Hi,
We completely re-did our front yard last summer, putting in all flower beds, and bird and bee friendly plants. I have so many hummingbird friendly plants that they quit coming to the feeders altogether, and simply go from one flower to the next, and I have at least 4 that fight constantly in the front garden..We also finished putting in a nice natural waterfall by the front porch, and that is really a huge draw now. I have also had the hummers fly under my hose sprayer catching the drips from the sprayer.
I have large numbers of different types of honey bees, bumble types, wasps coming and feeding constantly on the Hollyhock Mallow, Lavender,and swarming over all the other plants that are in bloom right now.
The Bushtits, swarms of Goldfinch feeding on fireweed and other weeds on the side yard, as well as siskins, White Crowned Sparrow, Junco and other native birds. Last week I had about two families of Black Headed Grosbeaks, at least it seemed so. I have a hanging bird bath in front of my office window, with clematis growing over an arbor, and the birds just love it as well.
Hyssop is also a great attractor, and Autumn Sage, (lipstick) and some other purple bloomers, Cardinal Flower (scarlet Lobelia,) and other perennial lobelia's are a favorite...
Oh, the bees also love Oregano, when it is in bloom.
We had a nice nest of White faced Hornets, and they dissappeared with in a few days. They have been a great addition, and I don't know what happened. I have been encouraging all the neighbors to leave their nests up, and most have. I am thinking the birds may have wiped them out.
Our Aphid tree (weeping birch) doesn't have much in the way of aphids this year, I don't know if it is a bad year, or that I had such huge amounts of Lady Beetles last year, that they wiped them out. I only have a few Lady Beetles when compared to the previous two years.....there are enough aphids to continue to attract nice numbers of birds though...
Also of course lots of woodpecker activity, several of the young Sapsuckers, and Hairies are now completely on their own, only the occasional Pileated, several times a week..
Unfortunately this is the only birding I get these days...
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Vicki Biltz
Bonney Lake Wa
vickibiltz at comcast.net