Frustrated with ants in the feeder, I need some perennial plants for her that begin early in the season. I'm all set by August, but before that, not so much. I'm in zone 5 - GO!

Also, it would be fine if you can recommend a winter in the house, summer on the deck plant that she would like.

Critter, it is definitely a challenge trying to keep ants from some hummingbird feeders (and sometimes bees and wasps too!) You might try smearing petroleum jelly (vaseline) on the hook or wire that the feeder hangs from. I finally bought the Humzinger feeder with the built in ant moat in the center that you fill with water ... no more ants! :)

A few plants that should do well in your area:

http://garden.org/plants/searc... blooms late spring and early summer.

http://garden.org/plants/searc... blooms all summer

If you scroll down this page a short distance there's a list of plants that should do well in your area, many that are attractive to Butterflies and Hummingbirds:

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs...

THANK YOU!

The moat really got rid of the ants?
Maybe I'll do that as a stopgap.

I have Asclepias tuberosa seeds - dug up my nice big plant for a customer at the flea market....

And the natice columbine is in my want list!

plantladylin said: I finally bought the Humzinger feeder with the built in ant moat in the center that you fill with water ... no more ants!

Google returned too many feeders withOUT moats.
Where'd you get yours?

Here's the Hummzinger website: http://www.hummzinger.com/

Mine came from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UT...

But other places sell them as well:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/...

http://www.wildbeaks.com/Hummi...

I also see it at the wal-mart website but I've never seen them in our local stores: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aspe...

WOW!
You really did some research for me!
Thank you very much!

You are very welcome.

Oh for heaven's sake.
I SAW those when Isearched, but it wasn't obvious that there was a moat built into them....
Thank you.

I'm not sure all have moats built in but the descriptions of each should tell whether they do or not. My problem is just remembering to make sure there's always water in the little moat.

Critter, also if you have eves you can hang the feeder from, it usually does the job to keep the ants from finding them. You can use chain to get the feeder down to a level you can reach it w/o having to have a step stool to get to it. I have the Humzingers too with the ant moats but often it dries up with our hot weather & I still don't get any ants in them. I have one hanging from a shepherd's hook & it does good too.

I like hanging from the eves b/c it's close to the house & I can place them in front of windows the better to watch them even when inside.

I hardily endorse the Humzinger as well. I have several feeders and they prefer the Humzinger. In general the hummers in my yard seem to prefer all of the feeders that have perches.

Thanks both of you.
The Humzinger is in my Amazon cart now, just waiting for checkout!

I think the thing too with the Humzinger is that no matter how hot it gets, the syrup will not expand & flow out the holes like happens with traditional hummie feeders. When it drips out on the ground with traditional feeders, I think that attracts the ants & then they are on a mission to FIND the source & they do so very well!

yes!

critter, do you have lilys? Not only daylilys but asiatic lilys, oriental lilys, hummies love those as well as blackberry lilys - I don't know when these things bloom in your zone so it may be too late. How about salvias & agastache? (sp?)

workin on those!
And Penstemons too!
EVEN a red lonicera is in the plans - once I get the trellis up for it.

They'll go nuts over the honeysuckle!

@Newyorkrita When (how early) do your trumpet honeysuckle begin to bloom?

This grows VERY easily from seed & the packets are cheap -- I always find them @ the Dollar Stores. After the first pack you'll be able to harvest the seed & not have to buy them anymore. I'm going to imagine they are annuals for you -- they are for me anyway. You could start them indoors early & the butterflies, bees, & hummers fight over who gets to nectar on it. They do well in pots.
Salvia (Salvia splendens 'Bonfire')

Here, during the highest heat of the day, in full blasting sun & 90+ degrees, they will wilt in the mid afternoon but re-hydrate when it cools down or you water them so don't count them out if they get all witly looking.

That one's in my want list!

I just saw that when I went to add the note to my comment that they re-seed readily.

Critter, if you REMIND me, cause I'd loose my head if it weren't tied on, I will save you some seed & send to you.