1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,040 Welcome to the 31st episode of the Sunshine 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:04,019 Gardening Podcast, 3 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,620 the ultimate source of expert advice and gardening 4 00:00:07,679 --> 00:00:09,059 secrets for Kentucky. 5 00:00:09,519 --> 00:00:11,380 I'm your host, Kristen Hildebrand. 6 00:00:12,095 --> 00:00:14,974 In this episode, we will delve into the 7 00:00:14,974 --> 00:00:18,114 fascinating world of hummingbirds with Annette Hasdaufer, 8 00:00:18,734 --> 00:00:22,095 Davis County Horticulture Extension Agent. You don't want 9 00:00:22,095 --> 00:00:24,335 to miss this episode if you're gonna bring 10 00:00:24,335 --> 00:00:27,074 more of these delightful creatures to your garden 11 00:00:27,619 --> 00:00:30,439 and create the ultimate hummingbird hotspot. 12 00:00:31,059 --> 00:00:33,539 So sit back, relax, and get ready to 13 00:00:33,539 --> 00:00:36,439 learn some fantastic tips and tricks 14 00:00:36,820 --> 00:00:39,799 to attract hummingbirds to your Kentucky garden. 15 00:00:40,500 --> 00:00:42,840 Welcome to the Sunshine Gardening podcast. 16 00:00:43,244 --> 00:00:46,284 This gardening show will equip and inspire avid 17 00:00:46,284 --> 00:00:48,604 gardeners with tips and tricks to help them 18 00:00:48,604 --> 00:00:51,244 navigate the gardening world. The show will also 19 00:00:51,244 --> 00:00:55,004 highlight specific growing requirements for seasonal plants, so 20 00:00:55,004 --> 00:00:57,490 the sun will shine brighter over their Kentucky 21 00:00:57,490 --> 00:00:57,990 garden. 22 00:00:58,530 --> 00:01:01,590 And now, here's that ray of sunshine garden 23 00:01:01,649 --> 00:01:05,349 enthusiast and horticulture extension agent, Kristen Hildebrand, 24 00:01:05,650 --> 00:01:09,270 with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. 25 00:01:10,450 --> 00:01:13,424 Alright. Joining us today on the Sunshine Gardening 26 00:01:13,424 --> 00:01:15,284 podcast is Annette Heisendorfer. 27 00:01:15,665 --> 00:01:17,924 How are you today, Annette? I'm great. 28 00:01:18,385 --> 00:01:20,385 I am so excited to have you on 29 00:01:20,385 --> 00:01:22,704 the podcast today. I just like am smiling 30 00:01:22,704 --> 00:01:25,409 all over myself because one of the best 31 00:01:25,650 --> 00:01:27,890 things that I feel like to do as 32 00:01:27,890 --> 00:01:30,609 a gardener is to watch the wildlife outside. 33 00:01:30,609 --> 00:01:32,930 And, you know, sometimes when we start talking 34 00:01:32,930 --> 00:01:35,250 about wildlife, we think of maybe things that 35 00:01:35,250 --> 00:01:36,469 bother our garden, 36 00:01:36,930 --> 00:01:39,685 but we're always so excited to see the 37 00:01:39,685 --> 00:01:40,424 little hummingbirds 38 00:01:40,725 --> 00:01:41,225 return 39 00:01:41,765 --> 00:01:43,465 in the spring here in Kentucky. 40 00:01:43,844 --> 00:01:45,444 And I get a kick out of watching 41 00:01:45,444 --> 00:01:47,525 them out on the back porch because generally 42 00:01:47,525 --> 00:01:50,245 we have a hummingbird feeder right there. You're 43 00:01:50,245 --> 00:01:51,704 gonna be talking to us specifically 44 00:01:52,005 --> 00:01:54,265 about ways that we can attract hummingbirds 45 00:01:54,859 --> 00:01:56,560 in our garden and our landscape. 46 00:01:56,859 --> 00:01:59,260 So just to kinda get the conversation going 47 00:01:59,260 --> 00:02:01,500 here, can you tell us a little bit 48 00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:02,319 more about 49 00:02:02,700 --> 00:02:05,500 specific traits of the hummingbird that we might 50 00:02:05,579 --> 00:02:08,460 should consider when trying to attract them to 51 00:02:08,460 --> 00:02:10,805 our gardens? I know that they've got a 52 00:02:10,805 --> 00:02:13,625 lot of different characteristics from other birds. 53 00:02:13,925 --> 00:02:16,025 The hummingbirds are definitely different, 54 00:02:16,645 --> 00:02:19,205 but they are so fun to watch. Just 55 00:02:19,205 --> 00:02:21,764 being about 3 to 4 inches long, being 56 00:02:21,764 --> 00:02:24,269 so tiny and the things that they can 57 00:02:24,269 --> 00:02:26,610 do. You know, flying up to about 27 58 00:02:26,669 --> 00:02:29,150 miles per hour is pretty amazing for the 59 00:02:29,150 --> 00:02:29,650 Hummer. 60 00:02:29,949 --> 00:02:32,269 Many times, it's hard to find that hummingbird 61 00:02:32,269 --> 00:02:34,909 until you listen first. Oh, there's a hummingbird 62 00:02:34,909 --> 00:02:35,409 somewhere. 63 00:02:35,789 --> 00:02:37,090 And then you find it. 64 00:02:37,594 --> 00:02:38,655 With those hummingbirds, 65 00:02:39,275 --> 00:02:41,194 they have the long bill, and this is 66 00:02:41,194 --> 00:02:43,674 the ruby throated hummingbird that we will find 67 00:02:43,674 --> 00:02:44,814 in our area. 68 00:02:45,514 --> 00:02:47,435 And with that long bill, as you can 69 00:02:47,435 --> 00:02:47,935 imagine, 70 00:02:48,314 --> 00:02:50,974 flowers that have a tubular shape 71 00:02:51,780 --> 00:02:54,280 are those that the hummingbirds prefer. 