Hummingbirds, Butterflies and Toads

Here on my acre I have all three of these great creatures that either live or visit here every summer. Monarch Butterflies’ migration pattern is north from Mexico and comes through my section of northeast Oklahoma. One year I experienced one of those rare and precious events in life; I walked out my door to see a huge tree covered in Monarch Butterflies, thousands of them.

Hummingbirds

Here are some guidelines for caring for Hummingbirds in Oklahoma:

• Hang the feeders by April 1 and take the feeders down November 1.
• Make your own nectar: 1 cup boiling water and 1/4 cup granulated sugar or brown sugar; let cool before using.
• If your feeders sit empty for very long, the cute little busybodies will go elsewhere.
• A special treat for the tiny birds is a small amount of orange juice added to the mixture; just a few drops per feeder.
• DO NOT use honey or sugar substitute.
• Place feeders in the shade.
• Hummingbirds are very competitive, so hang several at different locations.
• Clean feeders with vinegar and hot water: Once a week in cool weather and once every three-four days in hot weather because a bad fungus can grow in the feeders if not cleaned.

Ants can be problem on the feeders. Here are a few tips:

• Make a duct tape barrier. Wrap loosely around the hanger with sticky side out then wad up around the hanger.
• Make a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and 1 tablespoon cloves; put in a clean spray bottle (new spray bottles can be found at the $1 store). Spray around the trail to the feeder. This mixture would be good for ants anywhere; safe and non-toxic. Mark your spray bottles “Ant Clove Spray”.
• Save your spray paint tops with the two chambers. Punch a small hole in the inside chamber (try using a ice pick). String on feeder’s wire hanger and then fill the outer chamber with veggie oil.

Some suggest adding red food color to the feeding mixture, this is not necessary. Believe me, Hummingbirds are worth the effort! I love just sitting on my porch and watching the little birds.

Help one of the Oklahoma Wildlife’s biological surveys track Black Throated Hummingbirds in Oklahoma. Biologists are studying exactly where the Black Throated Hummingbird are raising their babies in Oklahoma. If you would like to take part in this exciting survey, go here www.wildlifedepartment.com/hummingbirdsurvey.htm

Butterflies

Summer in Oklahoma can be on the dry side and butterflies are attracted to water. Therefore, supply a source of water for these flutter-bys. Here are some ideas.

• Use those mis-matched or broken tea cups or saucers. Sink the cups or saucers into the soil in your flowerbeds or even in a large flower pot. The water needs to be shallow, so the saucers are fine “as is” but in the cups put a piece of sponge and keep it wet. The cups probably need to go in shady areas or you will keep watering that sponge three or four times in that hot Oklahoma sun!
• Use a shallow pan (any type) with water and put flat stones, inverted plant saucers or just about anything that the Butterfly can walk and flit in, very shallow.

I bought these garden flower stakes for $2.00 each at a flea market. I set the stakes around in my flower beds for hummingbirds and butterflies water supply.

Metal Flower Water Cups

Other various ideas for the flutterbys:

• Male butterflies suck nutrients and minerals out of dirt or sand; this is called “puddling”. Mix a small amount of dirt in sand to fill cups, small pans or muffin tins. You can find many really neat used items at garage sales, second hand stores, etc.
• Make a buffet of overripe fruit such as apples and melons on a platform feeder or a clay plant saucer placed on a stump. Caution: Overripe fruit will also attract bees and wasps so be careful about children playing around these buffets! However, there are beneficial predatory wasps, such as the Muddauber,that kill caterpillars that can feed on your garden plants. I have never been stung by a Muddauber but I am sure they can sting.

Another idea is a “Tea Party for the Birds”. Choose an area in your flower bed and put the mis-matched cups and saucers on a stump or a small old table  placed in a partly sunny area. Put water or old fruit in the saucers and “dirtsand”, water and bridseed in the cups.

Oklahoma’s State Butterfly is the Black  Swallowtail. Visit this site for more info on Oklahoma Butterflies:

www.wildlifedepartment.com/species/butterfly.htm

Toads

Toads are very beneficial to your gardens because they eat garden pests. I named the toad that lives by the garage, Prince, but I am not kissing him to find out! He has shown up for about 5 years now, once warm weather is here to stay.

• Home for toads have become a trendy item in the garden shops. Whether toads need homes is open to debate. You can get very creative with Mr. Toad’s houses, like clay pots painted and laid on it’s side in the garden.  This would be a great kid summer activity. Use chipped or cracked dishes, like teapots  or old bowlsfor that touch of whimsy. Place the spout side up.
• Most ideas for butterflies can work for toads, also.

I am going to make a Butterfly Garden this year. I have been putting grass clippings on the spot for about a year to admend the soil when rototilled. Some of my ideas for this garden:

• Putting different color of wine bottles(less is more) at various places in the garden upside down to collect water for the butterflys.
• A stump with a shallow saucer with pretty stones placed in it for additional water for birds, also.
• I purchased a used vintage hand driven cultvator to add a interesting piece.
• I planted a Golden Flamed Honeysuckle on a trellis (a used gate) nearby a couple years ago. Honeysuckle attracts hummingbirds.
• List of plants I am using: shrubs: Butterfly Bush (purple)/ Perennials: Indian Blanket, Purple Coneflower, Butterfly Weed/Annuals: Lantana, Verbena. I want a color combo of purple and yellow.

Oklahoma Native Indian Blanket

If you have plans for hummingbirds, butterflies and toads this summer, please let me know about them. I am sure many of you have some great ideas for these creatures on your acre, ranch, balcony or rooftop.

I hope you find great enjoyment in watching all the fluttering and hopping around this summer.