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Gardening is good for the birds part 2...

1/11/2016

 
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A beautiful male hummingbird grabbing a snack from a Jacob Cline Monarda.
Continuing on the bird kick, here is a list of some perennials that attract birds and especially hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are always a favorite in the garden. We tend to plant a lot of nectar plants at the Herbary, especially bee friendly plants. Among our favorite are Bee Balm, Foxgloves, Columbines, Echinacea and of course Lavender! 


Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) 
Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies adore the bright wild blossoms of bee balm. We carry an array of of blooms in pinks, purples, raspberry and occasionally white. Remember to deadhead often so you can keep the blooming season longer. We love to put bee balm in pots, as well as planting large stands. Thankfully many of our varieties are mildew resistant. Bee balm does best in full sun. 








Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)
A country garden classic, foxgloves produce spotted, tubular flowers that are very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Foxglove stands are also known as Fairy Condos. Here is a perfect plant to brighten up those shady sections of your garden. Foxgloves range from white to pink to purples, there seems to be new variations springing up. The blooming season is spring to summer. 











Columbines (Aquilegia spp.)
An easy to grow perennial that can strive in full to part shade. Hummingbirds love the deep, bell shaped flowers of these little beauties. There are many different varieties to choose from, with colors ranging from yellows, pinks, scarlett and purples. Expect blooms from late spring through midsummer. 






Echinacea 
Coneflowers come in all sorts of crazy colors now day! The classic coneflower is purple or white, but there are yellows, oranges, reds and more! They are excellent in beds and containers. This hardy perennial attracts seed eaters, and insects as well as butterflies. Remember to deadhead to continue the blooming season, but make sure leave some for the birds to enjoy in the fall and winter. 


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A incomplete list of perennials to enhance your bird garden! 
  • Ajuga 
  • Asters
  • Balsa root
  • Beard-tongue
  • Bee balm 
  • Begonia 
  • Black-eyed Susans
  • Blanket Flowers
  • Bleeding heart 
  • Butterfly weed 
  • Canna 
  • Cardinal flower 
  • Century plant 
  • Columbine 
  • Coral bells (heuchera)
  • Coreopsis
  • Cleome 
  • Crapemyrtle 
  • Dahlia 
  • Dame's rocket 
  • Daylilies
  • Delphinium 
  • Echinacea 
  • Eupatoriums 
  • Fire pink 
  • Four o' clocks 
  • Foxglove 
  • Fuchsia 
  • Gilia 
  • Geranium 
  • Gladiolus 
  • Globe Thistles
  • Glossy abelia 
  • Goldenrods
  • Hollyhocks 
  • Impatiens 
  • Iris 
  • Ironweed 
  • Lantana 
  • Liatris 
  • Lily 
  • Lupine 
  • Milkweeds
  • Nasturtium 
  • Nicotiana 
  • Paintbrush 
  • Penstemon 
  • Petunia 
  • Phlox 
  • Pincushion Flower
  • Sage 
  • Salvia 
  • Scabiosa 
  • Scarlet sage 
  • Stonecrops
  • Sweet William 
  • Verbena 
  • Violets
  • Yarrows
  • Yucca 
  • Zinnia
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Bee Balm, or in my opinion Crusty the Clown hair from the Simosons is a fabulous addition to your bird garden as well as your salad!
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Bees love the trumpet flowers on the Foxgloves.
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Columbines are a great fairy hideaway as well as a source for hummingbirds.
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Beautiful Coneflowers attract butterflies and are great for seed loving birds.

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    About Us

    Blue Heron Herbary is a herb plant nursery and gift shop located on Sauvies Island in Portland, Oregon.

    We also create a line of handmade herb vinegars and herb blends with the no-pesticide herbs we grow on our Portland farm.

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Blue Heron Herbary
27731 NW Reeder Road
Sauvies Island, OR 97231
ph: 503-621-1457



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