Planting for the Birds

Well it is snowing a bit outside, so we know it is still spring, but the May long weekend is just around the corner and, for many people, this weekend marks the "safe date" after which it is safe to plant your bedding plants and not be worried about frost.

So if you are one of these gardeners that are eagerly awaiting the May long weekend and doing some garden planning, then how about considering some plants that will attract birds.  I have made some suggestions among the plants that are commonly available in your local greenhouses:

Annuals
For hummingbirds: Hummingbirds have long thin bills that are ideal for probing into trumpet shaped flowers to find the nectar that they are seeking.  They seem to be attracted to flowers that are red in colour.  Look for plants that have high nectar production.  Annual plants to consider for attracting hummingbirds include fuchsias, nasturtiums, snapdragons, dianthus, foxglove, impatiens and petunias.

For seed eating birds:  It is the seed heads in flowers that are the attraction for seed eating birds. These seeds are not available to the birds until the seed head has dried out so don't dead head your flowers or if you do, save the seed heads and offer them once they have dried out in a tray feeder for the birds. In the fall, leave your flowers and their seedheads standing and you will have birds visiting these heads in cold weather condition.  Flowers to consider for attracting seed eating birds include cosmos, cornflower, marigolds, and zinnias, black eyed susans, daisies, impatiens and sunflower mixes

Perennials:
Now what about perennials?  If you are like me, you are getting lazy and prefer to not plant alot of bedding plants.  Here are some choices of commonly available perennial bedding plants for nectar generation (hummingbirds) or seed heads (seed-eating birds): consider bee balm, columbines, coral bells, bachelor buttons, delphiniums, lilies and lupines.

Finally what about shrubs, vines and trees:  consider plants that have berries like dogwood, mountain ash, chokecherry bushes or trees, russian olives, and crabapple trees. Also consider shrubs or climbing vines that have high nectar production for the hummingbirds like morning glory or honeysuckle vines.

It's amazing to find that attracting birds really isn't just about what feeders you have in the yard.  Bird's are looking for the right environment including plants (and don't forget water) when they decide whether to hang out in your backyard or your neighbor's.  So plant for success!