Weigela Shrubs -- Hummingbird Magnets

Weigela Florida 'My Monet'
from Grandma Pearl

There's something special about these beautiful shrubs that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects of all kinds.  The graceful arching stems are loaded with tubular flowers in early spring right through the end of June.  Several varieties rebloom toward the end of summer for a new show.  They are drought resistant, and hardy in zones 4 to 9.

When I planted my 'Red Prince' Weigela many years ago, I mixed up a wheelbarrow full of equal parts of garden loam, clay, peat moss, and sawdust.  To that I added a shovel full of wood ash.  That's it!  These bushes seem to thrive on neglect.  Other than watering them when it is absolutely necessary they are not fussy about water or fertilizer.  In fact, the birds that love to shelter in among the branches provide the only fertilizer these bushes get.  Red Prince Weigela is one variety that blooms in early spring and then again in late summer.

Weigela  'Wine and Roses' along with Rhododendrons
this is a much smaller and younger shrub than my other
Weigelas.
from Grandma Pearl

Weigelas can be planted in full sun to partial shade, and add a pop of much-needed color in a shade garden. Plan on giving them lots of elbow room, because they grow from 3-9 feet tall, and 3 to 12 feet wide!  I have one planted in a large container that is very happy; another is the centerpiece of a garden bed and others are part of a shrub 'fence'.  So they can also be used for a privacy border.  Weigelas give you a lot of bang for the buck!

My oldest 'Red Prince' Weigela bush has fed a lot of hummers!
by Grandma Pearl

'Red Prince'  Closeup of these tubular hummingbird magnets
by Grandma Pearl

Bumblebees as well as other beneficial insects love these
nectar-rich flowers.  This variety of Weigela starts out light pink
and turns to white.
by Grandma Pearl

          

Closeup of light pink and white weigela.  This is the one that
is planted in a large container.
by Grandma Pearl

Chickadee in weigela bush in wintertime
by Grandma Pearl

Birds love to use the weigela all year round.  This one is not far from the bird feeders, so it serves as a good place to watch for any predators.  Juncos and other ground foragers use these shrubs as fast get-away areas where they can easily hide.  During heavy rainstorms, shrubs make great places to get out of the wet weather, while opening up a tasty black oil sunflower seed!

You can't go wrong with Weigela Bushes.  They can't be beat for beauty and for attracting birds, butterflies and all kinds of beneficial bugs.

Grandma Pearl

Attracting Birds with Flowers

Secrets to a Healthy Backyard

Finches Come In All the Colors of the Rainbow!

Remember that old mnemonic for the colors of the rainbow?  

R O Y G B I V representing Red—Orange—Yellow—Green—Blue—Indigo—Violet

Well, members of the finch family represent all those colors and more.  These seed and fruit loving birds literally come in all the colors of the rainbow!  Beautiful and musical, Mother Nature has created finches for our pleasure.  They are most helpful when ridding us of weed seeds, and serenading us with their cheerfully expressive songs. Smaller finches range in size from 5 to 6”, while grosbeaks are the largest at 8”.

Male Purple Finch
by Grandma Pearl

Blue Grosbeak from Dan Pancamo, flickr.com, cc-by-sa

The Purple Finch, also known as Raspberry Finch, and the Blue Grosbeak are just two of the colorful members of the rainbow.  Can you guess which finch is yellow? violet? orange?

Find out Here

With all the rain we've had lately, my gardens have exploded with colorful blooms!  I love to use flowers and plants that attract birds, butterflies and beneficial insects.  Adding to the native wildflowers and bushes that my resident birds recognize and that are familiar to them, keeps my yard flowering all season long.

variegated pink and white weigela bush
by Grandma Pearl

Variegated pink and white weigela bush is a hummingbird magnet.  It also attracts butterflies and bees.  I'm in zone 5 and it has always been hardy here.  It will bloom for about a month, and last year it bloomed again toward the end of the summer!  The blossoms start out pink and then turn white with blush pink centers.  I have several weigela bushes, and the hummers are in and out of them constantly all day long.

Attract Birds With Flowers

white weigela blossoms--hummingbird magnets
by Grandma Pearl

My oregano in one part of the herb garden.
Grandma Pearl

When the oregano flowers in late summer, it attracts lots of beneficial insects and bees, plus butterflies.  It's a very popular plant.  I use this herb all the time in cooking and salads.  In the foreground is golden oregano, in the background near the lattice is regular oregano.  There is also monarda, or bee balm, just starting to grow.  Bee balm is another hummingbird magnet, and it attracts butterflies and bees.  I love the smell of it, and I can always tell when the bees or hummers are working it.  The aroma is wonderful!

Grandma Pearl

See the newest Rustic Bird Houses made from antique reclaimed barnwood HERE

List of Flowers that Attract Hummingbirds