72 00:02:54,819 --> 00:02:56,360 They also prefer 73 00:02:56,740 --> 00:02:58,360 the colors that are 74 00:02:58,740 --> 00:02:59,240 red, 75 00:02:59,699 --> 00:03:01,159 orange, or yellow. 76 00:03:01,540 --> 00:03:03,860 So when we're developing our gardens, also think 77 00:03:03,860 --> 00:03:05,240 about putting those flowers 78 00:03:05,555 --> 00:03:07,314 in a little bit of mass, put 3 79 00:03:07,314 --> 00:03:09,395 or 4 plants together so that they can 80 00:03:09,395 --> 00:03:10,135 see them. 81 00:03:10,675 --> 00:03:13,235 They also like plants with flowers that kind 82 00:03:13,235 --> 00:03:14,835 of hang down a little bit, so they 83 00:03:14,835 --> 00:03:16,995 just can stick the bill in and they're 84 00:03:16,995 --> 00:03:17,735 still flying 85 00:03:18,069 --> 00:03:19,669 most of the time. So you don't need 86 00:03:19,669 --> 00:03:21,370 to necessarily have a perch 87 00:03:21,909 --> 00:03:22,650 for them. 88 00:03:23,270 --> 00:03:24,569 We also want to 89 00:03:24,949 --> 00:03:27,129 make sure that we make several areas 90 00:03:27,830 --> 00:03:28,969 for them to feed 91 00:03:29,270 --> 00:03:30,650 because they are territorial. 92 00:03:31,794 --> 00:03:33,635 So put it on one side of the 93 00:03:33,635 --> 00:03:34,135 house 94 00:03:34,915 --> 00:03:35,574 and then 95 00:03:36,034 --> 00:03:38,435 design another area where the other birds can't 96 00:03:38,435 --> 00:03:39,335 see each other. 97 00:03:39,715 --> 00:03:41,314 So it might be on another side of 98 00:03:41,314 --> 00:03:43,235 the house or on the other side of 99 00:03:43,235 --> 00:03:44,615 a shed or someplace 100 00:03:45,389 --> 00:03:48,530 that they're not able to see other hummingbirds. 101 00:03:48,909 --> 00:03:50,989 That's interesting. I don't know if I'd really 102 00:03:50,989 --> 00:03:52,049 heard that before. 103 00:03:52,509 --> 00:03:54,669 And, you know, like, whenever you think about 104 00:03:54,829 --> 00:03:57,090 as you get on further into the season, 105 00:03:57,625 --> 00:03:59,544 it seems like, you know, at the beginning, 106 00:03:59,544 --> 00:04:01,944 it's kinda slow and then finally we start 107 00:04:01,944 --> 00:04:04,844 to see a lot more and they do, 108 00:04:04,985 --> 00:04:08,425 the males anyway, they really do get, you 109 00:04:08,425 --> 00:04:09,164 know, kinda 110 00:04:09,465 --> 00:04:11,384 like, this is my spot, don't get in 111 00:04:11,384 --> 00:04:13,349 it. So and it's fun to kinda watch 112 00:04:13,349 --> 00:04:14,169 them kinda 113 00:04:14,549 --> 00:04:16,470 dart at each other, I guess, is way 114 00:04:16,470 --> 00:04:18,229 I would say it. I know you mentioned 115 00:04:18,229 --> 00:04:21,110 the tubular flower there, and I know you 116 00:04:21,110 --> 00:04:22,569 mentioned a couple of colors. 117 00:04:22,949 --> 00:04:24,089 Are there some 118 00:04:24,404 --> 00:04:26,725 other essential elements that you need to have 119 00:04:26,725 --> 00:04:29,384 in a garden to be inviting for hummingbirds 120 00:04:29,444 --> 00:04:30,425 here in Kentucky? 121 00:04:31,045 --> 00:04:33,365 The hummingbirds prefer a place that has a 122 00:04:33,365 --> 00:04:34,504 little bit of cover. 123 00:04:35,205 --> 00:04:37,189 They don't like it where they don't have, 124 00:04:37,189 --> 00:04:39,590 like, a wooded area near them. So it 125 00:04:39,590 --> 00:04:42,310 might be a little difficult for people to 126 00:04:42,310 --> 00:04:44,710 attract hummingbirds in the middle of an urban 127 00:04:44,710 --> 00:04:46,330 area if they don't have trees. 128 00:04:47,110 --> 00:04:48,970 You would also need to have a location 129 00:04:49,590 --> 00:04:51,370 with some water available. 130 00:04:51,985 --> 00:04:54,545 They do like, again, to go in areas 131 00:04:54,545 --> 00:04:56,465 where they're a little more private, where they 132 00:04:56,465 --> 00:04:58,485 put their nest at. 133 00:04:59,105 --> 00:05:00,865 So again, if you don't have some cover 134 00:05:00,865 --> 00:05:02,465 with trees, you may have a little bit 135 00:05:02,465 --> 00:05:04,625 more trial with attracting them. If you have 136 00:05:04,625 --> 00:05:06,245 the feeders out, of course, 137 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,800 then you will be attracting them. So you 138 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:10,100 may see more than 139 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,100 if you don't have a feeder out, 140 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,000 especially in an area where it doesn't have 141 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,100 that nice secluded cover for them. 142 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,400 Now when you talk about the the water 143 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,214 aspect, I'm sure that probably several of us 144 00:05:21,214 --> 00:05:23,294 listening to the podcast, we may have different 145 00:05:23,294 --> 00:05:24,194 water features 146 00:05:24,894 --> 00:05:27,555 in the garden area. Is there any specific 147 00:05:27,694 --> 00:05:30,595 water fee or water source, I guess, that's 148 00:05:30,654 --> 00:05:32,254 good? I know you you're gonna talk about 149 00:05:32,254 --> 00:05:34,014 feeders and things like that here in a 150 00:05:34,014 --> 00:05:36,519 minute, but are there any good other sources 151 00:05:36,519 --> 00:05:37,660 that are good for water? 