Seems a bit early, doesn't it? I'll keep my eyes open though.

I saw one about a week ago---and there have been Tiger Swallowtails everywhere! Even saw one Zebra Swallowtail, which I rarely ever see any more.

Central West TN; have had hummingbirds for a few weeks now. I have five that are frequent visitors.

I saw my first one sunday.

I heard an excellent lecture this spring at the Nashville Lawn and Garden show about hummingbirds and sugar recipes by Carol Reese. So I thought I'd do a search and see if I could find it online to share with you guys:)
______________________________

Carol Reese
Ornamental Horticulture Specialist -Western District
University of Tennessee Extension Service

I think the ebb and flow of hummers at my feeders has more to do with what
native flowers have just flushed. I have a drop off in hummingbird business
during the first heavy bloom of Japanese honeysuckle, again when the
trumpet vine blooms, and again at jewelweed time. Trumpetvine is in full
flower just now, and jewelweed just about to begin.

However, I still have some hummers even during these times and I am
convinced it is because I make a richer mixture: one part sugar to two
parts water. I have nine 48 ounce feeders and refill about three of them
each day. They are the Perky Pet Master Feeders, and I love them because
you can put your entire hand inside the vessel for cleaning, and I even mix
my sugar right in there too, no need to use pitchers, funnels, etc.

No need to boil, just use tap water and stir a bit longer. I do wash out my
feeders with hot water before refilling.

I know the Sargent's do not agree with my rich mixture, but I have read
many many many scientific studies (journal refereed) on the matter, and can
send you the links if you like. Many of the "experts" will tell you about
problems a rich mixture causes for hummingbirds and they can cite no
scientific basis to back them up, whereas I can send you to bona fide
research that refutes the claims.

Try the richer mixture and see if you get some action.
____________________________________

And another great one with plant recommendations:

Subject: [TN-Bird] hummer plants
From: Reese, Carol
Date: Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 2:38 PM
I have found that the hummers arrival seems to always coincide with the bloom on the red buckeye.
The Sargents mentioned their Salvia guaranitica, and I cannot recommend that plant enough! It is the very favorite of the hummers, and blooms big cobalt blue flowers from early summer to fall's first frost. In my area (Chester County) it is perennial, and spreads a bit each year by rhizomes. It is a big plant, comes up to my armpits, and has a large shrubby habit. One year I took some freshly rooted cuttings (it roots ridiculously easy) to put in the green house at work, because I did not think these new plants would survive the winter outside in a container. This resulted in a pot of salvia in full bloom by early spring, so I took it home as soon as I felt like last frost had passed. It was a joy to have it already in flower for the very first hummingbird arrivals, so I did it again deliberately this year.

You often find the form called 'Black and Blue' in the trade and it is a good form, but I like the straight species best. I'm not fond of the form called 'Argentine Skies'. It is a pale insipid color, runs around spreading widely, looking thin and sparse, and isn't a prolific bloomer. 'Van Remsen' is said to be a very good form, that may reach up to seven feet in height, but does not run. I have yet to grow it. 'Purple Majesty' is a truly purple form, a luscious color, but I have not found it to be as hardy.

Another great group of salvias is Salvia greggii. There are many colors and cultivars, but the old reliable pink form is the best performer for me. Most salvias are fantastic hummingbird plants. I look for hardy forms and forms that bloom all season. A great mail order catalog for salvia is Plant Delights, and their website is very good.

Also look for a reblooming form of our native trumpet honeysuckle called 'Alabama Crimson'. It will flush new flowers all summer long. I hear there are other reblooming forms, 'Major Wheeler' and 'Blanche Sandman', but I have not grown them.

"There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot."
- Aldo Leopold

Happy gardening y'all!
~Heather

We saw our first hummers on April 15. We had 3 all weekend at the feeders we put out. Then it slowed down. We found 1 last weekend lying dead on a boat trailer fender. Wondered if it flew into the boat??? Have seen one eating from the Red Riding Hood Beardtongue. Still only have the two coming around to eat from the feeders occasionally. Hope we'll have more soon.

I haven't seen any yet. But would that be because i have new landscape? Aren't they usually territorial? When we lived in Vegas for 3 yrs they swarmed my feeders and of coarse all i was able to grow were container plants. But here i am sure is very different. Any suggestions on how to attract them?

I saw my first one yesterday, can't wait to test out my homemade feeders!