Over the years, my garden has attracted regular visits by ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris). They are the only hummingbird east of the Great Plains, and they make up the largest breeding range of any North American hummingbird. They migrate from Canada to Costa Rica and grace us with their presence each summer. They move exceptionally quickly – rapidly beating their wings more than 50 times per second, producing a distinct “humming” sound. By early fall, they set off to Central America and can cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight!
As they travel north, hummingbirds are in constant search of food, and can consume nearly their weight in nectar each day. Flower gardens are a great way to attract these delightful little birds, and they are especially drawn to brightly-colored blossoms. They seem particularly fond of our newest addition to the garden, Crocosmia (Crocosmia aurea). Crocosmia is a member of the iris family (Iridaceae). These plants are native to the African grasslands, but are doing quite well here in the Midwest given our increasingly warm winters. Another perennial they enjoy is the hardy Bee Balm (Monarda didyma). I planted a bright red, flowering bee balm in hopes of attracting hummingbirds to my garden. Happily, there is scarcely a moment when a hummer isn’t hovering, flitting and feeding on this striking flower.
It’s such a joy to watch these beautiful creatures feed in the garden. Brilliant, elegant and graceful – they seem to float like delicate gems in the air – then dart away on important errands. While they mostly attend to the nectar from flowers, we have seen them grab the occasional small insect in mid-air! It is a particular thrill to see newly fledged baby hummingbirds at the flowers…they are so incredibly tiny! Slightly larger than a bumble bee, it’s a wonder how they are able to keep up with their parents! I love spending summer evenings at the end of the pond, sitting on our bench with a glass of wine watching these tiny jewels of summer busily feeding before the sun sets.
