Mammoth Sunflower
Many of us watch birds for their beauty and the closeness we feel to nature. In return we provide them some food and even shelter in our yards. As an addition to your feeding, you could add some flowers that will provide your guests a meal and add beauty to your yard.
New England has some diverse climates that can vary from a growing zone 3 up to a 6. I have listed some varieties that will grow in all of these zones as long as you wait until the threat of frost is past before planting in the spring. This can be as early as April and as late as the end of June for mountain areas.
Purple Coneflower
Here is a list of some favorites:
Mammoth Sunflower: This bird magnet is the standard for attracting birds. This variety will grow 6’ plus and creates a dramatic accent for the yard.
Black-eyed Susan: These yellow flowers grow 2-3 feet tall, have drooping pedals, and protruding cylindrical centers.
Purple Coneflower: This perennial also reaches 2 to 3 feet. It blooms a lavender-purple daisy-like flower with mahogany cones.
Evening Primrose: This 3-5 foot bushy herb produces a soft yellow flower.
Sage: Most varieties of sage will attract birds. There are a lot of varieties to choose from but not a lot of color unless you need more green.
You can plant these directly in the garden or start them indoors and then move them out as starts. The indoor option can give your plants a head start against spring weather and protect them from being eaten before germination. This makes a fun project for the kids. They will gain a greater appreciation for the garden and enjoy watching the birds flock to the buffet they created.
Sage
Flowers can be left on the ground through the fall to allow birds to clean out the seeds. If you watch for plants that are dropping seeds you can gather them. Use your saved seeds to plant the next year or feed them at times of the year when they normally aren’t available. A glass jar makes a good seed storage container.
These are only a few varieties. Have fun experimenting and watching what your local birds prefer.
By Scott Peterson, Owner, Hometownseeds.com where you can find all of these flower seeds listed above.
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