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How to Attract Hummingbirds
A tiny female Rufous Hummingbird visits some Scarlet Runner Beans.
The two most common hummingbird species in British Columbia are the Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) and Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna). The Rufous is a migratory species that usually appears in the Lower Mainland around the middle of March, and stays throughout the summer. These birds migrate as far north as Alaska, and then take their winter months primarily in Mexico.
Anna’s Hummingbirds are found mainly along coastal North America from Alaska in the north down to Baja California. These birds often stay in one area all year round, and they can be quite territorial. Anna’s Hummingbirds can be seen at the UBC Botanica
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Whether you intend to plant potatoes in a garden trench, in containers, or even in your unused parking lot stall at work, your key to success is an understanding of how potato plants grow. The little spud that you plant (called a seed potato) is a tuber – part of the plant’s roots in which it stores energy for growth the following year. If you’ve ever left a potato out on your kitchen counter, you’ll know what eventually happens… The “eyes” of each potato sprout little growths called stolons. When these sprout below the soil, they grow vertically upward, and once they reach the surface they become the stem and leafy upper portion of the plant.
New tubers (more new potatoes) form along the length of each stolon, and at first they’re just tiny little bumps. As the aboveground leaves of the plant take in energy from the sun, and the roots take up moisture and minerals, each new tuber begins to swell, beginning the energy stora
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What is sprouting?
Sprouting is the practice of soaking, draining, and then rinsing seeds at regular intervals until they germinate or sprout. The key is to maintain more or less constant conditions of moisture/humidity, temperature, and cleanliness.
Many different kinds of containers can be used for sprouting, as long as they can drain easily. You can sprout seeds in:
· Mason jars with lids made of mesh, screen, or cloth
· Cloth bags
· Foam sprouting mats
· Sieves or colanders (for larger seeds)
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 In late winter, hang your mason bee nest against a wall in a sunny location that has morning light. Placing it about eye level is best. That way you can watch them coming and going!
Consider putting the cocoons out near or on the nest in early March. Choose a warm sunny day with little wind. If using the bees for pollinating your fruit trees, wait until the trees are about 25% in bloom. Otherwise look around your garden and neigbourhood to see what is flowering. Imagine your bees visiting 17 blooms a minute in a 100-meter radius from the nest. Is there enough forage? If so, bring out the bees.
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These instructions will help you plan your garden, plan your Garden Cloche Greenhouse configuration, choose your covering material and pipe frame. Then they will help you set up your greenhouse and make the very best use of it for great gardening and harvests!
Clip on Cover & Protect your Plants
- Garden Clips are durable, versatile fasteners which hold green house film, floating row cover, bird netting or shade cloth securely to a pipe frame, even in high winds and heavy rains.
- Protect your plants from frost, rain, insects, birds, or hot sun.
- Extend your growing season by covering vegetables, fruits and ornamentals.
- Start gardening earlier by warming up and drying out your soil.
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