Saturday, June 24, 2006

glass humming bird feeder : Hummingbird Feeder Maintenance Tips

Hummingbirds feed on flower nectar and insects. To make your own nectar, the correct solution that resembles plant nectar should be:

1 part sugar
4 parts water
Boil the water first, then add the sugar. The boiling water will ensure your nectar stays fresh longer and retards fermentations. Add the sugar to the water after it has boiled. Don't boil the sugar and water together. Doing so will cause some of the water to evaporate and will create nectar that is too concentrated. If the nectar is too sweet it can damage a bird's liver.

DO NOT USE:

Red food coloring or dye
Artificial sweeteners which have no nutritional value
Honey which ferments quickly and causes a deadly fungus
Place your feeder in the shade and keep out of direct sun and wind. Be sure to clean your feeder regularly and replace the solution every week. Clean your feeder with hot water or a 10% bleach solution. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry completely before refilling. Change your solution every two to three days when the weather is hot or consistently over 60 degrees.

Fending off bees and ants from hummingbird feeders:

Ants and bees can also be attracted to a hummingbird feeder. If you are having this problem, you might try the following:

Ants can be defeated by coating the wire or string by which the feeder hangs with Tree Tanglefoot (TM) or another sticky substance. The ants will be unable to reach the hummingbird feeder until dust or enough dead ant bodies provide a bridge across the sticky substance. If you periodically wipe the dead ants and dust off and reapply the sticky material, you can discourage the ants. They will usually give up after a while and go look for an easier source of food.
Be careful not to apply the sticky material where it can get on the feathers or feet of the hummingbirds. Just apply it where it will discourage the ants.
Bees may be managed in a couple of ways. Let the hummingbird feeder go dry for a week or so and the bees will leave it.
Another trick is to move the hummingbird feeder periodically. Bees do an interesting dance in the hive to tell other bees the direction and distance to a source of nectar. If you move the hummingbird feeder, the information in the dance will be inaccurate until another bee finds it and tells the hive. Then just move it again. The hummingbirds find the nectar by sight; they are attracted to the red tip of the feeder.

Copyright © 1999 GardenArtisans.com. All rights reserved.

glass humming bird feeder : HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS

These hummingbird feeders are unique.
Their bright colors, accented with
copper wrap, attract hummingbirds as
well as people; they function as both
feeder and garden ornament, making them
a welcome addition to the garden all
year long.

Adjusting the copper hanger allows you to
position the feeder so it will not drip.

Available in transparent blue, green,
crimson red, magenta, purple, and
spotted yellow. Pictured in magenta.
13" high x 3-1/2" to 4" diameter.

glass humming bird feeder : Handblown Glass Garden Art

Del Fuego Glass Art Andrew Holmberg has been creating del fuego glass art for many years. Growing up in the Northwest, he has spent much of his life outdoors and gardening. All his art is created by hand and is held to the highest standards. The unique translucent quality of these glass pieces radiate beauty and grace.
ORNAMENTAL POND BALLS
Japanese glass floats have long been sought as
collectable additions to the home and garden.
These glass balls, building on that tradition,
range in size from 4" to 5". Each is created
by hand and, therefore, each is unique.

Due to the fact that they are completely sealed,
they can be left outside in the pond or garden
all winter long. The glass is approximately
an 1/8" thick and is very durable. The color
is embedded in the glass and will retain its
vibrancy.

Place the glass floats in a basket indoors and
you will have a beautiful centerpiece. There
are many uses for these translucent wonders.

Available colors include transparent blue,
green, magenta, purple, gold, copper and
the more opaque colors tangerine,
spotted yellow and spotted chartreuse.

Copyright © 1999 GardenArtisans.com. All rights reserved.

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