple of days hit my morning glory. The yard is just too quiet without them.

bdriver71

Im not sure exactly what you are saying when you say 6 at one time, 6 altogether , 6 on each feeder at the same time . Anyway my last visitor was on Oct 7 , flowers only. Dont know if you viewed any of my posts this summer if so it would mainly speak for itself. I had more than my share of hummers but it didnt happen overnight. It was a progression of improving my small yard and I do mean small, but maybe its the area around me that helps plus the fact I plant only for hummers. I do live in rural setting with rolling hills across from me.

3 at the front feeder and 3 at the back. Arguing about whose turn it was. Couldn't see the other feeder, or plants
from inside the house. Hard to get a good count this year, they were all over the yard.

Didn't come here much this summer, but viewed enough to know you you had a great year. I know what you mean about not happening overnight. Moved here 6 years ago with flower beds everywhere. 2 acres. Have been yanking plants and replacing them with hummer favorites, ever since we moved here. Pretty much a hummer heaven here now. I can't believe your yard is so small and you have so many. Guess they know who loves them!

I too just moved here 6 years ago and it was virgin ground in the fact the ground was bare, no grass no plants , nothing. The first couple of years I only used feeders to attract hummers and had several here. Then I went on a crash course learning all I could about hummers , what they like and need, including growing plants from seeds and cuttings . Now, it is what it is.

I never heard of hummingbirds till my daughter got me a feeder for my birthday when we moved here. They were on it the same day. Crash course here too. Ripped out so many Iris's, Tiger Lillies, Cactus's etc. Hummer plants are there now. Have done good with cuttings but not with seeds. Tried for the first time to get salvia seeds. None there. Still blooming but no seeds. Something I read on-line said I am too late and the Goldfinches already dined on them. So much to learn yet! After I saw the first one, I was hooked.

Hi bdriver,

I did not get one on the feeder the first day it was out like you. Took well over a year before they started using it. I did have about 6 in my yard for a few days in August. Besides those few days, the second year I had none till one started visiting middle of July. Had one or two from end of July till first few days of September. That was it.

Hi eigdeh. Mine must have already been here because of the
flowers. Didn't know it could be hard to get them till I
read it there. Each year has got better, as I've added more
plants they love, and more feeders. You don't mention what
flowers you have planted? North or South Jersey? There are
a lot in this area. I'm surprised you have had so few.

I have a pretty good sized perennial garden. One bed alone is about 12 feet by 30 feet and I put two feeders right in the bed. There are some plants that they don't like, but plenty that they do. I am in Central Jersey, central both north-south and east-west.