Hummingbirds & Monarchs

Birds and butterflies are not related scientifically, but hummingbirds and monarchs are similar in several ways. They have comparable migration arrival and departure times.  Both begin migrating south in August, spending their winter south of the US border, and spring migrants arrive in early May. These beautiful pollinators are excellent flyers and easily attracted to your yard and garden by colorful, nectar-producing flowers. Gardening for birds and butterflies go hand in hand.  You can easily attract both the ruby-throated hummingbird and the monarch with the following double-duty plants: lilac, bee balm, blazing star, hyssop, Mexican sunflower, zinnia, and milkweed (host plant for the monarch).  Plant it, they will come!