How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden: Tips From Down to Earth Living

How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden: Tips From Down to Earth Living
Female ruby-throated hummingbird hovers near pink petunias

By Late May, ruby-throated hummingbirds, the only hummingbird species to breed in the eastern United States, have typically returned to the Bergen County area. These remarkable birds migrate each spring from Central America and southern Mexico, with the first sightings in our area typically beginning in mid-to-late April and becoming more regular by early May.

Looking to bring hummingbirds to your yard this season? Down to Earth Living in Pomona offers a wide selection of hummingbird-friendly plants and expert advice for gardeners looking to attract them.

Plant Nectar-Rich Blooms

  • Bee Balm
  • Columbine
  • Trumpet Vine
  • Salvia
  • Cardinal Flower
  • Coral Bells (recommended by the Audubon Society and other birding experts for attracting ruby-throated hummingbirds)

Additional Ways to Invite Hummingbirds Into Your Garden

  • Use a simple feeder mix: 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water. No red dye needed.
  • Provide perches and shelter with native shrubs or small trees.
  • Offer a water source such as a mister or shallow fountain for bathing.

Attracting Hummingbirds Has Additional Benefits Beyond Their Beauty

  • Pollination Pros: As they feed, hummingbirds help native plants reproduce, making them important pollinators.
  • Natural Pest Control: They eat tiny insects like aphids and gnats, helping to keep pests in check.
  • Boosting Biodiversity: Gardens that attract hummingbirds also support other pollinators and wildlife.
  • Good for You, Too: Watching these energetic birds promotes nature appreciation, and can also reduce stress and support mental well-being.

Follow these tips, and you should be spotting hummingbirds in your yard in no time! Down to Earth Living has everything you need to attract them and keep your garden thriving all season long.

Down to Earth Living Garden Center, located in Pomona in Rockland County, offers 12.5 acres filled with perennials, flowers, shrubs and trees, with new arrivals every week. The 10,000 square foot showroom also houses a large and unique selection of contemporary, classic, traditional, and transitional teak, aluminum and all-weather dining and deep-seated furniture. The center is open 9:00 am-5:00 pm daily, and is located near Bergen County at 1040 Route 45.  For more information, www.dteliving.com or call 845-354-8500.

Sources:

  • Audubon Society and Journey North Hummingbird Migration Maps.
  • Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
  • National Audubon Society.
  • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service gardening guidelines.
  • BirdWatching Daily
  • House Digest
  • Doctor Woodland
  • The Nature of Home
  • Environment for the Americas
  • Western Hummingbird Partnership
  • Hummingbird Spot

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