The top two are zinnias and the third looks like lemon (or horse) mint.
spiderwoman

Yeah, definitely zinnias. Have no idea about the 3rd.

Interesting. Are these "normal" flowers for them?

Yes, hummers do go to zinnias...if you look closely, the "real" flowers are the tiny yellow things sticking out of the center or "hub" of what we call the flower. Those little yellow flowers are tubular, which makes a hit with hummers. Apparently, there's nectar down in those little yellow flowers...watch & you'll also see butterflies and bees going to them. The larger "petals" around the outside edge of the "flower" are the showy parts that zinnias use to attract the pollinators.

On a double-flowered zinnia, the little yellow flowers are less evident but you can sometimes spot them sticking out of the layers of "petals". Again, watch closely as butterflies or bees work their way around a zinnia bloom... where they stop and feed, you'll see the little true flowers.

Patrick

I will never be without zinnais again. The hummingbirds and buttflies have enjoyed mine so much this year. Very strong plant. They take this heat everyday and still look great.

I haven't seen them go to my zinnias yet, but they are just coming into bloom here for me. Didn't realize it either. Good to know.

And goldfinches will eat the seeds out of the centers, too, if they find them. I love zinnias, too! Around here Lowe's & Home Depot often sell an 8" pot of mixed zinnas, already blooming, for real cheap. Nice for some instant color in mid-summer.

that's very interesting, patrick, thank you. I looked closely at my zinnias and I see what you mean.
I have purple and red zinnias this year, and I agree with mimidi. tough, easy, long-lasting color, and the hummers like them. I'll put them out every year that I can have a garden.
they do flop over on their own, but they'll lean on nearby plants just fine.

glad the hummers are enjoying your flowers, dakster.

Dakster...

Is that last flower the same as this one? The hummies loved this one...and I was able to get a photo of one feeding from it...but I have no idea what it is. I tossed seeds in a hanging basket...and it grew way too long and started to droop downward.

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~ Cat

TexasPuddyPrint-
Yes that is the exact same thing. No clue as to what it is though. I think I will post on the Name That Plant forum and see what I get.

Patrick- I enlarged my own pic to see what you were talking about-amazing little flowers they are. Thank you for the tip.

Enter monarda citriodora in Google image and you will find the third plant. Lemon mint. I am certain of it with the enlarged image.
spiderwoman

Oooooooh yes!!! That's it! I did a google search and saw some great close up photos!

Thanks a bunch Spiderwoman!!!

~ Cat

*claps* Oh yah! Thank you so much for that ID. It had been bugging me! :-)

Monardas are the greatest even the ones the hummers ignore like Monarda fistulosa, wild bergomint I have four different varieties and they all smell good except the horse mint no smell but it sure is funny looking! Sarah

nice job, spiderwoman! you had it from the very beginning. well done.

I find that the hummers do use my M. fistula so much so that I actually leave a raised 4'x12' bed of it in the late spring and early summer the hummers and butterflies use it while the annual red salvia is getting ready. Once the salvias and agastaches are blooming, I tear out most of the M. fistula plants so the seeds don't mature and put in other things. Come next spring there will be plenty of it to fill the bed all over again. I think it is a worthwhile plant to add to the "natural" part of a critter garden. I don't even mind the pulling out part since the fragrance of the plants is pleasant and my sheep gleefully eat the plants.
spiderwoman

Well, I guess zinnias will become a staple in my garden. Would you believe I actually bought some seed this spring, but never got around to planting them? Darn!!! Maybe I'll make a trip to Lowe's to see if they still have some zinnia plants.

spiderwoman, mine don't bloom untill after the Monarda didyma and never in spring and I have ever seen a hummer touch it It is much better behaved than the didyma. Here is a bad photo of all three taken this week.

Well these flowers seemed to have done the trick, because NOW I have 2!!!!!!!!! I had the female the other day and then a GORGEOUS male came and visited me twice today! He went to the flowers- sipped. Went to the feeder- sipped. Then he dropped down right at my eye level about 8 feet away, hovered and then flashed his red throat and was off like a shot- squeak squeak squeaking the entire time. I was frozen in place with excitement!

That's awsome dakster!! Sarah

Sarah, That is really interesting that our experience is so different with the wild bergamot. I would classify mine as WILD in it's growth habit and it blooms in May and June. Maybe it is a function of what it is growing in? Mine is planted in pure llama manure that turns BLACK and warms quickly in spring. The plant is so very weedy for me that I'd eliminate it if it weren't for the hummers using it early on. I gathered some seeds from mine yesterday and would be happy to share it with you or anyone else wanting to try it.
spiderwoman

Thanks spiderwoman Would you like some of mine? Does yours look like mine? Sarah

Dakster, I am so thrilled for you!!

Thanks everyone. Do you think it is too late to put my highly anticipated lil red dot on the migration map? ;-)

LOL, dakster. good one.