Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Yard

When it comes time to planting I always plan an area in my yard for annual and perennial flowers that attract hummingbirds. Both my husband and I enjoy watching these birds that come to feed off our flowers. Know that the best way to attract hummingbirds to your yard is to provide them with their dietary needs and a reliable water source. Then the hummingbirds will visit your yard and gardens daily.

Photographs of hummingbirds in the flower garden

Hummingbirds are particular about their flowers as they need flowers that are rich in sugar content and will reject other plants. They will also look for gardens that have insects as they need to nourish their bodies with nutrients.

Decide on the nectar-rich plants that you want to grow Buy a variety of flowers that will bloom throughout the summer months.

Here are a few of my favorite flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Asters, Autumn Joy Sedum, Asiatic lilies,

Black-eyed Susan, Butterfly bush, Chamomile, 

Cardinal flower (red), Chives, Chrysanthemum, 

Clover (white, yellow, and red), Coreopsis, Cosmos, Crabapple, 

Dandelion Dill herb,  Echinacea Coneflowers, 
 Four O'clock flowers, Garden Mint, Happy returns day lily, 
Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lilacs,

 Marigold, Milkweed Mimosa, Parsley, Peony, Purple Phlox,

 Red and Fuchsia Bee Balm, Sage, Sweet Pea, 

Sweet Autumn Clematis, Thyme, , Verbena, Yarrow, and Zinnias.

You can buy an orange trumpet vine at ebay.com and attract hummingbirds to your yard. 

Helpful Tips

Keep hummingbirds in your yard and garden by installing a bird bath or water fountain. Change out the water daily to make sure that it is fresh. Do not use chlorinated water in the fountain, instead collect rainwater for your water fountain. You can also use filtered water.

Provide the hummingbirds with an organic environment by refraining from treating your yard and gardens with chemical-based insecticides as these chemicals will poison the hummingbirds and kill off their insect food source.

Garden Ideas for Small Yard

A friend of mine contacted me for assistance in creating a garden in her small yard. She lives in a townhouse and her backyard is very small and not private. If she put up a privacy fence then all she would need would be two panels on the sides and I thought she might feel closed in so I suggested that she invest in a lovely grass garden instead and create a private garden in her small yard.

The ornamental grass garden would add privacy and movement to her landscape plus the flower plumes are pretty. A grass garden is pretty summer through winter and is easy to care for too.

Along with the grass garden, I suggested planting some low growing daylilies and garden decorations; birdbath, outdoor bench, wind chimes and window box planted with colorful coleus plants.

Here is the digital set that I created for my friend. This set was used to show my friend how a few ornamental grasses can transform her yard and create a comfortable resting area where she could read a book or sip a cup of herbal tea.

When it comes to creating an ornamental grass garden I always choose tall grasses and then taper downward, ending with low growing border grass.

I recommend buying ornamental grasses at greenwoodnursery.com. This online nursery has a good selection of grass. My favorites are;

1. Karley Rose Grass; Features dark green foliage pretty rose color flower plume
2. white or pink pampas grass for showy flower plumes
3. Add contrast to the ornamental grass garden with Red Rooster Carex grass.
4. Accent the grass garden with low growing Elijah blue fescue grass with blue foliage or Lirope/ lilyturf with its dark green leaves and purple flowers in the fall. Both are low growing in a mound and will make the grass garden look eye appealing.

Design a Garden for Your Senses

Set the mood of your yard by designing a section that stimulates your senses and achieves inner peace from your sensory garden.  

Stimulate your sense of touch, sight, scent, hearing, and taste by designing a sensory garden that features flowers, ornamental grasses, bamboo, and tasteful as well as aromatic herbs.  

Add a soothing water feature and a cozy outdoor living space where you can sit and relax.  When you design a garden that stimulates your senses you will find harmony.  

Water feature garden

Before you begin your garden you will need to decide on the type of plants that you would like to grow.  You will want to choose a color scheme that is compatible and soothing, as well as flowers, shrubs, and herbs that are fragrant and will attract butterflies and hummingbirds. 

Choose ornamental grasses; fountain, reed, or zebra grasses will give the garden movement as well as lovely plumes and winter interest.  Fragrant flowering shrubs and vines:  ruby spice summersweet, sweet autumn clematis, and Four O’clocks will perfume the air in late summer and early fall.

  

Add a water feature to your sensory garden. The water feature need not be large however one that has water cascading down rocks into a shallow pool will provide you with a sense of sight and hearing.  The trickling water is a natural way to relax your mind and body.  

 

Designing Garden for Senses

Decide on the location of your sensory garden.  Allot space for flower, herb, and grass gardens, as well as a feature water garden, and sitting area.  Your garden should appeal to the eye by inviting you to different focal areas.  

A focal area could be your water feature, a pergola over a comfortable seating area, a colorful coneflower garden or a butterfly garden.  When you have decided upon the location of your garden you would then measure it.  

Measure the space of your garden and then draw out the locations of each garden.  Use colored pencils to indicate the color scheme of the plants.  Section off your sensory gardens; assign specific areas for plants.  You may want to plant bamboo or grasses with height in the back section of your garden as these plants will provide you with a living privacy hedge.  You may want to have a section for wildflowers, a water garden, herbs, or a butterfly garden.  