152 00:05:38,039 --> 00:05:40,860 Just having a a source of water basically 153 00:05:41,319 --> 00:05:42,919 that they can go ahead and get a 154 00:05:42,919 --> 00:05:45,399 little bit of a a drink. So nothing 155 00:05:45,399 --> 00:05:47,240 that I have found that really is very 156 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:47,740 specific 157 00:05:48,199 --> 00:05:49,339 in the water source. 158 00:05:49,754 --> 00:05:52,155 Okay. I know that there are a lot 159 00:05:52,155 --> 00:05:54,475 of plants that it seems like when you 160 00:05:54,475 --> 00:05:57,275 start looking at the tags of different plants, 161 00:05:57,275 --> 00:05:58,975 they'll say attract hummingbirds. 162 00:05:59,675 --> 00:06:02,014 And, you know, for us here in Kentucky, 163 00:06:02,395 --> 00:06:05,350 we have a lot of good native plants 164 00:06:05,569 --> 00:06:07,990 that seem to be very attractive for 165 00:06:08,290 --> 00:06:10,529 hummingbirds, but I'm just curious if you can 166 00:06:10,529 --> 00:06:12,449 share with us some of your, you know, 167 00:06:12,449 --> 00:06:15,009 favorite plants for hummingbirds or ones that have 168 00:06:15,009 --> 00:06:16,629 you found that have been successful. 169 00:06:17,044 --> 00:06:19,204 Some of those successful plants would be something 170 00:06:19,204 --> 00:06:20,665 like the cardinal flower. 171 00:06:21,365 --> 00:06:23,444 With that cardinal flower, it has the bright 172 00:06:23,444 --> 00:06:25,845 red color. That plant can take a little 173 00:06:25,845 --> 00:06:27,625 bit of shade, so that's nice. 174 00:06:28,084 --> 00:06:30,990 Another is there are some bee balms that 175 00:06:30,990 --> 00:06:32,750 are native, but there's also, 176 00:06:33,069 --> 00:06:34,370 a garden bee balm 177 00:06:34,670 --> 00:06:36,589 that we'd like to plant. Some of the 178 00:06:36,589 --> 00:06:37,870 Monardas might be, 179 00:06:38,350 --> 00:06:39,490 native to Kentucky. 180 00:06:39,949 --> 00:06:42,370 Lobelia, the cardinal flower is native. 181 00:06:42,670 --> 00:06:44,850 You might find some native vines 182 00:06:45,375 --> 00:06:48,435 such as the trumpet creeper, passion flower. 183 00:06:48,735 --> 00:06:50,915 And then also we have the trumpet honeysuckle. 184 00:06:51,455 --> 00:06:52,435 That's the lanycea 185 00:06:53,295 --> 00:06:53,795 sempervirens. 186 00:06:54,735 --> 00:06:56,654 Some of the other perennials that I like 187 00:06:56,654 --> 00:06:58,514 to, plant our hollyhocks. 188 00:06:59,089 --> 00:07:00,470 You can include cannas, 189 00:07:00,850 --> 00:07:01,589 some daylilies, 190 00:07:02,290 --> 00:07:02,790 pinstemon, 191 00:07:03,250 --> 00:07:05,110 which is, called beer's tongue 192 00:07:05,569 --> 00:07:07,029 as a common name. 193 00:07:07,330 --> 00:07:09,589 And then for me, I like to plant 194 00:07:10,050 --> 00:07:10,550 containers 195 00:07:11,514 --> 00:07:12,654 on my back deck 196 00:07:13,194 --> 00:07:13,694 and 197 00:07:14,235 --> 00:07:17,035 that's where my hummingbird comes. And he likes 198 00:07:17,035 --> 00:07:19,375 to look for my, petunias 199 00:07:20,235 --> 00:07:21,134 as an annual 200 00:07:21,675 --> 00:07:22,574 red salvia, 201 00:07:23,769 --> 00:07:24,269 snapdragons. 202 00:07:25,129 --> 00:07:26,589 They will come to some zinnias, 203 00:07:27,370 --> 00:07:28,269 sweet Williams. 204 00:07:28,649 --> 00:07:30,829 We can also look at spider flower, 205 00:07:31,449 --> 00:07:33,769 Cleome, which is kind of an old fashioned 206 00:07:33,769 --> 00:07:35,069 plant for some people. 207 00:07:36,025 --> 00:07:37,725 Nasturtiums are really nice, 208 00:07:38,025 --> 00:07:40,025 and you don't see it too much anymore, 209 00:07:40,025 --> 00:07:41,245 but flowering tobacco, 210 00:07:41,545 --> 00:07:43,245 nicotiana. It's a special 211 00:07:43,705 --> 00:07:45,884 shorter variety that we grow in our ornamentals 212 00:07:46,105 --> 00:07:46,925 in our gardens. 213 00:07:47,384 --> 00:07:49,019 Yeah. Those are a nice, 214 00:07:49,500 --> 00:07:51,419 flower. I've seen them in a couple of 215 00:07:51,419 --> 00:07:54,139 arboretums that I visited and so it is 216 00:07:54,139 --> 00:07:56,939 kind of an interesting plant. And the clams 217 00:07:56,939 --> 00:07:59,259 that you mentioned there kinda surprised me. I 218 00:07:59,259 --> 00:08:01,439 don't know if I heard that one specifically. 219 00:08:01,740 --> 00:08:04,305 So that's, interesting that you shared that one. 220 00:08:04,384 --> 00:08:07,185 I know at my house, it seems like 221 00:08:07,185 --> 00:08:07,925 the hostas 222 00:08:08,464 --> 00:08:11,365 I guess, hummingbirds will go to about anything, 223 00:08:11,425 --> 00:08:13,425 but it seems like they do tend to 224 00:08:13,425 --> 00:08:15,365 visit the hostas at times. 