I also just moved into a new house and am starting from scratch on my garden. I was also intereted in a hummingbird garden. I think everything I'm naming is hardy to zone 4. This is what I've planted so far: *Catawbiense Rhododdendron 'Bourseault' (closest I could find to the species plant, I got mine at Home Depot) *Aquilegia canadensis Wild Columbine *Campsis radicans Trumpet Creeper *Lonicera sempervirens Coral Honeysuckle *Aesculus pavia Red Buckeye (It is hardy to zone 4 even though the linked website says 6) *Spigelia marilandica Indian Pink *Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower *Monarda didyma Oswega Tea *Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline' Lilium michiganense Turk's Cap Lily (more known is *L. canadense) Liatris pycnostachya Prairie Blazing Star Silene virginica Fiery Campion Dicentra eximia Wild Bleeding Heart Astilbe 'Larissa' Crocosmia Montbretia 'Fire King' Phlox paniculata 'Tenor' Tricyrtis hirta Toad Lily Among others (I don't want to exhaust you!) The ones with stars are recommended as the top 10 hummingbird plants. The only one I don't have is spotted jewelweed, only because I think it is weedy looking. I see it growing naturally around here. The others are things I liked and read in various websites, catalogs or forums that people found to attract hummingbirds. I try to select species plants because they are thought to have more nectar than hybrids. Although the hybrids I planted, I planted because they are much easier to find! This website along with the link I entered, I found quite helpful. Copy and paste http://www.hummingbirds.net/attract.html I started a journal on daves garden. If you interested in looking at it let me know. Here is a link that might be useful: Top Ten

Hummers usually only have 2 nests in a season but in your area it is possible I suppose for 3 nests and they only have 2 eggs to a nest. You could be getting some migrators right now as well as your regulars. Penny

Penny, Thanks for referring me to to Mail Order Natives. It looks very reasonable and has a few items of interest to me. It's already getting cold here in Michigan, so it looks like the rest of my planting will be done in the spring. Winter likes to come early here, then sometimes makes a return in the spring. Jenny, the goldflame was the first honeysuckle that I really liked. Well, the Harlequin too, but I couldn't find it locally at the time. I was also interested in the Mandarin or a coral honeysuckle, like penny recommended. I will see how it goes with the goldflame, although I think I probably should've purchased the mandarin. Gardening is a bit of a luxury for me that I can easily go overboard with, so I'm trying to research what I'm buying, it's susceptibility to powdery mildew, etc. Many of the goldlfames, and some of the mandarins at the nursery looked like they had a very minor case of PM. But I didn't know if one was more prone to PM than the other. My goldflame is facing east in a very sunny spot with decent air circulation. I'll see how mine fairs this coming spring. (fingers crossed) I would like to put more honeysuckle near my other fences, but there are fruit trees near these fences. So, I've decided to be sensible and realize that it wouldn't be wise to put them there. Thank you both for the terrific advice. I appreciate it! Mika

This has been my best bird day, ever! Not long after posting this, several Northern Orioles flew in too. "The Gang's All Here!" and they're certainly making my feeder tree and post very colorful. Linda OHnowGA ~ Do you use the "upside down" finch/nyjer feeder? It restricts the seed so only the goldfinches can get to it? That has helped keep some of my costs down. Of course, the Pine Warblers here can eat upside down, too, so they "share." And the doves are always on the ground to pick up the leftovers. Ont Gal ~ There has been a rumor that there have been nesting cardinals in Grand Forks for the past two-three years. I haven't seen them yet, but I keep hoping. Lynn D ~ I've never seen an Indigo Bunting "in person," but I certainly hope to. They have got to be magical. RTHummer ~ f you send me a pair of cardinals, I'll send you a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks! How's that for a deal? Bird on, ladies; Bird on!!!