The ruby throat in my northern Villages area arrives about the 1st week in March. I've never paid attention to when I don't see it, but it and a friend or two are here now and will still be here to nectar on the firespike when it blooms in early fall. When we moved here I was determined to have hummers, so concentrated on planting what they liked. I haven't put out feeders for several years.
Among their favorites in my yard are coral honeysuckle, cuphea Vermillionaire, cuphea David Verity, salvia coccinea, salvia Hot Lips, salvia guaranitica 'Sapphire Blue', justicia "Orange Plume", both blue and red porterweed, russelia equiformis, tall red pentas, hyacinth bean vine, red firespike for its early fall bloom, and probably some others I've forgotten about.
I also have a neighbor who plants for hummers so, together, we offer what we think is a tempting buffet and have been rewarded.
I'd suggested planting some of their favorites and giving them time to find your "diner". They didn't rush to feed here initially but now they're regulars.
June
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The Villages via Cincinnati, Ohio
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