Show your butterfly and hummingbird gardens/plants

Nice! I’m always looking for good bee plants. That looks like a Dahlia, actually.

I have a different Cuphea (not David Verity) but the hummingbirds fight over it all the time.
I know I got it from Annie’s Annuals so I’ll have to see if I can get another. They’re great plants.

[SpookyShoe]

It really does look a lot like a dahlia, but I promise it's a Bidens. I bought some yellow ones at the same place about a week ago.

[GrowingCoastal]

Not much blooming up here, yet, that a hummingbird would like. A few insects fly in the day time so they get protein in addition to feeder syrup.
As soon as I put out the dog hair and dryer lint two females started taking it away in bits. I had noticed a strand of pampass grass flower stuck to a feeder so I thought it was time even though there was snow on the ground.

[SpookyShoe]

Originally Posted by GrowingCoastal

Not much blooming up here, yet, that a hummingbird would like. A few insects fly in the day time so they get protein in addition to feeder syrup.
As soon as I put out the dog hair and dryer lint two females started taking it away in bits. I had noticed a strand of pampass grass flower stuck to a feeder so I thought it was time even though there was snow on the ground.

What does this mean? Are the females gathering materials to make nests?

I won't have any hummingbirds until April, and then just a few and they don't stay long during their Spring migration.

[GrowingCoastal]

Yes the Annas are nesting. The mating season begins in January with the males whistling their tail feathers on long dives over other males. When the Rufous arrive it will be their turn to nest and raise young ones. I get my grand daughter to stuff the container with dog hair in spring. Soon chickadees will also be taking bits away.

The shrub that they have been feeding from, Arbutus unedo, has finished flowering now. I'll have to check to see what is next on their menu.

Hummingbirds are among the most amazing creatures; endlessly fascinating.
Since we never had a freeze this winter there is plenty of Salvia blooming as well as the Abutilon but no hummingbirds yet. Can’t wait!
The wrens are going crazy out there. Talk about hilarious; they don’t miss a thing that goes on and they let you know about it.

[GrowingCoastal]

Rosemary is in bloom now and hummingbirds do like it. Sweet box too, for a while now but it is too short! Winter daphne is almost open.

Oh, I've never noticed hummers on my rosemary, but yes, it does bloom all winter, and my plant is huge so would be a good source of nectar.

[gdaddybill]

Here's a photo of my field radishes blooming (an open pollinated daikon) and some Senposai (cabbage x tendergreens yellow fl). I was about to cut them out until I noticed my neighbors bees were all over them-even have seen a few Monarch butterflies. I will try to wait for seed pods and see if they are worth pickling or using fresh in salads. This means potential late planting for tomatoes.

[SpookyShoe]

Bees are our friends!

Yea, I’ve delayed pulling out all the spent mustards, turnip greens and arugula because of the insects but some of it has to go this weekend. I’ve got 30-40 tomatoes, peppers and eggplant to find homes for.

[SpookyShoe]

On Gaillardia today.

[SpookyShoe]

This season I made sure I collected plants that pollinators would like.

Containers are looking good!