Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mcnc!rti!bcw
From: bcw@rti.UUCP (Bruce Wright)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: "BACKYARD SAFARI"
Summary: Hummingbirds in garden
Keywords: Halleluja Hummer!
Message-ID: <3183@rti.UUCP>
Date: 13 Sep 89 01:45:59 GMT
References: <9536@chinet.chi.il.us>
Distribution: na
Organization: Research Triangle Institute, RTP, NC
Lines: 39

In article <9536@chinet.chi.il.us>, arf@chinet.chi.il.us (Jack Schmidling) writes:
> The jewel weed (Impatiens capensis) is the key to attracting  
> hummers.  In the whole Chicago urban area, there are only  
> one or two hummer sightings each year and my backyard has  
> been one of them consistantly, since we planted the jewel  
> weeds. 
>  
> I am always hoping they will fall in love with my nectar  
> feeder and come around all year but they never do.  Just a  
> few weeks in Fall when the jewel weeds are in bloom and they  
> totally ignore the bright red feeder. 
>  
*IF* you have lots of room and something for it to climb, and if you
don't mind having to get rid of a few seedlings, you might try planting
trumpet creeper, Campsis radicans.  This has big red trumpet-shaped flowers
and will bloom earlier than fall (I don't specifically know about Chicago 
but my father had one in bloom in PA in July).  This is a common and noxious
weed in the South; I think it is less prolific in the North.  Its blooming
time (starts in late May here in NC) is said to be the chief determinant of
the time of arrival of hummingbirds across the South.  It will *cover up*
and old shed or fence in a very few years.  It will climb a tree if one is
provided.  It is perennial and drought-tolerant, much less fussy about
water than jewell weed.  Think carefully before you plant this stuff; I
take no responsibility but it depends on how badly you want hummingbirds.
 
You might also try the red Lobelia called 'Cardinal flower'; it is also
perennial although said to be short-lived, and likes a damp but well-drained
place (it is also a weed locally, on or near stream banks mostly).  It
blooms here in late summer, I'm not sure before the jewell weed though.
It is a clump-forming perennial and not invasive or likely to be a problem
like trumpet creeper.
 
You will not get hummingbirds to stay in Chicago all year no matter what
you do; they do not like cold weather and will not stick around when there
are no suitable flowers, no matter how many feeders you put out.  I don't
know why they don't like your feeder though; they come to mine.

Good luck.
                                         Janice Frank