In designing a hummingbird haven, diversity is the spice of life. Blend annuals with perennials, shrubs with vines, offering our winged visitors a smorgasbord of feeding options throughout the seasons.
With their minimal sense of smell, hummingbirds rely on colour cues and nectar quality to choose their meals. They map out their food sources, marking well-planted gardens on their regular visits, which we call trap-lines. A rich food source can sometimes lead to some hummingbirds fiercely guarding it against others.
Though they have a soft spot for the colour red, hummingbirds won't discriminate against flowers of different colours once they've confirmed them as bountiful food sources. Their keen eyes look out for the flower's shape and the abundance and sweetness of its nectar.