225 00:08:16,225 --> 00:08:18,305 Yes. The the hostas are another one, and 226 00:08:18,305 --> 00:08:20,389 it's it's nice that we have a variety 227 00:08:20,449 --> 00:08:22,769 of hostas that bloom early and then some 228 00:08:22,769 --> 00:08:24,850 bloom later and on through the summer to 229 00:08:24,850 --> 00:08:27,970 provide the food. The tubular flowers are also 230 00:08:27,970 --> 00:08:30,290 a benefit because some of the insects are 231 00:08:30,290 --> 00:08:32,070 inside that tubular flower, 232 00:08:32,815 --> 00:08:35,375 And that's where the hummingbird is also needing 233 00:08:35,375 --> 00:08:37,794 the protein and that comes from the insects. 234 00:08:38,334 --> 00:08:39,315 So a female 235 00:08:40,014 --> 00:08:43,214 who has usually 2 or 3 babies in 236 00:08:43,214 --> 00:08:43,954 their nest 237 00:08:44,509 --> 00:08:47,250 well, can eat up to about 2,000 insects 238 00:08:47,389 --> 00:08:49,950 per day. That's mind boggling when you think 239 00:08:49,950 --> 00:08:52,350 about it. 2,000 insects, if we ate like 240 00:08:52,350 --> 00:08:55,629 2,000, like, little insects a day, that would 241 00:08:55,629 --> 00:08:57,389 probably of course, you know, that would take 242 00:08:57,389 --> 00:08:59,089 a lot for us, but still, I mean, 243 00:08:59,384 --> 00:09:02,264 with their flight and how much they beat 244 00:09:02,264 --> 00:09:04,425 per minute, I mean, I can see that. 245 00:09:04,425 --> 00:09:05,965 They would need a lot more energy. 246 00:09:06,345 --> 00:09:09,065 And especially when you're a mother feeding little 247 00:09:09,065 --> 00:09:10,445 ones, their wings 248 00:09:10,904 --> 00:09:13,465 can beat up to about 53 times per 249 00:09:13,465 --> 00:09:13,965 second. 250 00:09:14,269 --> 00:09:15,970 So it takes a lot of energy 251 00:09:16,590 --> 00:09:19,250 for that little bird, so small, 252 00:09:20,029 --> 00:09:22,529 to beat the wings 53 times per second. 253 00:09:22,909 --> 00:09:24,850 Now the other unique thing about 254 00:09:25,389 --> 00:09:25,889 hummingbirds 255 00:09:26,429 --> 00:09:28,590 is they're the only bird that can fly 256 00:09:28,590 --> 00:09:31,445 backwards and upside down. That is so cool. 257 00:09:31,445 --> 00:09:33,865 That is so cool. I think that's why, 258 00:09:34,804 --> 00:09:37,284 as you mentioned, when the hummingbirds come, we 259 00:09:37,284 --> 00:09:38,264 are so excited. 260 00:09:39,284 --> 00:09:41,044 I would always grab the kids and say, 261 00:09:41,044 --> 00:09:43,625 hey, look, there it is. There's the hummingbird. 262 00:09:44,090 --> 00:09:45,690 Of course, they're kind of bewildered for a 263 00:09:45,690 --> 00:09:47,929 little while, but after they see it, they, 264 00:09:47,929 --> 00:09:49,149 they enjoy it too. 265 00:09:49,529 --> 00:09:51,129 Mhmm. I have a little one at home 266 00:09:51,129 --> 00:09:52,110 myself and 267 00:09:52,490 --> 00:09:55,129 I know she really enjoys getting to, to 268 00:09:55,129 --> 00:09:57,414 see it. And it seems like, you know, 269 00:09:57,414 --> 00:10:00,054 they they get there kinda they start feeding 270 00:10:00,054 --> 00:10:02,455 early in the morning and then, you know, 271 00:10:02,455 --> 00:10:05,495 whenever it starts getting dark outside, they start 272 00:10:05,495 --> 00:10:07,174 to go back to their nest, I guess, 273 00:10:07,174 --> 00:10:09,274 to kinda go in for the day. 274 00:10:09,710 --> 00:10:11,629 So I have a question for you, Annette, 275 00:10:11,629 --> 00:10:12,990 that I was wanting to ask you and 276 00:10:13,149 --> 00:10:14,830 because we tend to get this question at 277 00:10:14,830 --> 00:10:17,149 the office here. I'm sure you do there 278 00:10:17,149 --> 00:10:19,309 in Davie's County as well. But can you 279 00:10:19,309 --> 00:10:22,210 walk us through the steps for creating 280 00:10:22,784 --> 00:10:25,985 a homemade hummingbird nectar? You know, a lot 281 00:10:25,985 --> 00:10:27,904 of times people will ask, is the red 282 00:10:27,904 --> 00:10:28,725 dye appropriate 283 00:10:29,184 --> 00:10:30,804 or do we need to leave it natural? 284 00:10:31,105 --> 00:10:33,024 You know, sometimes we'll get the question about 285 00:10:33,024 --> 00:10:35,845 what's the perfect ratio of water and sugar. 286 00:10:36,065 --> 00:10:38,324 So I'm hoping you can address that here. 287 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,340 To make your own mixture for the hummingbirds, 288 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:44,379 you would take 4 parts of water 289 00:10:44,759 --> 00:10:47,320 to 1 part of sugar. So this is 290 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,660 the best ratio that does mimic 291 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:51,259 the typical flowers. 292 00:10:52,595 --> 00:10:53,254 When you 293 00:10:53,634 --> 00:10:55,554 add the water and the sugar, it needs 294 00:10:55,554 --> 00:10:58,134 to be boiled for about 2 minutes 295 00:10:58,914 --> 00:11:00,615 so that we prevent fermentation 296 00:11:00,995 --> 00:11:03,654 of that material, the sugar in the water. 