Date: 10/28/2018

Number: 1

Still seeing a lone hummingbird juevenille with brown tail spread. It comes close when playing Cornell Rufous or Ruby throat sounds 7 a.m. or 6 p.m. times.
I see it out flying about and it prefers Hamelia pattens during day.

I would like to address plants for hummingbirds. We have tried just about every native Texas plant. Even plants in northeast I read they like.
Any Pentsetoms,Jacob Cline,including purple, Rock penstemon just can't take Hurricanes or heat within city. Any "fall salvias" sold in spring hardley make it to fall also. Extreme heat dries up Coral honeysuckle vine, and they get fungus with too much rain.It takes all winter to releaf and bud back out.

By this time with all the years of hard work of gardening for Hummingbirds in Houston, here is my plants conclusions:
Hummingbird migration spring time for us in central Houston, either the plants like Hamelia pattens, salvias Gurantica, Amisted have frozen to the ground. Hummingbirds do remember us on their routes both ways but go to feeders in spring.
In fall Hammela pattens has finally regained height as well as purple Gurantica, Black and blue Salvias, Aimstead,red fountain plant and all will bloom into Dec. So these plants attract western over wintering species like Rufous or Broadtails.
What works in winter before a freeze are now blooming Mexican varieties of bush sages,Mexican honeysuckle, that can take 20 degree cold fronts if covered in container growing.
Our favorite for us to enjoy as well for hummingbirds is coral, blue and purple Porter weed. Then again it will get whiped out inground by snow or a severe 3 day freeze as in 2018 freeze fluke here. Just to have something out in garden and in containers Coral yucca, 'Headlights' red yucca, yellow blossom yucca all bloom in spring and is liked by all hummers.And doesn't freeze!
We are done with trying anything new in plants for hummingbirds because the nectar has been compromised for variety appearances.

Beverly L
Houston

Houston, TX

Latitude: 29.8 Longitude: -95.4

Observed by: Beverly
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