Hello Steemians readers,
As we are (at least in the North Hemisphere of our Blue Planet) less than a week of 2018 Spring, the post today will share another enjoyment of mine, gardening, specially with flowers.
The charming and one of the most attractive and popular of the flowers - The Red Roses
Flowers, this amazing, colourful vegetation which simply emits perfume and colour our landscape, embellish our interiors and are the most sincere offering into many occasions.
As many people love this interesting organic being which nourished by sun's ray in a chemical process called photosynthesis, does so the bees, butterflies and the hummingbirds, the birds that's love to feast on flowers.
The ornithological illustrations of Doctor and Naturalist René Primevère about 6 species of hummingbirds
Many garden designers, are able to design gardens bee friendly, butterfly friendly and in this post I question and share:
Why not hummingbird friendly?
To have a hummingbird friendly garden one must know which are the favourite flowers of this amazing little colourful bird.
After few days of research ( as you know you always are able to find more about the subject) will share with you a list of 10 flowers that would bring hummingbirds along to your own garden plus the beauty of the flower itself to your surroundings.
If you are a skyscraper resident you can buy most of this flowers list in your favorite Flower Shop, place it in a vase around the window and it mighty ( if you are in a quite residential area) attract hummingbirds too.
1 - Four-o’-Clock - the flowers which got their name because the flowers open in the late afternoon is one of the most commonly grown ornamental plant and a treat for hummingbirds.
2 - Bee Palm - magnet to hummingbirds, Bee Palm is also a favorite among butterflies and bees.
3 - Geranium Americana White - a popular bedding plant in the garden it is also famous to grow them indoors and the hummingbirds love it.
4 - Lantana Camara Bandera Espanhola - the Mediterranean flower which needs the sun more than the others flowers presented here, it is the flower more appropriate if you have a really sunny spot in your garden, plus the presence of a hummingbird, you are close to experience an incredible view.
5 - Butterfly Weed - This flower has a long bloom time and it is not only a hummingbird favourite but also butterflies too.
6 - Lilies - Another popular flower, Lilies are commonly large, exhuberant and fragrant flowers, which makes bees, butterflies and hummingbirds happy.
7 - Cannas - Mostly colourful and easy to cultivate Cannas last longer than most flowers and will give a long lasting color in your garden.
8 - Peacock Orchid Gladiolus Acidanthera - The tall spires of huge colorful blooms Gladiolus Orchid have a slightly different flower form and their slight stature makes them stand straight and strong despite windy conditions, a natural flower for containers and a hummingbirds magnet.
9 - Petunias - One of the most delicate flower, Petunias bloom all throughout summer but may have a problem in extreme heat and are butterflies an hummingbirds attractive flowers.
10 - Butterfly Weed - Is a flower which also has a long bloom time making it more suitable to plant in your garden if you plan to attract butterflies and hummingbirds all over the summer months.
Unfortunately climate change has also an effect in the hummingbirds natural habitat.
The most interesting example is with Lilies which are flowering earlier as the climate warms, with a record-early flowering back in 2012. Flowering now begins before the hummingbirds arrive - 17 days earlier than they did in the 1970s.
This means that their blooming is no longer in synch with the arrival of the hummingbirds that rely on the Lilies nectar. By the time the hummingbirds arrive, many of the flowers have withered away along with their nectar-filled blooms.
The effects of climate change will also reduce the range of hummingbirds too so dramatically that the affected birds are considered climate-threatened or climate-endangered species.
Long live to the hummingbirds!
Namaste