What’s the main thing that entices us into returning to a restaurant over and over again? The food right? Delicious, freshly prepared meals definitely keep me coming back. Good service is certainly a factor also. Apparently hummingbirds agree. A flower bed filled with nectar plants for hummingbirds is wonderful place for the tiny birds to dine daily, and one they will return to every year.

The name hummingbird comes from the humming noise the tiny birds make as they fly. Moving at an average of 25-30 miles per hour, the hummingbird’s wings beat 60 times a second. Of all bird species, they have the highest metabolism with a heart beat of about 1,260 times each minute.

Hummingbirds must maintain a constant weight and body temperature to survive. In one day, the small birds can drink up to 85 percent of its body weight in nectar. In comparison, humans would drink about 20 gallons of water a day on average to equal them. One bird may visit up to 1,500 delicious nectar producing flowers a day.

Feeders are an excellent choice for providing hummingbirds with a food source, but they also require mixing of the food and refilling quite often. A thorough cleaning every five days to prevent bacteria is important so that the birds remain healthy.

If you’re like me, there just isn’t enough time to maintain feeders. Instead, why not incorporate a hummingbird restaurant into your landscape in the form of delicious, nectar producing, tubular flowers for these winged wonders.

The ideal habitat for hummers includes a combination of flowering annual and perennial garden plants, as well as nectar producing trees and shrubs. In addition, other woody plants in the vicinity provide the necessary shelter for the tiny birds. The hummingbird’s diet also consists of small insects that are usually found on or near the plants they visit. Insects supply the birds with much needed protein.

Red colored blooms are the first color that hummingbirds notice. As they fly overhead in search of food, red flowers stand out like the golden arches on a long road trip. In fact, the color red can be seen by them for over a half a mile away. The best color for attracting these fascinating creatures is without a doubt red, but once they arrive at your garden, the flower nectar of many other colors are just as sweet and delicious.

Although there are many red flowers that beckon hummingbirds to the Miss-Lou, some of the tried and true favorites follow. Salvia splendens is an easy to grow annual that performs well in both full and part sun. ‘Red Hot Sally’ is a stocky plant growing to 10 inches and perfect as a border plant in combination with marigolds. This early flowering variety has long, bright red, tubular flowers, and blooms from spring until frost.

Salvia vanhouttii has yellow-green leaves and is covered in dark red red flowers with burgundy calyces. A native to Brazil, and found growing in very warm areas with high humidity, S. vanhouttii grows to three feet in height and spread, and blooms from now until frost. Well drained, friable garden soil is a must and a partially shaded site is best for this beauty. Other classic hummingbird plants with reddish colored flowers are cardinal flower, butterfly weed, red and orange impatiens, Mexican cigar plant, bee balm (Monarda spp.), and firebush.

With our hummingbird season getting into full swing, keep in mind that red is not the only color that these fascinating creatures will visit. Salvias of any color, columbine, hibiscus, cleome, butterfly ginger, lantana, pentas, shrimp plant and zinnias are only a few of the fabulous plants that are attractive to the little hummers. Summer flowering vines to plant along a fence or next to an arbor are cypress vine, morning glory, and mandevilla.

Many plants native or naturalized to the Miss-Lou are a valuable source of food for hummingbirds. The Japanese honeysuckle vine is by far one of their very favorite plants to visit. The flowers drip with a deliciously sweet nectar that is irresistible to the tiny hummingbirds. Cross vine and trumpet vine are two other favorites found growing in the throughout the Miss-Lou.

A hummingbird garden is not complete without a source of water for these flying marvels. A shallow (1/4 inch) spot of water will give them a place to splash and bathe. Sprinklers are also popular with hummingbirds and it’s lots of fun to watch them dart in and out of the water spray.

When planting a hummingbird habitat make sure to include several different nectar plants if possible so that flowers are blooming over a long period of time. This will provide both you and your backyard visitors with deliciously beautiful blossoms and stunning combinations.

Hopefully you will have time to open a hummingbird restaurant at your home this summer. Take the time to serve delicious, high quality meals and your patrons will reward you with frequent visits.

Gardening Miss-Lou Style is a weekly column written by Traci Maier of Natchez. She can be reached at 445-5181 or by email at ratmaier@iamerica.net