297 00:11:04,769 --> 00:11:06,230 After it is boiled, 298 00:11:06,769 --> 00:11:08,230 then put it in the refrigerator 299 00:11:08,610 --> 00:11:10,149 and let it cool 300 00:11:10,529 --> 00:11:13,330 cool and refrigerate. We don't wanna microwave it 301 00:11:13,330 --> 00:11:14,309 because microwaving 302 00:11:14,769 --> 00:11:15,590 can change 303 00:11:16,210 --> 00:11:16,950 the molecules 304 00:11:17,409 --> 00:11:19,190 of the sugar, and it'd be 305 00:11:19,544 --> 00:11:22,504 then not helpful for the birds. So we 306 00:11:22,504 --> 00:11:24,825 do not wanna microwave it. And then we 307 00:11:24,825 --> 00:11:26,684 do not wanna add any red dye 308 00:11:27,065 --> 00:11:29,804 because the dye can, again, hurt the birds. 309 00:11:30,264 --> 00:11:32,279 So no dye. We've heard it here. 310 00:11:32,759 --> 00:11:35,960 No dye. The hummingbird feeders, when you purchase 311 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,620 them, make sure that they have some red 312 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,920 on the feeder itself, and that would be 313 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,399 enough to attract. The other thing is to 314 00:11:43,399 --> 00:11:46,920 not include the yellow bee guards. If they're 315 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,375 yellow or any parts yellow, hopefully, you can 316 00:11:49,375 --> 00:11:51,855 take that part off or select a feeder 317 00:11:51,855 --> 00:11:53,315 that doesn't have any yellow 318 00:11:53,855 --> 00:11:55,554 because that attracts the bees. 319 00:11:56,014 --> 00:11:58,654 If you're having trouble with this mixture and 320 00:11:58,654 --> 00:12:01,214 bees are coming to the feeder, you can 321 00:12:01,214 --> 00:12:03,154 dilute it a little bit more with 322 00:12:03,539 --> 00:12:04,279 with water 323 00:12:04,899 --> 00:12:07,480 so that you do 5 parts of water 324 00:12:07,779 --> 00:12:09,320 and then 1 part sugar, 325 00:12:09,779 --> 00:12:12,500 and that should help with avoiding the attraction 326 00:12:12,500 --> 00:12:14,980 of the beets. I know you mentioned that 327 00:12:14,980 --> 00:12:17,144 bees, and we tend to get questions about 328 00:12:17,144 --> 00:12:18,825 that as well, but do you ever get 329 00:12:18,825 --> 00:12:22,745 questions about ants or any other problem insects 330 00:12:22,745 --> 00:12:23,644 around the feeder? 331 00:12:24,105 --> 00:12:26,425 Yeah. Sometimes those ants just love to climb 332 00:12:26,425 --> 00:12:27,245 up and down 333 00:12:27,865 --> 00:12:28,925 where it's hung. 334 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,940 So for that, there is material called polypropylene 335 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,079 that you can put on. It's a a 336 00:12:35,079 --> 00:12:35,579 sticky 337 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:36,620 repellent. 338 00:12:37,079 --> 00:12:39,100 The sticky repellent would be polybutene. 339 00:12:40,279 --> 00:12:40,779 Okay. 340 00:12:41,524 --> 00:12:44,664 We keep then the, ants from keeping continuing 341 00:12:44,804 --> 00:12:46,325 to crawl, but then you wanna come back 342 00:12:46,325 --> 00:12:48,004 with a vacuum cleaner and try to get 343 00:12:48,004 --> 00:12:50,024 them off. Because you don't want it all 344 00:12:50,245 --> 00:12:50,904 to then 345 00:12:51,365 --> 00:12:53,924 have, as they degrade, then it gets kinda 346 00:12:53,924 --> 00:12:55,785 yucky. So you wanna get that off. 347 00:12:56,490 --> 00:12:58,190 Sometimes you can also put shortening 348 00:12:58,649 --> 00:12:59,389 on that 349 00:12:59,850 --> 00:13:00,350 wire 350 00:13:01,370 --> 00:13:03,049 or string so that it, again, it keeps 351 00:13:03,049 --> 00:13:05,210 the ants from coming down and visiting into 352 00:13:05,210 --> 00:13:08,410 it. There's also in a publication by doctor 353 00:13:08,410 --> 00:13:09,230 Tom Barnes 354 00:13:09,634 --> 00:13:12,195 through the University of Kentucky, shows a little 355 00:13:12,195 --> 00:13:12,695 moat 356 00:13:13,235 --> 00:13:16,195 that you can build around the top of 357 00:13:16,195 --> 00:13:16,695 the 358 00:13:17,075 --> 00:13:17,575 feeder 359 00:13:18,115 --> 00:13:20,754 because the ants don't swim. They can't get 360 00:13:20,754 --> 00:13:22,355 down in it and across it to get 361 00:13:22,355 --> 00:13:25,350 to your feeder. I like those mote options 362 00:13:25,350 --> 00:13:27,190 and I don't know if I really knew 363 00:13:27,190 --> 00:13:29,929 about that until I read doctor Barnes' publication 364 00:13:30,309 --> 00:13:32,389 as well. So that seems like that would 365 00:13:32,389 --> 00:13:34,629 be very helpful to have along with the 366 00:13:34,629 --> 00:13:37,424 feeders as well. Now I know you mentioned 367 00:13:37,424 --> 00:13:39,904 the recipe that is preferred for making the 368 00:13:39,904 --> 00:13:41,524 homemade hummingbird nectar, 369 00:13:42,304 --> 00:13:44,544 how often really should we change out that 370 00:13:44,544 --> 00:13:46,464 nectar? You know, in the summertime, it can 371 00:13:46,464 --> 00:13:48,830 get really hot and humid and, you know, 372 00:13:48,830 --> 00:13:51,730 we wanna make sure we're feeding them clean 373 00:13:52,029 --> 00:13:55,330 hummingbird nectar, but how often should we replace 374 00:13:55,389 --> 00:13:56,210 that nectar? 