I will try this, as I am attempting to attract hummingbirds to my balcony display of plants . I currenty have two bleeding hearts (one a dicentra Formosa luxuriant, and the other one I think is a dicentra spectabilis), two monkshoods (aconitum fischeri), two balloon flowers (platycodon grandiflorus sentimental blue), four wide brim plantain lilies (hosta wide brim) and a nectar feeder (from Lowes). At this point, I have either attracted the same baby hummingbird three times, or three different baby hummingbirds. It's funny because he just flies in and then flies out very quickly, and has yet to eat from the feeder. But I'm anxious to attract hummingbirds, because I have a camera focused on the feeder, and hope to record it . I will definitely give this a try!

Looks like some lucky hummingbirds will be showing up at your place!

I started out with one feeder (about 5 years ago) when I saw one or two hummingbirds flying around. They were shy at first and I hardly ever saw them but knew they must be coming because the nectar would slowly disappear. I think the same couple came back the next year and the next thing I knew there were four of them... fast forward to today, I can't even count how many come by for a drink but it's a-lot!

they really are a joy to watch!

Have Fun!

Ok, your recipe made! I actually went big, so I did 14 cups water, which came to 4.5 cups sugar. I filled up my one and only feeder, and am now waiting for "Zippy" as I have now named him because all of his visits so far besides once when he landed for a split second, have been more of a quick check, then 'zip' away

I really hope he and others start showing up with the feeder and plants I have that I've learned do attract them. The only thing is that the plants I have are very young, so I don't know if they are strong enough of an attraction to draw hummingbirds in. All four wide brims and of course the two monkshoods and two balloon flowers do not have flowers yet, but I am patient

Pat, did you mean 3.5 cups of sugar?

Errm...1 cup water equals 1/4 cup sugar, so then 4 cups water equals one cup sugar...12 cups water equals 4 cups sugar...Then 14 cups water equals 4.5 cups sugar? "Rut Roh" (Scooby doo lol), did I mess up?

Omg!! I did mess up, oh yikes!!! lol...what should I do?

Dump out my current mix, pour in two more cups of water to the stock-mix I have?

Can you add more water to it? That would be the easiest way. Maybe you can tip the hummingbird feeder upside down to open it back up and reuse it too?

The hummingbirds would probably love your nectar but it's better to have the right concentration that is closest to what they find in flowers. I think too much sugar can cause problems, but I don't know enough other than it can make them bounce off the walls or windows.

My calculation is 4.5 x 4 = 18, that would mean you need to add 4 more cups of water to your 14 cups of mixture.

Don't beat yourself up too much. It's gonna be okay. To keep it simple for myself, I use a 1/4 cup measuring cup for the sugar, then just count one scoop per cup of water; it works for me.

Ahh, k, yes and done! Zippy didn't show up today, so it should be all good now

I got "Zippy" on video this morning!! He fed for the very first time, Christine! He must have been just checking out everything all this time, but I finally have him FEEDING on your recipe! It is the first time he actually fed, I'm so happy, it was awesome, he stuck around for about 20 seconds, longer than he ever has

That is awesome!! He'll be back for sure and before ya know it he'll be bringing his friends.

I hope so Here is the youtube video I made, but I have such a cheap and worthless camera, the footage is terrible. But at the top of the screen is the feeder; you'll see a little dot just to the right of it, that's Zippy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

I see Zippy! Good job Pat!

Yay awesome!! Now someday I'll get a better camera, I think I have gotten Zippy's trust because he showed up this morning for an even longer period of time and fed. Thanks so much Christine for this posted recipe!!

I'm glad you found it! and thank you for feeding the hummers!

btw, I sure do like your avatar!!

I know what you mean, I finally got a better camera. But, for some reason, my grandson can take better pictures than I can!

lol, well if your grandson is ever in this neighborhood, he's more than welcome to take pictures of Zippy He is just way too cool. Now that he has become a more frequent visitor, I really have found a sedating feeling with each of his visits. On Father's Day, he was at the feeder every half hour, on the half hour all day long up until about 8pm! I couldn't help but to feel anxious knowing he would soon come back when around five or so minutes before his next visit. There really is something captivating about hummingbirds, and I researched and found that my state only has three known species. That makes me feel even more special to have him visit my meek little balcony garden I love the avatar pic, thank you! It isn't mine, and I know now to credit pics that aren't mine...I just thought it was great how the hummer was approaching the trumpet creeper