Hi...I don't have many hummer friendly plants except red salvia and new gold lantana (in pots), so I'm not any help there, but I'm sure the experts will chime in.

I do have many feeders (12 total) at peak season which is usually in August and Sept., and those little hummers keep me pretty busy...some hang from my breezeway, and others are on sheperd's hooks. My favorite feeder is the Hummzinger which comes in various sizes and very easy to clean because the bottom pops off. I do have some Perky Pet glass feeders with four perches each, but have had difficulty locating them except on-line.

There should be a 2009 migration map posted on this forum (or a link) pretty soon. My first RT appeared last season on 3/22 so be on the look out! Good luck with the backyard makeover!

Donna

You can get lots of plant info by reading the posts on this forum ('Blooming Vines', 'plants for hummers', 'hummingbird plants/flowers??'...). The link below will carry you to the Migration Map site. He will start adding 2009 sightings soon. It looks like Mar 20 was the first report for NE LA last year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Map

Check out this forum. It has several members who live in your state. They are very active on the forum and they can tell you what plants will do great for you.

You are possibility in the area that is used for overwintering by the Rufous hummingbird. They have begun their migration west now. Nancy Newfield is a member of this site and she is a registered or certified hummingbird bander. She has also written a couple of books about hummingbirds. One is about hummingbird gardens. She lives in Metairie, Louisiana.

And yes the 2009 Migration Map went up yesterday. So far no sightings.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hummingbird Forum

Ashcraft here are a few plants I grow for the hummingbirds and are used by them. Like Donna your hummingbrid populattion could be the greates in August and September when they are on their migration sout for the year.

A plus with these plants is that butterflies will use them too.

4 O'clock
Purple Coneflower
Truks cap'
Lions ear
Black and blue salvia (for sure)
Greggiis
Shrimp plant
Mexican bush sage (blooms in late summer in time for migrants)
Honeysuckles(goldflame, coral, and Alabama crimson)
Davie 'verty' cuphea
Lady in red salvia (annual)
Subrotunda salvia (annual)
Yvonne's salvia (annual)
Cannas (Robert Kemp, Peach Giantum

There are many others but you will not go wrong with these. Other than the ones I have noted as annuls are perinnals and unless we have an expremely hard freeze here in zone 8 will come back year after year. The annuals will reseed. It is also easy to save the seed from them.

I have the Hummzinger and other types like it along with Perky Pet glass feeders. I order parts from them online too. The hummingbirds visiting my yards will use all of them.

Make your own nectar. Using a 4-1 ratio as a rule. That is one cup of water to 1/4 cup sugar. During the migration south many hummerlovers increase the ratio to 3-1. Making this for yourself will be a good lesson for your children. During the summer I make it up by the gallon and keep it in the fridge. Always on hand.

Perfect feeder? The perfect feeder is the one you like best.