When do Hummingbirds Arrive in Shenandoah?

April 15th has always been a big day in my life. No, I’m not excited to send my taxes off to the government. I’m excited to hang my hummingbird feeders!

This year I’m hanging them two weeks early. According to the Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2010 Migration Map, which a friend shared on Facebook, the migrating hummers are expected earlier than usual. The feeders are cleaned and will be hung tonight to hopefully catch some of the little guys as they make their way north. Those that stay around have always found my feeders and flowers in the summer, so I’m also planning to add some of my (and usually the hummers’) favorite salvias.

My favorite feeder has 6 ports that are shaped like flowers. The glass bottle is easy to clean and sanitize. It’s hard to clean the flowers (I use teeny brushes), but the number of hummers who seem to enjoy the feeder make it worth it. The older picture of it is from our home in Appomattox in 2004.

As for the salvia, two were rockstars last year with the hummingbirds. Salvia Greggii ‘Cherry Queen’, with it’s pinkish red blooms grew very large for such a small plant, and it was a daily visit for the area hummingbirds.

Salvia ‘Purple Majesty’ was another good performer, both in growth and for the hummingbirds, though the deer also seemed to enjoy nibbling on it.

So with our first spring and summer in our new home, I don’t know exactly when to expect the first hummingbird visitors, but I’ll keep you posted. If you’re in the area, I’d love to hear when you first see ruby throats!

*** This personal blog is comprised solely of the opinions, views, projects, and travels of its author, Stacey Morgan Smith. She is lucky enough to have loving family and friends whom she drags along with her on her adventures and whom she puts to work on her little farm. She uses this blog to help promote living in the mountains of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, from Roanoke to the Potomac River.**