Single Living Skill: Invite Some Hummers to Your Yard

Have you ever been outside on a nice sunny day and suddenly startled by a quick humming sound, a whirring, darting miniature UFO and a flash of ruby? Quick as a spaceship and friendlier than an alien, hummingbirds have probably already arrived in your neighborhood (unless you're very far north), so it's not too early to put out a feeder!

You can easily attract them with a red plastic hummingbird feeder that you can find from $5 to $15 dollars at any discount store or garden center. The different styles hang from a tree branch or hook or will attach to a widow with suction cups. If you get a couple of them and also offer some hanging flower baskets I'll bet the hummingbirds will be buzzing by quick as a wink!

Instead of buying syrup, you can easily make your own. This is a well-known recipe I found on Bridgett's blog last year. A shady spot is best, and be sure to clean the feeder and replace the syrup at least once a week so bacteria doesn't grow in it and harm the hummers.

Hummingbird Food

4 cups water
1 cup granulated cane sugar

Bring water to a boil; add sugar and stir until dissolved. Let mixture cool before pouring into feeder. Leftover mixture can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.

Hummingbirds amaze me, and I hope you'll get to enjoy their company this summer. They're God's marvelous creation!

♥ ferree