Monroe County Master Gardener Association

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I see them hovering around Coneflower seed heads, then they zip to the Rose of Sharons they used to feast on before those flowers turned to seed. I see them flying up and down the now flowerless Cardinal Flowers, and then they dart to the Coral Bells only to find dinner has been removed from those plants as well. The last few weeks have become quite an adventure for hummingbirds to find the natural nectar food they have become accustomed to for the last several months.

Right now is the most important time to have your hummingbird feeder hanging with fresh nectar! Hummers will be around for several more weeks before they migrate back home to Central America, and with few natural nectar sources remaining in the garden, they are now dependent on those feeders. Last year, the date I recorded last seeing a hummingbird was Oct. 1, 2013. However, I kept my feeder up until the end of that month because the rule of thumb for our area is to keep feeders up until Halloween.

Remember to use a 4:1 ratio of water to sugar: Add ¼ cup white sugar to 1 cup of boiling water and allow the nectar solution to cool before filling the feeders. Any leftover solution can be refrigerated for up to a week, but try to change the solution in the feeders every few days. And remember – DO NOT add food coloring or dye to the solution as studies have shown that food coloring can be detrimental to the hummingbirds.

It has been said that spring-returning hummingbirds remember previous years’ nectar sources. By keeping feeders out until the end of October, you may get some southern-bound migrating hummingbirds stopping by, and they may remember your feeders upon their return in the spring!