I have two large (6 foot) Abelia plants in my yard that the hummers like. They are covered with small pink flowers from May till the first hard freeze (last night).

As for being near water, I live next to a large wildlife pond which occasionally freezes over in the winter.

Diane Weinstein
Issaquah
----- Original Message -----
From: J & B Adamowski LaComa<mailto:jennandbryan at msn.com>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu<mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Cc: bryanl at inharmony.com<mailto:bryanl at inharmony.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 1:24 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] re:Winter Anna's and shrubs/perrennials to use in thegarden


Mary,
Mahonia as a genus in general is a very important food source for wildlife (not just birds). It provides both blooms and fruits during seasons when there is very little around (awesome for attracting honey bees and mason bees). The Mahonia you speak of (Arthur Menzies) is a great choice for the ornamental benefits in the garden and gets to be quite large for a Mahonia (= more blooms). There are many other plants that are considerd "Fall" bloomers that actually will bloom through November and into December that can be used as both ornamentals in the garden and provide a food source for hummers. Phygellius x rectus is a great evergreen shrub/perennial that will give you an amazing array of tubular flowers from July to December ( 5 different varieties available in white, salmon, pink and 2 shades of red) as will some of the unique species of Lobelias,Salvias and a fantastic perennial called Zauschnera californicus (all 4 still in bloom in my yard and having regular visits daily to the flowers). There are also some great shrubs that are in most nurseries that will be favorites this time of year (bloom 12 months out of the year). Most of the Escallonia's will provide great flowers (also in bloom and being visited daily in my yard currently) for the resident hummers as well as Viburnum Bodnatense 'Dawn' (December-February bloomer). There are many, many more that hummers will resort too in winter months but I wouldn't call favorites (Edgworthia, Daphne, jasminum nudiflorum and some rhodies as well) ) that are worth having in the garden but may not exactly draw the hummers in.
Keep those feeders up as well (and clean) and you will be amazed after they find a regular source that they will be there all year round. I have found that it usually takes a full year for the different residents and migrants too remember your yard. I live in Shoreline (North-East of Seattle) and have only been at my current residence for 1.5 years and all ready recognize a returning bird. Stick with it and they will stick with you. I actually had 1 bird this year become so fond of my yard/feeders that he would sit on my hand and feed from flowers that I would pick! What a treat! I actually had to take pictures so that people would believe me!


Bryan
Shoreline, Wa.
jennandbryan at msn.com<mailto:jennandbryan at msn.com>

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