375 00:13:56,590 --> 00:13:58,910 Early in the season, if we're not having 376 00:13:58,910 --> 00:14:00,049 hummingbirds come 377 00:14:00,350 --> 00:14:02,190 about once a week, we still have our 378 00:14:02,190 --> 00:14:03,730 hummingbird feeder full, 379 00:14:04,365 --> 00:14:05,644 then we need to go ahead and dump 380 00:14:05,644 --> 00:14:08,625 that, clean it out. Many times in 381 00:14:09,004 --> 00:14:09,985 the main season, 382 00:14:10,445 --> 00:14:12,845 it may be emptied quite often, so make 383 00:14:12,845 --> 00:14:14,845 sure you you are going ahead and cleaning 384 00:14:14,845 --> 00:14:16,465 it at least once a week 385 00:14:17,879 --> 00:14:20,919 and use soap and water, and then you 386 00:14:20,919 --> 00:14:21,740 could use something that, 387 00:14:22,839 --> 00:14:24,059 according to the label, 388 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,139 that is a sterilant. 389 00:14:26,679 --> 00:14:28,360 I was gonna say, I know that for 390 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:30,279 some of my feeders at home, some of 391 00:14:30,279 --> 00:14:33,415 them are plastic and then others are glass. 392 00:14:33,955 --> 00:14:36,035 So it I don't know. It helps me, 393 00:14:36,035 --> 00:14:37,894 you know, just run it through the dishwasher, 394 00:14:38,115 --> 00:14:40,035 you know, for the glass option, you know, 395 00:14:40,035 --> 00:14:42,435 to get it good and and clean because, 396 00:14:42,435 --> 00:14:44,195 you know, occasionally, I know you mentioned in 397 00:14:44,195 --> 00:14:46,129 the spring, it could be a little bit 398 00:14:46,129 --> 00:14:48,549 different depending on how many hummingbirds we have, 399 00:14:48,690 --> 00:14:51,570 depending on the weather. But then summertime, it 400 00:14:51,570 --> 00:14:53,730 seems like as it gets really hot, you 401 00:14:53,730 --> 00:14:57,269 know, that black starts to form inside and 402 00:14:57,409 --> 00:14:58,529 I like to just I don't know. It 403 00:14:58,529 --> 00:14:59,669 makes me feel better. 404 00:15:00,284 --> 00:15:01,964 Well, and it's better for the birds to 405 00:15:01,964 --> 00:15:04,044 clean it. And once you start seeing anything 406 00:15:04,044 --> 00:15:06,125 like that, if it's shorter than once a 407 00:15:06,125 --> 00:15:08,845 week, then shorten up the window to clean 408 00:15:08,845 --> 00:15:11,184 it. And that's where looking at your hummingbird 409 00:15:11,325 --> 00:15:13,485 feeder, make sure you have one that comes 410 00:15:13,485 --> 00:15:13,985 apart 411 00:15:14,309 --> 00:15:16,330 so they can take all the pieces apart. 412 00:15:17,269 --> 00:15:19,610 The bleach solution, which would be your sterilant, 413 00:15:20,230 --> 00:15:22,309 that probably should still be run through anytime 414 00:15:22,309 --> 00:15:23,370 you wash 415 00:15:23,909 --> 00:15:25,750 and rinse it really well, and then use 416 00:15:25,750 --> 00:15:27,975 the bleach solution and rinse it really well. 417 00:15:28,214 --> 00:15:30,235 Use that bleach according to the container. 418 00:15:30,615 --> 00:15:33,355 It's almost like you need 2 different feeders 419 00:15:33,495 --> 00:15:35,174 so that way you can change it out, 420 00:15:35,174 --> 00:15:36,855 you know, because it seems like as soon 421 00:15:36,855 --> 00:15:38,934 as you empty 1, they're like, where did 422 00:15:38,934 --> 00:15:40,634 the feeder go? You know? 423 00:15:41,420 --> 00:15:43,019 So it's almost like you gotta have one 424 00:15:43,019 --> 00:15:44,540 ready to go and then one that you 425 00:15:44,540 --> 00:15:46,460 can, like you said, take apart, clean, and 426 00:15:46,460 --> 00:15:49,279 then, you know, replenish that hummingbird solution. 427 00:15:49,820 --> 00:15:51,600 That would be, a great idea 428 00:15:52,139 --> 00:15:53,759 because, you know, they're hungry. 429 00:15:54,095 --> 00:15:56,014 They are. They they seem to like to 430 00:15:56,014 --> 00:15:58,014 feed a lot. They'll drain it depending on 431 00:15:58,014 --> 00:16:00,014 how many you have. So keep an eye 432 00:16:00,014 --> 00:16:01,535 on it to make sure there is food 433 00:16:01,535 --> 00:16:04,495 constantly available for them as well. Yes. Now 434 00:16:04,495 --> 00:16:06,254 I know we've covered, you know, a little 435 00:16:06,254 --> 00:16:08,835 bit about what's required for hummingbirds. 436 00:16:09,350 --> 00:16:11,750 Is there any other things that you've might 437 00:16:11,750 --> 00:16:14,470 have run into in your career as a 438 00:16:14,470 --> 00:16:17,910 horticulture agent, like maybe some common mistakes that 439 00:16:17,910 --> 00:16:20,389 we should try to avoid when we're trying 440 00:16:20,389 --> 00:16:23,050 to attract more hummingbirds to the landscape? 