Archive for the ‘hummingbirds’ Category

Beneficial Insects and Birds that Eat Insect Pests

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Earlier this week I got a call from a woman looking to buy “aphid eating bees”. I suggested she hang a hot dog out by her aphid-infested plants to attract Yellow Jackets. She didn’t like that idea very much. Apparently, someone at a garden show years ago had sold her “nice bees” that eat aphids. When she described what she bought, it sounded a lot like she’d been sold Orchard Mason Bees. I don’t think they eat aphids, but please correct me if I’m wrong here readers. I’ve seen posts mentioning “aphid bees”, but I have yet to find any real detail on them.

Anyway, back to the ones that do eat aphids and other pest insects — Yellow Jackets and Bald Faced Hornets are notorious meat eaters. They’ll snatch up aphids and clean your plants beautifully. Just steer clear so they don’t come after you. Yes, Yellow Jackets are mean. But, Bald Faced Hornets would rather go about their business than chase you around the garden. Stay away from their nests and don’t swat at them, and odds are they’ll leave you alone. Yellow Jackets on the other hand might just chase you for their own personal amusement.

Hummingbird hovering over Waterfeature

Hummingbird hovering over Waterfeature

That being said, I was thrilled to find a big, fat Yellow Jacket hiding under my floating row cover just above the cabbages and cauliflowers that have been munched on my cabbage worms over the last few days. I’m not sure why s/he decided to plant herself there, but I’m hoping she’s on guard for worm hatches. This morning, I found no new worms and no new worm damage in the bed. Fortunately, when I peeled back the fleecy row cover, I didn’t manage to touch the Yellow Jacket. She stayed put as I gently draped the cover back over the beds after working. Hopefully, she’s my new pest guard and will make my worm picking work easier.

Not interested in attracting Yellow Jackets or Bald Faced Hornets to your garden to help battle pests? Try creating a Hummingbird-friendly space. I’ve caught them harvesting aphids in my garden more than once, and generally they’re pretty nice. They can be territorial and may dive-bomb you, but that’s pretty rare in my garden. Too, attracting wrens, nuthatches, titmice, and other birds will help keep down pest problems from aphids to mosquitos to root-eating grubs to all sorts of other non-beneficial insects we gardeners love to hate.

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Posted in Edible Gardens, IPM, Insects, bees, birds, hummingbirds, pests, vegetable gardening | No Comments »

Hummingbirds and Water Features

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
Hummingbird perched on waterfeature

Hummingbird perched on waterfeature

Throughout the year I’m blessed with hummingbirds in my garden. In the winter they feast on Garrya elliptica, Flowering Winter Currant and Witch Hazel. In fall they sip at Monkshood, Hardy Fuchsia and Pineapple Sage. In spring they snap up aphids and sip nectar from a smorgasborg of annuals and perennials. And in summer the bountiful feast includes Hot Lips Salvia, Penstemon, Bee Balm, Cleome and much more. Plus, in the height of summer these marvelous creatures visit my garden to sip from and bathe in the flowing water in my waterfeature’s bamboo spigot.

Hummingbird hovering over Waterfeature

Hummingbird hovering over Waterfeature

Anyone familiar with hummingbirds knows they’ll hover and toy with you, appearing whenever you are without a camera in the garden. They’ll watch you, buzz you and chirp away if they are accustomed to sharing the garden with you. If they aren’t accustomed to you, they may buzz and dive at you in a not-so-nice “get out of my territory” way.

Hummingbird washing in stream

Hummingbird washing in stream

Over the last several weeks my resident hummingbird has been in the garden feeding away. He seems to visit mostly in the morning and just before dusk, or maybe that’s just when I tend to see him out there. And, during several mornings I have found him sipping at the bamboo spigot. He is very accustomed to sharing the garden with me, and I swear we talk to each other. He chirps. I say, “good morning beautiful.” Today as he took his morning bath, he posed for the camera. Usually, he’s quite shy, but as you can see, he wasn’t this morning.

So, to those who would like us to believe that “…these water features serve no functional or practical purpose, their water use is not considered efficient.” (section 4.1.4). I propose they are functional and practical in ways beyond human purpose.

If you would like to comment back to the EPA on their suggestion in the Watersense program draft that waterfeatures are functionless and impractical, the comment period has been extended once again to September 4, 2008.

If you’re interested in building your own small water feature, check out a couple of installation diaries:

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Posted in birds, hummingbirds, right plant right place, water feature | 1 Comment »

Hummingbirds Eat Aphids!

