Hummingbirds can be enticed with even a small garden. Lillian demonstrates how to set one up at home—right on the patio. Next, viewers meet an amazing woodpecker, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Our hosts then share a personal moment at the Stokes family reunion on a St. Louis, Missouri farm where hundreds of hummingbirds join in the fun. Lillian reveals how to bring hummers in close with a window-mounted feeder, then takes time out to watch the beautiful Green Heron.
How-To: A Patio Hummingbird Garden
Even a small garden can bring hummingbirds in close. Create a patio hummingbird garden by selecting several large pots or planters and filling them with potting soil and slow-release fertilizer. Select red tubular flowers such as Salvias, red Impatiens, and Fuschias. You can even grow a vine such as red Trumpet Honeysuckle in a large planter and let it twine up a teepee of garden stakes.
People and Birds: Hummingbirds at the Stokes Family Reunion
Don and Lillian attended the Stokes family reunion at Don's brother Frank and his wife Teg's Missouri farm. The center of attraction was the large number of hummingbirds that came to the feeders. The secret was that Frank and Teg had built up the population of hummingbirds over the years by offering lots of sugar water feeders. They now have 5 large-capacity feeders and there can be 40-50 hummingbirds buzzing around at a time. Fill feeders with one part sugar to four parts water. Boil for 1 minute and cool. Fill feeders every 2-3 days in hot weather.
