• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Little birds with big appeal

October 27, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.J. Jarvis

October is the heart of the fall hummingbird-watching season in central Florida. While there are more than 300 different hummingbirds in the United States, there is only a handful common in Florida. But that’s okay, because the ones that do fly through are abundant and fascinating to watch.
While some will winter in Florida, many are just passing through, migrating as “snow birds” to points in South America and Mexico. So enjoy them now and augment gardens with plants that will attract them year-round.
Gardeners can increase the numbers of these winged wonders by selecting plants with flowers that are large, tubular and may droop down. It is often reported that the flowers must be red, but hummingbirds will visit flowers in a wide range of colors. Bloom time should be spread over a large period of time so that hummingbirds will keep visiting your garden.
Spacing out the plants throughout the garden is also helpful as males are especially territorial protecting their nectar sources. Given a distance of at least 15-20 inches between plantings should reduce the competition while increasing your viewing pleasure.
Fire bush, red swamp hibiscus and fire spike are three good shrubs for fall blooming. Don’t overlook vines as a source of nectar. Cross vine and trumpet vine with their large flowers will make a fence or trellis stand out and will be a great bird attractor. I have also seen hummingbirds visiting my annual cypress vine.
Although technically an annual, cypress vine will readily self-seed and may be a bit aggressive. Additional layers of nectar sources include cigar plant, or the Cuphea; flowering tobacco, or Nicotiana; lantana, either the native or exotic species; and occasionally a petunia. Beebalm, wishbone flower, or Torenia; and even nasturiums are great fall bloomers that are full of nectar and sure to bring the small birds to your garden.
To assure bird-watching nirvana, garden so that there is a fairly continuous bloom. Just remember some plants produce abundant blooms but little nectar, such as roses. While hummingbirds may not be attracted to rose flowers for nectar, they will build their inconspicuous nest on stems of thorny rosebushes. I wonder if the thorns are more protective to their young than an obstacle to avoid.
Gardeners are often roped in by artificial feeders, which are filled with sugar water or manufactured nectar, thinking this will attract hummingbirds. Sugar water is not really a great food, rather more like dessert. Dessert does taste good, but is not a great staple of the daily diet. Planting natural sources of nectar that contain all the complex nutrients and carbohydrates helps make up a more balanced diet.
Finally, to truly enjoy these amazing acrobatic birds be cautious about what you apply in the garden. Broad-spectrum pesticides sprayed every time there’s a little bug will also reduce the population of watchable wildlife, including hummingbirds, butterflies and songbirds. Employ the least-toxic method first and only when pest populations are large enough to warrant intervention.
For more information about hummingbirds of Florida, visit the University of Florida’s website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/UW/UW05900.pdf or contact your Pasco Extension Service at www.Pasco.ifas.ufl.edu.
-B.J. Jarvis is Horticulture Agent and Extension Director for Pasco Cooperative Extension Service, a free service of Pasco County and the University of Florida. She can be reached at .

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

September 5, 2023 By Mary Rathman

Tampa Bay welcomes WAVE Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art spinal care clinic founded by Dr. Ryan LaChance. WAVE … [Read More...] about WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

Only a Few Homes Remain — It’s Your Final Chance to Build Your Home in Del Webb Bexley

August 29, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Time is running out on your chance to live at Del Webb Bexley. We’ve built the ideal active adult community to suit your … [Read More...] about Only a Few Homes Remain — It’s Your Final Chance to Build Your Home in Del Webb Bexley

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

10/03/2023 – Drawing Workshop

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a Drawing Workshop: Exquisite Corpse, on Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as part of its Museum + Art Series. Participants can learn about the exquisite corpse drawing method and create a drawing inspired by surrealist artists. Registration is required; call 727-815-7126. To learn more, visit MOMA.org/collection/terms/exquisite-corpse. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Drawing Workshop

10/03/2023 – Halloween Games/Crafts

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host Teen Halloween Games and Crafts on Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 13 to 17. Supplies will be provided. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Halloween Games/Crafts

10/03/2023 – Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a porch book sale on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon, featuring all genres of books including novels, nonfiction, biographies, sewing, cooking, self-help, and more. The porch sale takes place every Tuesday. Call 813-929-1214 for information. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Library Book Sale

10/04/2023 – Garden Club Field Trip

The Orange Blossom Garden Club will visit Cindy’s Secret Place on Oct. 4. Guests should meet at the Lutz Community Center, across from the Lutz Library, at 9:30 a.m., to carpool north. RSVP by Oct. 1 to Lee Brown at . … [Read More...] about 10/04/2023 – Garden Club Field Trip

10/04/2023 – Harry Potter Club

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a Harry Potter Club on the first Wednesday of every month at 3 p.m., for wizards, witches and muggles in grades five to eight. The next meeting is Oct. 4. Fans can gather to create replicas of popular items from the series, while discussing the books and movies. Participants do not have to read the books. Register online at bit.ly/PCLSEvents. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 10/04/2023 – Harry Potter Club

10/04/2023 – Houseplant Discussion

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a master gardener discussion about houseplants on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. Registration is required. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 10/04/2023 – Houseplant Discussion

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: