Garden Friends Part 1: Attracting Hummingbirds

By Vanessa Richins

My favorite birds are hummingbirds.

These tiny, vibrant creatures can bring a smile in an instant.

I love their natural curiosity and how they are able to appear motionless. Besides a hummingbird feeder, there are many plants that will attract them. Here are a few of my favorites.

1) Sunset Hyssop (Agastache rupestris)

All of the hyssops that have pink or orange flowers attract hummingbirds, but my favorite is Sunset hyssop. These flowers are a brilliant mixture of orange, purple and pink. When I worked at a water conservation garden, I loved pruning by this plant. The hummingbirds were always nearby, sparring. Sometimes they would zip right near my head to see what I was doing. This plant has a splendid scent – described as licorice or root beer. Once it is established, it is drought resistant

2) Hummingbird Trumpet (Zauschneria spp)

These trumpet-shaped flowers come Read the rest of this entry »