Garden Path

Pave stone path to the herb garden

Decide if you would want a natural stone garden path to connect all of the gardens to the outdoor living space.  Do a rough drawing to give you an idea of how you want your garden to look.

Excavate the garden area by clearing the area.  The best way to achieve this task is with a tiller, and a wheelbarrow to remove the sod.  Loosen the earth to the depth needed to install the pond and your container plants, shrubs, or trees.  For planting amend the soil with compost or manure, the plants that you grow will stimulate your sense of sight taste, and smell.

Install a water feature.  Set the fountain or pond close to the area where you will put your patio furniture. Add your seating or resting area to your garden.  Set outdoor furniture in the center of the garden also a bench close to the garden path.  This resting area will allow you to stimulate all of your senses.  Lie in a lounger or sit on the bench and read a book. Take a moment to close your eyes, listen to the sounds of the garden, and breathe in the aroma of the herbs and fragrant flowers.  Your daily stress will melt away and your body will be at peace.

Gardening Tips:

Accessorize your garden with wind chimes.  Hang the chimes in various locations in your garden.  When the wind blows the chimes will produce music. The wind music will stimulate your sense of hearing.

Add light to your garden by outlining the path with solar lights or accent feature areas with hanging solar lights.  The lights generate power from the sun and all soft lighting to your garden at night.

Here is a video that will give you an idea of how to design a garden for your senses.

How to Create a Backyard Cat Sanctuary

Creating a backyard cat sanctuary is one of the most meaningful ways to support the cats in your life whether they’re beloved house cats, curious neighborhood visitors, or feral cats who’ve come to trust your space. A well‑designed sanctuary offers safety, enrichment, and comfort. Over time, it becomes a peaceful retreat where cats return daily to relax, explore, and feel at home.

In my own yard, the cat garden has become exactly that. The cats who visit are drawn to the soft mulch, the grasses, the herbs, and the quiet corners where they can nap or watch the world go by. A thoughtfully designed sanctuary doesn’t rely on photos the plants, textures, and layout speak for themselves.

 

Why Create a Cat Garden?

A cat garden provides:

• A safe space away from traffic and noise
• Natural enrichment through grasses, herbs, and textures
• Shelter, shade, and cozy resting spots
• A predictable environment that reduces stress for outdoor cats

Once the garden fills in, cats are naturally attracted to the movement of grasses, the scent of catnip, and the comfort of soft groundcovers.

 

Where to Place Your Cat Garden

Choose a location that is:

• Away from busy areas, pets, and car traffic
• Quiet and partially enclosed
• Easy for cats to access but protected from disturbances

Many people use the far corner of their yard. If you don’t have fencing, you can create privacy with:

• Trellises
• Shrubs
• Ornamental grasses

Cats feel safest when they can observe without being exposed.

 

What to Include in a Cat Garden

A well‑rounded cat garden can include:

• Water Feature

Cats love the sound of moving water and often dip their paws in. A small pond or cascading fountain adds enrichment and visual interest.

• Sandbox or Outdoor Litter Area

A dedicated sand area keeps cats from digging in your flower beds.
Plant rosemary or peppermint a foot away to help mask odors and provide privacy. 

• Cat House or Shelter

This serves as:

• A resting spot
• A hideaway
• Storage for food, water, and toys

• Cat Grasses

Plant wheat, barley, or oat grass. These grasses help cats digest food and reduce hairballs.

• Cat Herbs

Great choices include:

• Catnip
• Cat thyme
• Valerian
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Dandelion

Plant herbs in containers or directly in the garden to create layers of scent and texture.

 

catmint in full bloom 

How to Design Your Cat Garden

1.   Outline the space
Use white marking paint to sketch the garden shape on the ground. A 10×12 area works well for most yards.

2.   Draw your plan
Sketch the layout on paper and color‑code where each feature will go. This helps when buying mulch, gravel, plants, and soil.

3.   Prepare the site

o   Remove rocks, weeds, and grass

o   Loosen the soil

o   Mix in 2 inches of compost

o   Ensure the area drains well

4.   Install the sandbox

o   Dig a hole the size of the box

o   Level the bottom

o   Set the box in place and fill with fine sand

o   Add a stone border

o   Surround with 3 inches of pea gravel

5.   Add the water feature
Place it in the center or where cats can approach from multiple sides.

6.   Plant herbs and grasses

o   Plant grasses in front of herbs

o   Start grass seeds indoors or sow directly

o   Space herbs so they can grow full and bushy

 

Care Tips for a Healthy Cat Garden

• Water herbs and grasses in the morning
• Mulch or add pea gravel around high‑traffic areas
• Deadhead spent blooms to encourage new growth
• Remove dead plants and refresh sand as needed
• Add decorative touches like stepping stones or a cat statue
• Hang wind chimes high enough that cats can’t reach them

 

catnip grows in this garden

A Cat Garden Becomes a Sanctuary

Once your cat garden fills in, you’ll notice the change immediately. Cats will stretch out in the mulch, hide in the grasses, nibble on herbs, and return day after day because they feel safe. It becomes their retreat  and a beautiful, peaceful part of your yard.

.