Homemade nectar makes hummingbirds happy

Dear Heloise: Soon it will be time for me to get my hummingbird feeder out, and I lost the recipe for the homemade nectar to feed the hummingbirds. Would you please print it again? I read your column in The (Danville, Ky.) Advocate-Messenger. Lawrence K., Danville, Ky.

I love watching and hearing these little buzz bombers zip around. The nectar is easy to make. Just combine 1 part white granulated sugar with 4 parts boiling-hot water and then stir and stir to dissolve. The mixture doesn’t go bad as quickly if the water is boiled rather than using cold water and stirring or shaking to dissolve the sugar.

UDo not overboil the mixture — meaning, don’t continue to “cook.” The hot water will dissolve the sugar.

UDo not use distilled water, other types of sugar, artificial sugar or honey.

UDo not add artificial coloring (food coloring) or any other additive.

Let it cool completely before filling the feeders.

You can make a large batch and keep it in the fridge for about a week. Just be sure to let it come to room temperature.

It’s important to change the nectar in the feeder if it is cloudy or if you see “things” (usually mold) floating in the water, and always keep the feeder clean! When a feeder is low, it must be emptied, cleaned with a little detergent and water, and rinsed extremely well. Don’t continually just add to the mixture. To keep the feeder at its best, The Hummingbird Society suggests rinsing out a clean feeder every few weeks with a solution of 1 tablespoon unscented bleach and 1 quart water or about 1/4 cup undiluted white vinegar. Rinse thoroughly and refill. Heloise

Dear Readers: Tom Wilhelm of Antwerp, Ohio, sent a photo of Jimmy Smiling, his 6-year-old blue Persian cat with beautiful orange eyes. Tom says, “I guess the ‘smile’ is in the eye of the beholder!”

To see bright-eyed Jimmy, visit www.Heloise.com.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have “finned” pets. The aquarium equipment to keep them healthy can be overwhelming. I use a large tackle box to organize all the items. The top section has adjustable compartments, and I use this to sort air-hose connectors, suction cups for heaters and tubing, etc.

The larger compartments hold bundles of air tubing, small bottles of various fertilizers and water treatments, any medications I keep on hand, and the small manuals and package inserts for equipment. Melanie, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: My husband placed a saucer from a large clay flowerpot on top of our patio’s outdoor fireplace (chimney) to keep out rain. The water-filled saucer makes a perfect high-rise birdbath! Our backyard visitors love being up high (farther away from our dogs, Windy and Paycheck), and the birds bathe with wild abandon, providing hours of viewing pleasure. Denise Richter, San Antonio

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