Mason Bee Houses: Attract Mason Bees, Increase Pollination
Did you know that there is a type of bee that is native to North America and doesn’t sting? It’s called the Mason Bee, and it is an important part of our ecosystem. These bees play a vital role in pollination, and you can help attract them to your backyard by building Mason Bee Houses! In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of Mason Bees, how to build a Mason Bee House, and some tips for attracting these bees to your yard. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and…
How to Attract Bluebirds – Setting Up a Bluebird House
Do you want to attract bluebirds to your yard? If so, setting up a bluebird house is a great way to do it! Bluebirds are beautiful creatures, and they make for wonderful additions to any backyard. In this blog post, we will discuss the best ways to set up a bluebird house in order to attract these birds. We will also provide some helpful tips on how to care for bluebirds once you have them living in your yard! As a general rule, you should place your bluebird house in an open, sunny area where there is plenty of short grass where bluebirds can catch insects. Mount your nest box…
Planting Common Milkweed for Optimal Germination
We started our milkweed garden in 2017 with the hope of attracting Monarch Butterflies to our garden. In the first season our milkweed took off and we raised about 20-25 monarch butterflies. After that season we were hooked and started planting common milkweed in other parts of our garden with the hope of attracting more butterflies. Common Milkweed can be easy to grow from seed but it can also be a challenge. It can be a challenge because milkweed requires cold stratification to break dormancy. If you want to direct-sow milkweed seeds into your garden the best time to plant your seeds is in the fall. If you are planting…
Butterfly Weed vs Milkweed and Why You Need BOTH
Butterfly weed is a member of the milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae). Butterfly weed grows commonly in dry open habitats and is very common in the prairies and grasslands of the Midwest and Great Plains. It is also grown in home gardens to attach the monarch caterpillars. These beautiful native plants are found from Maine to South Dakota to the desert southwest to Florida. We grow Butterfly Weed and Milkweed on our property to attract Monarch Butterflies. So what is the difference between butterfly weed vs milkweed… Common milkweed and butterfly weed are two species of milkweed that have much in common. Both will attract butterflies to your property, in particular, they…
Important Things to Know About Your Hummingbird Feeder
If you live in the eastern half of the United States, ruby-throated hummingbirds may be paying you a visit this spring/summer. For those living in the west, varieties such as black-chinned, Costa’s, Allen’s, rufous, and Anna’s hummingbirds could migrate through your yard. Either way, if you’re lucky enough to live in an area frequented by hummingbirds, you might enjoy encouraging a close-up visit by hanging hummingbird feeders in your garden. These tiny birds need to consume an astonishing amount of daily calories to fuel their incredibly fast metabolisms. In fact, hummingbirds have the highest metabolic rates of any animal on earth. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links,…
Gorgeous Plants to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Want to attract hummingbirds to your garden and add some colorful flowers at the same time? Add Some Color to Your Yard!! Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Although more than 300 known species of hummingbird grace gardens around the world, only about a dozen species routinely migrate through North America, and even fewer remain year-round in the warmest areas of the West Coast. These amazingly tiny birds—the smallest bird in the world is the bee hummingbird, which weighs less than an ounce—mostly prefer the warmth of…
Where do Hummingbirds Live?
Have you ever wondered why you see hummingbirds every summer but you rarely see them feeding or nesting in other seasons? Where have they gone? Believe it or not, despite their miniature size, most species of hummingbirds migrate in the fall and spring, just as other birds do. In autumn, migratory hummingbirds leave North America and travel south where they winter from southern Mexico to Central America. In spring (a.k.a. breeding season), hummingbirds move north. Their migration tracks with the blooming of nectar-rich flowers, which hummingbirds rely on for up to 90 percent of their diet, according to the National Audubon Society. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate…
Fun Facts About Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds’ nests are remarkable works of nature’s art. Here’s what to know if you’re lucky enough to spot one in your garden. If you live in an area that is populated by hummingbirds during their breeding season, which is generally mid-spring through summer, you might be lucky enough to spot a hummingbird tending to her eggs or chicks. Here’s what to know about these amazing, tiny hummingbirds. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Many kinds of Hummingbirds There are many different kinds or species of hummingbirds all…
Hummingbird Helper Club
The first thing to know and remember is this: Don’t try to capture or even touch a hummingbird. They are small delicate creatures and can easily be injured if handled. Just look the tiny birds dancing in the air is simply wonderful to watch. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. But there are still things you can do to make your yard a special hummingbird spot: Plant a variety of flowers It’s the bright colors that count because hummingbirds are attracted to vivid hues, they feed on…
National Hummingbird Day
The first Saturday of September is National Hummingbird Day! How are you going to observe these amazing creatures and all they do for us? Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. What is National Hummingbird Day? These incredible birds are native to the New World and can’t be found in the wild anywhere else outside of the Western Hemisphere. On September 5th, we celebrated National Hummingbird Day… which is a great opportunity to learn more about this magical bird. For those who are interested in discovering expert tips…