Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

Kirsten Sweet

You don’t have to be a bird-lover to want to attract hummingbirds. And we’ve made it easy for you, gardeners. We’ve gathered our best hummingbird gardening stuff and put it one spot! We’ve got flowers for attracting hummingbirds, garden plans you can use in your own backyard and even plants that hummingbirds use as nesting material. With these gardening tips and tricks, you’re sure to attract some flying jewels!

Happy Gardening!
–Kirsten

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READ ON TO DISCOVER...

• Birds & Blooms Blog

• Plant of the Month

• Recycled Backyard

• Question of the Month

• Frugal Backyard Tip

• Submit Your Story

Birds & Blooms Blog

Every month, our blogger Jill participates in Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day by posting beautiful photos of what’s blooming in her Florida backyard. Check out the pink blooms she shared this month.

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RDA/GID

Plant of the Month

Salvia
Want your summer gardens to kick off with a bang and end with a grand finale? Then plant purple salvia, a beauty that'll light up your yard all summer. Many gardeners know the plant for its red blooms (which has earned it the name firecracker plant), but the purple can be a great addition to the garden.
Common Names: Salvia, firecracker plant.
Botanical Name: Salvia splendens.
Hardiness: Grown as an annual in all zones.
Size: 8 to 30 inches high, 8 to 12 inches wide.
Flowers: Bright spiky clusters of tubular flowers. While typically red, some cultivars are available in orange, white, pink, lavender or blue.
Light Needs: Full sun. Where summers are hot, they'll do best in partial shade.
Growing Advice: Sold as bedding plants. Plant at the same level as growing in containers and pinch tops to encourage branching. Mulch to retain moisture and keep soil cool.
Prize Picks: The Sizzler and Salsa series bloom in an interesting palette of colors, including excellent lavender and blue choices.

Want more purple plant ideas? Take a look at our Top 10 Plants for a Purple Garden list for more purple options.

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Recycled Backyard

Tire gardens are becoming popular and what a great way to recycle something you’d normally toss. You can paint them, stack them or even make them look like flowers!

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Question of the Month

Seed Saving
I'd like to collect seeds from some of my annuals, such as impatiens, but I don't know where to start. Can you help? —Bea Spanninga, Rockford, Michigan

Melinda: Seed saving can be a fun adventure. To do this, allow seeds to ripen fully. You can tell they're ripe when the pods that contain them are dry. Rub or break the pods to remove the seeds and then place the dried seeds in an airtight container (a small jar or a film canister works well). Don't forget to label the container. Store the seeds in a cool dark place, such as the refrigerator, for winter before planting them next season.

For answers to your gardening questions, visit the Plant Doctor section of our website.

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Frugal Backyard Tip

Recycling with Coffee
Six uses for coffee cans and coffee grounds.

1. Make a feeder with an empty can. Remove the top and bottom, place on its side, fill with seed and hang.
2. Put an empty open can over your tender plants to prevent cutworms from harming them.
3. Use a can to raise a ripening watermelon or squash off the ground so the bottom of the fruit doesn't rot.
4. Measure the rainfall your garden receives by placing empty coffee cans around the area. If there is at least 1-inch inside, no supplemental watering is needed.
5. Sprinkle a thin layer of coffee grounds around the base of certain plants to improve the soil.
6. Use coffee grounds at the base of some plants to deter slugs and snails.

For more money-saving ideas for your backyard, visit the For Less section of our website.

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Submit Your Story

Do you use recycled items in your garden? We’d love to see your ideas! Send us your photos and projects using our Submit Your Story form.

Submit your story»

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