Flowers rather than feeders (Honeysuckle, butterflies, yard, spring)

[harry chickpea]

A little while back I posted that I prefer zinnias to hummer feeders because of the naturalness, lack of ants, and the flowers attracting other birds and butterflies. I also have marigolds and a few other flowers on the deck, but I would like to show the "proof in the pudding." All photos were shot by me this past month on my back deck.

[jacqueg]

Great photos, and I agree with you. If you need to put out feeders to have wild things in your yard - you are gardening wrong.

Harry, try planting some single dahlias. You'll be amazed.

Another thing about feeders - unless they are meticulously maintained, they can become disease vectors.

[Diana Holbrook]

Agree! We do both, and the hummers visit both the feeders and the flowers.

[Zoisite]

Beautiful pictures Harry.

....... try planting some single dahlias. You'll be amazed.

And red bee balm, and pineapple sage with it's abundant red flowers full of nectar.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=pinea...w=1120&bih=583

.

[luv4horses]

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

When you say the proof is in the pudding maybe you are implying it is a whiskey pudding?

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by luv4horses

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

When you say the proof is in the pudding maybe you are implying it is a whiskey pudding?

Those all look like they are caught in the act of eating to me??? I was just eating up their delight at their pudding-like sweet buffet.

Phiskey wudding? There's a spoonerism to help you taste my word play.

It is fun for me to step out my back door and be mobbed by flutter-bys. YMMV

[oldgardener]

I also stopped using hummingbird feeders a few years ago and planted flowers for them instead. I think it's probably better for them, but I'm just guessing since I'm not a hummingbird.

[phonelady61]

next spring I plan to do dahlias , zinnias and marigolds just for the very reasons harry mentioned . I do notice that hummers populations have been down here lately I wish to have more next season .

[Rowan123]

I just planted some purple coneflowers and they have attracted a lot of butterflies. Will definitely be planting more of them next year. I have hummingbird feeders up too.

[Listener2307]

The most wonderful thing we have found about being retired is that our life has factored itself down to just "taking care of puppy dogs and plants". And each other.


Nice pictures. I found a colorful caterpillar this week. It looked a lot like a monarch, but I identified it as a black swallowtail, so I put it back where I got it. I have noticed them feeding on the honeysuckle.