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

I’ve had an ongoing problem over the last couple of years with aphids eating the tender summer growth on my Acer triflorum. Summer growth is the second surge that the tree puts on, and each year the aphids have distorted the leaves and made the last new growth of the season look pretty sad. The tree survives the infestation just fine, but it is unsightly. Plus, as the tree has gotten taller & taller, its become near impossible for me to spray the aphids to disrupt them. So, I’ve been left wondering how to get rid of the aphids organically and easily.

Well, it seems the answer is to invite in the hummingbirds! I have several that visit my garden daily throughout the year. IIn addition to having a wide assortment of spring and summer nectar producers, I’ve installed plants that flower into the late fall and others that bloom through the winter. So, the hummers love this garden. And, I’m being repaid not just with their buzzing, chirping and shining wonder, but by their carniverous habits as well.

Yesterday, I was standing under the Acer and heard a hummingbird swoop-buzz my way. It started popping its head from branch to branch in the aphid-infested top branches of the tree. I wondered at first if the tree was blooming late. Then I realized it was picking aphids off the leaves and tender branches. Clearly, a little protein must help power up these birds that are so well known as nectar feeders. I’m not sure that they’ll completely clean up the problem, but they’ve found it and recognize it as a safe source for grabbing little meaty snacks — after which they can hit foxglove, salvia, phygelius, fuchsia, petunia, mimulus, scented geranium, heliotrope, and so many other sweet nectar-filled summer flowers. And, they can (and do) grab a flowing drink now & again from my patio water feature. Truly, the garden is their unlimited smorgasborg.

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Posted in IPM, Insects, birds, hummingbirds, pests | No Comments »

Ways to Beat Mosquitos

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

One of the top questions of the summer is, “How can I beat mosquitoes without using lots of bug sprays?”.  Last year, this was a popular topic when originally published in June of 2008, so I’m republishing today with a few added updates and tips.

Well, there are a lot of things to try, but those pestering little buggers are difficult to fully eradicate. One tiny bit of standing water — in your garden or on neighboring property — can turn into a breeding ground for these tiny vampires. Following are a few things you can do to help reduce their habitat and their populations:

  • Remove standing water. This includes standing water features, old pet watering bowls, wadded up tarps and other junk, cleaning out gutters, emptying planting container trays, and anything else that holds even the tiniest amount of standing water
  • Screen water catchment systems: If you’re catching water in a rain barrel, be sure there’s no way for the adult mosquitoes to get in to deposit their larvae. If they can get in, be sure to add screens so the emerging adults can’t get back out.
  • Increase habitat for mosquito predators: Encourage bats, swallows, frogs, salamanders, hummingbirds and other mosquito-eatin’ critters to live in your garden. Add fish to your water features. Bring in carnivorous plants.
  • Add plants mosquitos don’t like: Start gardening with strong scented plants like Australian Bush mint, Eucalyptus, scented geraniums (particularly Citrosa geranium) and others to seating areas to keep them at bay. (Some have reported that thyme, sage, and rosemary can deter mosquitoes, but I haven’t seen that to be true.)
  • Mosquito dunks are your friends: Add mosquito dunks to your water features. Even if your water is trickling, mosquitos can try to raise their young in moving water. Mosquito dunks are pet, children, plant, fish and wildlife friendly. But they sure don’t invite mosquitoes into your space.
  • Start a fire: Burning incense, citronella and even a fire can help keep mosquitoes at bay. Toss eucalyptus cuttings on the fire to ward them off. But, know that eventually they’ll sneak down to snack on your ankles. And, if you wander from the fire, you’re going to be under attack.
  • Citronella and Bug Sprays: Yes, sometimes these are your last ditch efforts. One trick my Mom uses is spraying the nasty stuff a few areas before an outdoor party begins. Spraying the area rather than the people can keep them at bay for a few hours without coating people with sticky, stinky, nasty toxins.

If you have other handy tips or ideas to help keep the mosquitoes away — short of humanity evolving away from being warm-blooded mosquito banquets — please share!

  • Updates for 2009:
    • Recently, friends who live in bug-infested Virginia, introduced me to an Avon product called “Skin so Soft”. It contains insect repellent as well as sunscreen. Plus, it has a blue tint, so you know if you missed a spot when you apply it. (Don’t worry, the blue does fade away.) Apparently, it helps repel gnats, mosquitoes and ticks. I doubt the ingredients are all natural, but after being nearly eaten alive by mosquitoes and seeing loads of ticks on my recent visit, I know I’d probably give it a shot if all else failed!
    • On the same trip, I learned that rose geranium oil can repel mosquitoes and ticks as well. Pick up a small bottle of rose geranium oil from your herbalist or natural food store. Your herbalist can probably help you determine dilution rates to create a spray bottle of herbal bug repellent!
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Posted in IPM, Insects, hummingbirds, mosquitos, pests, water feature | 2 Comments »