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CHANGE YOUR NECTAR

Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2006
by Thornius on August 24, 2006 02:22 PM
It is time to replace your Hummer Nectar! Please, remember to replace any old nectar 3-4 days after putting it out. (This has been a Pubic Service Announcement from Thorns for Better Hummingbirds - TBH)

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A bird in the hand......can sometimes be a mess.
by loz on August 24, 2006 02:36 PM
Must replace mine tomorrow....thanks Thorny! [thumb]

Is there any way at all to keep bees away, I don't think there is but figured I'd ask....I like to hang one feeder on the backporch but then I risk being swarmed and stung to death! [scaredy]
by Thornius on August 24, 2006 03:08 PM
Not that I know of. My problem isn't bees and wasps, it's ants!

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A bird in the hand......can sometimes be a mess.
by weezie13 on August 24, 2006 03:48 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Thornius:
My problem isn't bees and wasps, it's ants!
Grease the pole with some vaseline about 1" or 2"
wide, so they can't travel up the pole.... [thumb]

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Wrennie on August 25, 2006 12:36 AM
Bees:
Make a strong h-bird nectar and put it in a bee and wasp jar trap. Remove the hummer feeder for a day or so, so the bees will transfer to the trap. If your feeder has yellow flowers this is what originally attracts the bees/wasps.
Some feeders have tips that can be added on the inside to keep bees from feeding.
Ants:
Vaseline works, have to reapply when it gets dirty.Wont work if its hanging in a tree. There are commercially available ant moats you hang above the feeder & fill with water, bell shaped ones you smear the inside with vaseline, and a premethrine disk one you just open.

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by plants 'n pots on August 25, 2006 03:19 AM
I had read about a cheap and easy way to make a bee trap (ahem, loz!!! [Big Grin] [kissies] )!

You take a 2 liter plastic soda bottle.
Cut the top off at the top of the label - the top then looks like a funnel.
Take the label off.
Insert the top upside down into the bottom part - I then staple the 2 pieces together so they stay.
Pour some sweet liquid into the bottle - it can be some of the hummer nectar, some soda works well, sweetened ice tea - you get the idea.
Be sure to leave a couple of inches below the bottle top - if you fill it too high, the bees will be able to get back out.

The bees go into the bottle but cannot fly back out!
It's amazing how well this free trap works!!! [thumb]

(I haven't had a bee problem on my feeders this year, or I'd take a picture of a trap - haven't needed one... yet!)

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by loz on August 25, 2006 03:50 AM
Way cool Lynne! You know me---cheap, cheap, cheap!!! [Big Grin]

I'll have to get a 2 liter of something so I can try this one out [thumb] --we only ever have cans!
by Thornius on August 25, 2006 04:04 AM
Loz, Walmart has 2 liter Sam's Cola for 50 cents.

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A bird in the hand......can sometimes be a mess.

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