441 00:16:23,774 --> 00:16:26,095 Many times, it's possibly not having quite the 442 00:16:26,095 --> 00:16:26,754 right plants 443 00:16:27,134 --> 00:16:29,794 that the hummingbirds will like. Needing those tubular 444 00:16:29,855 --> 00:16:31,154 flowers is so important 445 00:16:31,534 --> 00:16:33,054 so that they can go ahead and get 446 00:16:33,054 --> 00:16:34,495 the bill in and get any of the 447 00:16:34,815 --> 00:16:35,794 even the spiders 448 00:16:36,309 --> 00:16:38,570 out so they can get the the proteins 449 00:16:38,710 --> 00:16:39,850 worse. Sometimes 450 00:16:40,550 --> 00:16:41,129 it's possibly 451 00:16:41,750 --> 00:16:43,750 having a a situation where they don't have 452 00:16:43,750 --> 00:16:45,830 the nice cover or a place for the 453 00:16:45,830 --> 00:16:48,629 hummingbirds to go to to nest where they 454 00:16:48,629 --> 00:16:50,584 like to be a little bit secluded. 455 00:16:51,044 --> 00:16:53,684 Many times we forget to continually fill the 456 00:16:53,684 --> 00:16:55,464 hummingbird feeder as well. 457 00:16:55,845 --> 00:16:57,605 I was gonna say, and I know that, 458 00:16:57,605 --> 00:17:00,644 you know, just from my experience here on 459 00:17:00,644 --> 00:17:03,205 the plants that you just mentioned there, it 460 00:17:03,205 --> 00:17:05,580 seems like, you know, we may have more 461 00:17:06,039 --> 00:17:08,619 summer plants for them, but we don't have, 462 00:17:08,759 --> 00:17:11,160 like I mean, hummingbirds can stay around for 463 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:12,859 a while in the fall. Is that correct? 464 00:17:13,559 --> 00:17:17,180 That's correct. They'll stay around through about October. 465 00:17:17,674 --> 00:17:20,255 They, they can leave, start leaving in July, 466 00:17:20,714 --> 00:17:22,714 but some just don't wanna seem to go. 467 00:17:22,714 --> 00:17:24,474 And it's not because we have plants out. 468 00:17:24,474 --> 00:17:26,174 It's just them procrastinating. 469 00:17:26,954 --> 00:17:28,875 So in order to save those that are 470 00:17:28,875 --> 00:17:29,855 lagging behind, 471 00:17:30,220 --> 00:17:32,779 just keep the feeders out. And as you 472 00:17:32,779 --> 00:17:35,039 mentioned, plan for all season 473 00:17:35,500 --> 00:17:37,259 flowers, because some of the, 474 00:17:38,059 --> 00:17:39,039 early flocks 475 00:17:39,340 --> 00:17:40,400 and then we have 476 00:17:40,700 --> 00:17:43,214 the late summer flocks, but yet they don't 477 00:17:43,214 --> 00:17:45,535 go all the season either. So again, that's 478 00:17:45,535 --> 00:17:48,174 a great point of making sure that you 479 00:17:48,174 --> 00:17:48,994 have flowers 480 00:17:49,375 --> 00:17:52,174 available for the hummingbirds through all of those 481 00:17:52,174 --> 00:17:53,075 different seasons. 482 00:17:53,535 --> 00:17:56,174 Don't hesitate to leave your hummingbird feeder out. 483 00:17:56,174 --> 00:17:58,349 That's a question I always get. How long 484 00:17:58,349 --> 00:18:00,349 should I leave it out? Leave it out 485 00:18:00,349 --> 00:18:02,670 until you don't see any more hummingbirds coming 486 00:18:02,670 --> 00:18:03,170 by. 487 00:18:03,789 --> 00:18:06,289 It does not stop them from migrating. 488 00:18:06,910 --> 00:18:09,549 I know we've had some late visitors in 489 00:18:09,549 --> 00:18:10,049 September, 490 00:18:10,954 --> 00:18:13,195 and I know that I'm always amazed that, 491 00:18:13,195 --> 00:18:15,515 you know, there's always a few stragglers that 492 00:18:15,515 --> 00:18:18,555 seem to, you know, follow behind them and 493 00:18:18,555 --> 00:18:21,195 you're kinda surprised. So I guess you could 494 00:18:21,195 --> 00:18:23,849 always, like you said, as you start to 495 00:18:23,849 --> 00:18:25,529 see that, you know, you don't have to 496 00:18:25,529 --> 00:18:28,410 have necessarily a full feeder, but maybe just 497 00:18:28,410 --> 00:18:30,490 half of it full and then you can 498 00:18:30,490 --> 00:18:33,130 replenish as you need it. So that's, I'm 499 00:18:33,130 --> 00:18:34,349 glad you mentioned that. 500 00:18:34,730 --> 00:18:37,384 Now I know that there's probably some great 501 00:18:37,384 --> 00:18:37,884 information 502 00:18:38,265 --> 00:18:40,265 for us here in Kentucky. I know you 503 00:18:40,265 --> 00:18:43,144 mentioned one just in reference there, but you 504 00:18:43,144 --> 00:18:45,545 may have some other ones that you like 505 00:18:45,545 --> 00:18:48,105 to use as well, but if somebody wanted 506 00:18:48,105 --> 00:18:50,765 some additional information on attracting hummingbirds, 507 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,680 where typically do you recommend to send them 508 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:55,859 to? I would really send them to 509 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:56,740 the 510 00:18:57,039 --> 00:19:00,240 publication by doctor Thomas Barnes that he wrote 511 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,380 on hummingbirds and attractive asset to your garden. 512 00:19:03,839 --> 00:19:05,779 And Missouri Botanical Garden 513 00:19:06,095 --> 00:19:08,035 is a good place to look for plants. 