Digging Up Trouble (26 page)

The phone landed on the floor amidst the pile of hastily discarded clothing.

Bobby pulled me close to him. "Where were we?"

"What did you just promise him?"

"Don't know, don't care," he said, leaning down to kiss me.

"Right then and there, I didn't care either.

If we'd only known.

Creating habitats for hummingbirds, or hummers, isn't only a rewarding gardening experience, but it can provide hours of enjoyment watching these amazing colorful creatures that average less than four inches long in size.

To build just the right environment, you need to keep in mind what hummers need most. Food, water, shelter. Providing extras such as shade in the summer, protection in the winter, places to hide, perches to rest, and space to flutter free of worries, will increase your chances of drawing hummingbirds to your yard.

Although hummingbirds are naturally attracted to the color red, they will be drawn to any nectar-rich plant, as nectar is their primary food source. Therefore it's important to choose the right varieties of flowers, shrubs, and trees for your hummingbird garden. Below are some good choices.

Annuals
: impatiens, begonias, petunias, red salvia, geraniums, scarlet sage, penstemons, four o'clocks, velvet trumpet flowers, phlox, nasturtiums, zinnias.

Perennials
: columbine, hollyhock, bee balm, trumpet honeysuckle, hosta, coral bells, cardinal flower, foxglove, dragonflower, monarda, aster, perennial salvia, verbena, cosmos, dahlias, delphiniums, flame acanthus, fuchsia, lupines, monkeyflower, sage, scarlet sage, butterfly weed.

Vines
: trumpet creeper, trumpet vine, scarlet morning glory, bougainvillea, cardinal climber, flame vine, lantana.

Shrubs
: Fuchsia, azalea, butterfly bush, abelia, bottlebrush, hibiscus, lilac, weigela.

Trees
: mimosa silk tree, crab apple, willows, tulip poplar, locust, eucalyptus.

Research is a must. Not only to check to see which plants will grow in your hardiness zone, but also some varieties (such as phlox, penstemon, four o'clocks) could be annuals in some areas, perennials in others; and some perennials could be shrubs in some zones. Visit your local garden centers— they can point you in the right direction and might have additional suggestions that will make your hummingbird garden perfect.

Additionally, it's important to supplement your hummingbird gardens with feeders for the times nectar might run dry. The standard mixture is four parts water, one part refined sugar. Be sure to boil the water before mixing to ensure proper measurement and to purify the water so the hummingbirds don't contract any illnesses. You can also buy ready-made hummingbird food at any bird store and often in your local supermarket pet section. Never add honey to your hummingbird feeder. It can grow a fungus disease that can be fatal to these birds.

Hummers also eat insects and spiders, so be sure never to use pesticides in your hummingbird garden. Pesticides will not only remove an important food source but can also endanger a hummingbird's life.

It's important to keep a mister, dripper, or shallow bird bath near your hummingbird garden so the hummers can bathe and keep hydrated. Did you know hummingbirds drink eight times their body weight a day?

Hummingbirds won't use houses—they nest in trees—so don't bother buying one. These birds spend eighty percent of their time resting, so make sure they have perches near their food source. Twigs, branches, fences, clotheslines, or even nearby trees will provide the rest your hummers will need.

Remember to space your plants to accommodate fluttering wings, which can beat twenty to two hundred times per second. Research, plant, and sit back and enjoy your hummingbird garden year after year.

Special thanks to my agent, Jacky Sach, for all that you do, and to Sarah Durand, for continuing to believe in Nina . . . and in me.

Great big thanks to Laura Bradford, Shelley Galloway, Hilda Lindner-Knepp, Cathy Liggett, and Julie Stone, for being the best writing buddies a girl could have.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

HEATHER WEBBER writes mysteries in between running her three children to and from various sporting and school events, actively avoiding housework, and wishing someone would give her backyard a Taken by Surprise makeover. This native of Massachusetts was uprooted and transplanted to a little cranny of southwest Ohio shortly after marrying her high school sweetheart. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.heatherwebber.com.

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Nina Quinn Mysteries by Heather Webber

Trouble in Spades

A Hoe Lot of Trouble

Digging Up Trouble