Hummingbirds In The Wildscape
by Connie Holsinger, October 2006

Click here to open a slideshow window of all 18 photos.

A local and very talented photographer, Wendy Stuart (www.cloudphotographyltd.com), is sharing with us her dazzling hummer photos that have been taken around the state.

To confirm how well wildscaping really works, this has been a hummer summer for one wildscape located east of Niwot Road and 95th Street on the plains. Calliope, Rufous, Black-chin and Broad-tailed species feasted on blooms planted just for them. These plants included Agastache, Penstemon, Salvia and Monarda.

While the Front Range foothills hosts these aerial wonders during spring migration, male hummers start appearing on the plains over the July 4th weekend - their breeding duties are finished and they're leisurely investigating the local food supply.

As the summer progresses, feisty male Calliopes and Rufous are often seen facing off, hovering in air space, and defending sweet water feeder slots. Help them out by placing multiple feeders in different areas to lessen the competition issues.

Finally, early fall brings fledged juveniles and worn out females spending days in a wildscape garden putting on fat for their long southward journey. It's a great time to see them perch quietly, preening and looking over their flowering domain. By mid-September the spectacular feathered dynamos are gone, even though the blooms remain until frost.

Wildscaping is a labor of love and passionate commitment to treat your landscape with care - and no pesticides - while welcoming these mini marvels into your daily life. They are truly bundles of joy and thanksgiving! Winter is a great time to plan your wildscape ... so get started soon!

• Waxwings Flock to Junipers and Mountain-Ash, by Stephen Jones, February 2006
• High Altitude Gardening, by John Brocklehurst , April 2006

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