Nectar Anyone?

A flash of harmless lightning,
A mist of rainbow dyes,
The burnished sunbeams brightening
From flower to flower he flies.

~John Banister Tabb

Yesterday evening as a long golden sunset slowly descended upon the Ranch, I was getting ready to fix dinner, puttering at the kitchen sink when I saw something small and dark flash by the window. It fluttered past the porch and landed on my red convertible. Too big for a moth or a butterfly but too small for an Oregon junco, our common winter bird. It was a hummingbird, an Anna's Hummingbird to be precise. The first hummer of the season -- what a wonderful surprise!

But there wasn't anything for it to eat out on the hood of the car. And nothing bloomed on the porch or the yard for it, either. Poor little thing!

So fairly early this morning Hubby and I ran down to Freddy's for the best hummingbird magnet -- a hanging fuchsia basket. I buy the 12" pots containing the thickest branches and most symmetrical shape I can find. Last year I put the baskets up in May, but since I've seen a sweet Anna's hummingbird now, I just couldn't wait three weeks.

One basket up! The nectar is waiting!

I also filled the hanging wire planter-boxes on the porch railing with red zonal geraniums. Red flowers will attract hummingbirds from quite a distance. These are likely to be replaced when they are transplanted into huge pots by the front door in a week or two.

Once the hummers find your fuchsias, they will flit from one to the other. Last year I had a light pink variety they loved, too, as well as an all red, a red and purple, and a deep pink fuchsia. The baskets were spaced about 10 feet apart. It's fun to watch the hummingbirds dart between them.

The key to great fuchsias -- fertilize. Mine doubled in size in about a month last year. They were enormous! The hummers visited all day from dawn through early evening, and buzzed from flower to flower, occasionally resting on the porch railing or fuchsia branch. Such gorgeous flowers begin with a good all purpose flower food and lots of water. [I use a 24-8-16 composition product I bought from the WalMart Garden Center!] You'll have simply luscious flowers and greenery. And a horde of curious and hungry hummingbirds for months.

We aren't finished decorating our porch by any means – but at least from now on the little darlings will have an inviting and attractive place to visit and dine.