514 00:19:08,414 --> 00:19:10,035 And then the Cornell 515 00:19:10,414 --> 00:19:10,914 Ornithology 516 00:19:11,295 --> 00:19:13,234 Lab, there you might hear 517 00:19:13,535 --> 00:19:14,434 the sound 518 00:19:14,815 --> 00:19:16,275 of the hummingbirds 519 00:19:16,654 --> 00:19:18,894 as they do their little chirp sound. They 520 00:19:18,894 --> 00:19:20,195 really don't have a song, 521 00:19:20,869 --> 00:19:23,029 It's more of chirping, and you can hear 522 00:19:23,029 --> 00:19:23,690 some there. 523 00:19:24,070 --> 00:19:26,470 I always love to hear them kinda, you 524 00:19:26,470 --> 00:19:29,029 know, with especially with the males going back 525 00:19:29,029 --> 00:19:31,190 to that when they're, you know, trying to 526 00:19:31,190 --> 00:19:32,890 keep the females all to themselves, 527 00:19:33,430 --> 00:19:35,605 it it seems like they go, you know, 528 00:19:35,605 --> 00:19:37,524 it's like they're trying to, you know, hey, 529 00:19:37,524 --> 00:19:38,664 get away, get away. 530 00:19:39,444 --> 00:19:42,724 That part about their, mating call. And when 531 00:19:42,724 --> 00:19:45,144 sometimes we see them in the early season 532 00:19:45,204 --> 00:19:46,265 as they're mating, 533 00:19:46,884 --> 00:19:49,284 the male can fly up to about 60 534 00:19:49,284 --> 00:19:50,265 miles per hour 535 00:19:50,650 --> 00:19:52,670 going up in the sky and down 536 00:19:53,289 --> 00:19:55,710 and showing off for the female so that 537 00:19:56,410 --> 00:19:58,349 she will choose him to mate with. 538 00:19:58,809 --> 00:20:01,069 Yeah. Yeah. It's it's so fascinating. 539 00:20:01,369 --> 00:20:04,009 And you have really, you know, provided us 540 00:20:04,009 --> 00:20:05,869 with a lot of great detail and information 541 00:20:06,544 --> 00:20:08,464 today on what, you know, plants are good, 542 00:20:08,464 --> 00:20:10,964 what elements are great for hummingbird gardens, 543 00:20:11,505 --> 00:20:14,304 and then to especially helping us out with 544 00:20:14,304 --> 00:20:15,044 the homemade 545 00:20:15,424 --> 00:20:15,924 hummingbird 546 00:20:16,304 --> 00:20:18,704 mixture, you know, what's acceptable for the nectar. 547 00:20:18,704 --> 00:20:21,289 So, Annette, I really appreciate you coming on 548 00:20:21,289 --> 00:20:23,529 the Sunshine Gardening podcast and I hope that 549 00:20:23,529 --> 00:20:25,630 we can see you again sometime soon. 550 00:20:26,090 --> 00:20:27,690 I hope so too and it has been 551 00:20:27,690 --> 00:20:28,430 my pleasure. 552 00:20:29,130 --> 00:20:31,210 Thank you so much for tuning in to 553 00:20:31,210 --> 00:20:34,109 another episode of the Sunshine Gardening podcast. 554 00:20:34,545 --> 00:20:37,184 We hope you enjoyed our discussion on attracting 555 00:20:37,184 --> 00:20:39,445 hummingbirds to your Kentucky garden. 556 00:20:39,904 --> 00:20:42,865 Remember, with just a few simple steps, you 557 00:20:42,865 --> 00:20:45,985 can create a welcoming environment for those amazing 558 00:20:45,985 --> 00:20:46,965 birds to thrive. 559 00:20:47,579 --> 00:20:49,839 Be sure to visit our website at warrencountyagriculture.com 560 00:20:52,140 --> 00:20:54,480 for all the show notes from today's episode. 561 00:20:55,099 --> 00:20:57,519 And if you enjoyed what you heard today, 562 00:20:57,819 --> 00:21:00,380 please consider leaving us a review on your 563 00:21:00,380 --> 00:21:01,839 favorite podcast platform. 564 00:21:02,505 --> 00:21:05,144 Your support helps us reach more people and 565 00:21:05,144 --> 00:21:06,285 grow our community. 566 00:21:06,825 --> 00:21:08,924 We're always eager to hear from our listeners. 567 00:21:09,144 --> 00:21:11,625 So if you have any questions, feedback, or 568 00:21:11,625 --> 00:21:13,484 suggestions for future episodes, 569 00:21:13,945 --> 00:21:16,079 please don't hesitate to contact us. 570 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,559 Join us again next time on the Sunshine 571 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:19,460 Gardening podcast 572 00:21:19,839 --> 00:21:22,159 for more tips and tricks for keeping your 573 00:21:22,159 --> 00:21:23,779 garden growing and thriving. 574 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,940 Until then, keep your hummingbird feeders full and 575 00:21:28,079 --> 00:21:29,059 happy gardening. 576 00:21:30,295 --> 00:21:32,934 Thanks for listening to the Sunshine Gardening podcast 577 00:21:32,934 --> 00:21:34,154 with Kristen Hildebrand. 578 00:21:34,535 --> 00:21:36,934 If you enjoyed today's content, make sure to 579 00:21:36,934 --> 00:21:39,255 hit the subscribe button wherever you get your 580 00:21:39,255 --> 00:21:41,975 podcast to catch future segments of the Sunshine 581 00:21:41,975 --> 00:21:42,955 Gardening podcast. 582 00:21:43,529 --> 00:21:46,330 Gardeners keep on digging and learning more about 583 00:21:46,330 --> 00:21:49,130 gardening so the sun shines brighter over your 584 00:21:49,130 --> 00:21:52,890 Kentucky garden. The Sunshine Gardening podcast with Kristen 585 00:21:52,890 --> 00:21:55,529 Hildebrand is a production of the University of 586 00:21:55,529 --> 00:21:57,869 Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.