Bring Orioles & Hummingbirds to Your Yard This Spring
Hello, again!
There’s nothing quite like the flash of orange from an oriole or the shimmer of a hummingbird darting through your garden. With a few thoughtful additions such as feeders, food, and the right plants, you can turn your outdoor space into a reliable stopover for these beautiful visitors all season long.
One of the best ways to attract not only hummingbirds and orioles, but also any colorful birds, to your landscape is to provide an inviting environment for them to visit. The goal is to create a diverse landscape layered with a variety of plants. Combinations of shrubs, evergreens, and deciduous trees can create the foundation for your landscape and provide not only shelter from predators, but also feeding zones for all birds.
Providing a water source is another important and easy way to attract birds. A shallow water source, such as a birdbath or even a plant saucer, will provide an essential element for birds. To keep mosquitoes at bay, using Mosquito Dunks will safely control mosquito larvae in standing water without harming wildlife.
Limiting chemical use in the landscape is another way to invite birds to your yard. By using the correct products to control the destructive insect pests, you will leave beneficial insects for pollination and provide an additional food source for birds. Keeping bird feeders clean and filled with fresh food is another great way to ensure hungry birds come back to your yard. I know that the wasp nest in my hanging bird feeder isn’t too appealing for the birds!
Hummingbirds are drawn to bright colors, especially red. Fill feeders with a simple nectar solution (1 part sugar to 4 parts water, no dye needed). Hang feeders in partial shade and keep them clean, refreshing every few days in warm weather. We have many unique and decorative feeder options for hummingbirds, even a ring to let them feed right from your hand! By planting their favorite flowers, annuals, and perennials, you can provide season-long bright colors that will attract hummingbirds. They are especially attracted to trumpet-shaped flowers. Salvia, petunias, Monarda (beebalm), and calibrachoa are all great choices.
Orioles prefer something a little different. Specialized feeders offer larger perches and ports designed for their beaks. They love grape jelly, as well as orange halves on special feeders. Orioles often arrive during spring migration, so put feeders out early to catch their attention as they pass through. Fruiting shrubs such as Serviceberry, Honeysuckle (plant only non-invasive varieties), and Crabapples are great plant options for Orioles.
In Kansas, hummingbirds typically arrive in April, with orioles not far behind. By preparing early, you can enjoy their presence from spring migration through late summer. Whether it’s your backyard, patio, or a larger landscape, attracting these birds adds motion, color, and a sense of connection to the natural world. And once they find you, if you’ve done it right, they’ll be back year after year.
Gardening season is in full swing at the garden centers. We have early spring crops available (I still need to plant my potatoes), and for gamble gardeners who want to get an early start, we have tomatoes, peppers, and soon will have vine crops available to plant outside. We've still got plenty of pansies priced to move, with 3.25” pots just .99 cents each, or a flat of 18 for only $10.00. Our jumbo 6-packs of violas are $10/flat, as well. We also have 6" pansies, Hanging Pansy Baskets, and Pansy Colorbowls, all on sale for 1/2 price.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
