Thank you leafhead, now you are just exhausting me! :-) I am out of room for any thing larger than Marigolds, snapdragons and yes, asters. I cannot decide which asters to get. They recommend Aster lateriflorus 'Lady in Black' and Aster novi belgii Alert (red), for my area. I did find a great plant list just for the Texas High Plains, so I think I will try their local varieties. They also sell plants, however it is a long drive, but they do have native milkweed, several varieties, I would like to try. Next year I will have time to put in more garden space, as I do away with more lawn, but for now I am full-up! I think I will learn alot this summer, and by next spring I should know more about what is good for me as far as natives, and if I see butterflies I did not expect, I will plant what I can to meet their needs. I am very excited about my first season. I don't think I have a chance of seeing either a Giant or a Tiger Swallowtail. The sulfurs we get are happy with grasses, so I have that covered. I do need Violets! The list never ends.... Thanks again, Debra

For that cheap, it's hard to go wrong. At the risk of being a party pooper, I've heard that Salvia splendens is not as good as some of the other salvias like Salvia coccinea or guaranitica, etc. Last year, though, in the middle of the summer, I saw some Salvia splendens on sale for ridiculously cheap. They were left over and a little mangy. I nursed them back to health and kept them in pots. The flowers were bicolored white and pink and the hummingbirds did use them, or at least explored them. There was definitely nectar inside, unlike some hybrids. Your bright red ones may work out for you. Let us know. Hummingbirds can be unpredictable, and I'm convinced that certain flowers may do well for some, and yet not for others. My Salvia splendens worked at least a little, and they weren't even bright red like yours. Meanwhile, keep your eyes open for Salvia coccinea. I've gotten it at places like Lowe's or Home Depot for cheaper than the other perennial Salvias. It won't be as cheap as the Salvia splendens 6-pack, but it shouldn't be too bad. The hummers definitely like those, and last year I definitely saw repeat visits coming back for more. It's a little late for this year, but if you're trying to save money, next year why not grow some Salvia coccinea from seed? It is easy to grow. I've got a bunch of plants now that are maybe 4" tall that I started in March. They're very easy.

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

Same here. My 5 left a few weeks ago, then I had one, which I believe was a migrator. She strictly used the flowers to feed. Yesterday, I got a nice surprise, also 'blessed' with two. I knew they were 'different' hummers since they were using the feeder, as well as the flowers. They're playing nicely, one is smaller than the other. I'm assuming they're a mother/daughter team, since I hadn't seen two females play this nicely. The smaller one keeps flying off to the same exact branch in my neighbors dogwood, and the larger keeps flying over to check on her. This is only my second year with hummers, and the first with late migrators. Last year, when they were gone, they were gone. The larger of the two is going to town on my Mina Lobata; pictures can't do this plant justice! We must enjoy them while we can; I'm sure they'll be gone before we know it :(