Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 3, 1994 TAG: 9404020011
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Patricia Held
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Creating a garden suitable to attract hummingbirds and butterflies is as simple as planting flowering plants that produce nectar. You will enjoy watching these delicate creatures as they fly from blossom to blossom, performing the task of pollination in your garden.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has produced a booklet describing the steps necessary to grow a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Here are some of the tips offered in ``A Planting Guide for Virginia Nectar-Seekers'':
Before grabbing the pitchfork and spade, sit down and draw some plans. Get an idea of what you want your garden to look like on paper first.
Next, make a list of the plants you would like to include and decide where they would fit best. Remember, many of the trees, shrubs and flowers that we like do not necessarily attract nectar-seekers. Learn what types of blossoms these creatures prefer and include them in your plans.
Make sure that the plants you decide to include will grow in your particular environment. Check with your local extension agent to have your soil tested. Agents can also help advise you about which plants do best in your area.
Choose hardy trees, shrubs, vines and perennials that require a minimum of care, instead of annuals, which must be replaced every year.
Hummingbirds and butterflies need nectar-rich plants. Single-flower blossoms have more nectar than double ones, so avoid plants of the double-flower varieties.
The scent, quality of nectar and type of blossom are important aspects to consider when selecting plants.
Hummingbirds are attracted to nectar-rich plants with bright red or orange tubular-shaped blossoms. Look for blossoms not much lower than 2 feet in height. Hummers also will visit hanging plants on patios or hanging in trees.
Do not use insecticides and herbicides. Not only can these chemicals have harmful effects on the environment, but they may cause the demise of your visiting butterflies and hummingbirds.
Remember that if you wish to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, other nectar-seekers, such as wasps and bees also will come. Learn to tolerate these visitors as well.
If you wish to attract butterflies, one way is to provide their favorite nectar blossoms. Another method is to include preferred larval foodplants that nourish the caterpillars. Larval foodplants that nourish the caterpillars. Larval foodplants are important to female butterflies, who lay their eggs on the plants.
In addition to planting for nectar-seekers, some of us also establish artificial feeding areas using a solution of sugar water in hummingbird and butterfly feeders.
If you wish to use these feeders it is important to follow some simple safety tips to prevent spoiled and unsafe solutions.
Make sure that your feeders can be taken apart and cleaned thoroughly. Fungus molds and bacteria can spoil your solutions, and it is important to clean the feeders as often as every four days.
Do not use soap to clean your feeders. Use hot water and a little vinegars to scrub them out. Then rinse thoroughly.
Because the safety of red dyes is in question, do not use red food coloring in your sugar solution. It is not necessary to color the sugar water, especially if your feeder already has red on it.
Never use honey as a sweetener in your solutions. Use granulated white sugar in a ration of four parts per water to one part sugar. I blend the solution in a heavy pot over the stove and cook it until the solution becomes clear. Allow it to cool before filling the feeders, and store the remainder of the solution in the refrigerator.
To discourage wasps and ants from feeding at your feeders, apply petroleum jelly around the openings. Never use insecticides.
Below is a partial list of plants to attract nectar-seekers. It is provided by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Native flower plants to attract butterflies
Thistles, milkweeds, joe-pye weed, ironweed, wild blue phlox, bouncing bet, yarrow, boneset, dandelion, goldenrod, teasel, red clover, redbud tree, Virginia fringe tree, buttonbush, mountain laurel
To attract hummingbirds
Trumpet creeper vine, cardinal flower, mimosa, jewelweed
Cultivated flowering plants to attract butterflies
butterfly bush, sweet pepper bush, honeysuckle shrubs, lilacs, autumn olive, bush clmatis, lavendar, butterfly weed, sweet william, garden phlox, asters, daisies, candytuft, veronica, periwinkle
To attract hummingbirds
Mimosa tree, weigelia, azaleas, bee balm, red hot poker, fuchsia, hollyhock, delphinium, columbine.
Patricia Held will respond to readers' questions on the plant and animal wildlife in the region. Mail inquiries to: Patricia Held, P.O. Box 65, Goode, Va. 24556.
Patricia Held is a Bedford County free-lance writer and author specializing in natural history.|
by CNB