Bayscape Blog 6/1/11


The Jewels in My Garden

By Judy DeFiglio



I woke up to the perfect summer day today. Sunny and warm with a soft breeze and no humidity, it can’t get better than this. No wait, it did get better! I stepped out on the deck to enjoy my morning tea and was greeted by this amazing addition to my garden. Sparkling like a jewel in the sunshine, this industrious hummingbird was hard at work among the monarda. He even stayed long enough for me to run inside for my camera. What a beautiful way to start the day.

This is the kind of bonus you get when you plant natives in your garden. You can attract hummingbirds to your yard without having to bother with feeders, having to boil sugar water and washing out the tubes. Plant beebalm (monarda) and the hummingbirds come. Monarda is easy to grow and is very fragrant both the flowers and the leaves. It does belong to the mint family and can spread quickly. It is not difficult to remove but still, I plant it in lean soil and do not water or fertilize it.

Another native that attracts hummingbirds is gayfeather (Liatris). These three feet tall spires of rosy-purple flowers look great planted with coneflowers (Echinacea) and black-eyed-Susans (Rudbeckia) in a summer garden. Liatris also attracts a variety of butterflies. It’s easy to grow and easy to care for.

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is a hummingbird magnet. The bright, red, tubular flowers are one of their favorites (and one of mine too). This native tends to be short-lived, but it is so pretty it is well worth it for however long it stays around. It does needs moist soil, so it is a good plant for a wet site or rain garden.

Hummingbirds will also visit your garden if you plant our native columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis). They are an important source of nectar because they bloom at the time that the hummingbirds are migrating north in the spring. I love these red and yellow flowers with their interesting spurs.

If you are looking for a flowering shrub that attracts hummingbirds, sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) is a great choice. This is a versatile plant that will grow in sun or shade and in wet or dry sites. The white flowers are fragrant and there is a pink form available. One cultivar is aptly named “Hummingbird”.

Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is a hardy, fast growing vine that will grow in any soil. It can take dry, infertile soil and even salt spray from the ocean, but do not plant this one in fertile soil or it will take over your garden. That being said it is a spectacular native plant and hummingbirds love the large red trumpet shaped flowers. Grow it on something sturdy. It can be pruned back if it gets too large.

Try one or all of these native plants in your landscape and enjoy the extra special treat of these jeweled visitors to your garden.