Hi all,

Last year I planted a large-flowered blue Salvia (variety "Black and Blue")
and this year added another plant, they grow about 3' high and have bloomed
continually since early summer and brought hummers in very well. (I knew
this was a good hummingbird flower when, as I was setting the plant in the
ground last year, a hummer came in and tried to feed!) This variety has been
widely available, even at Home Depot. It is marginally hardy, I overwintered
the first plant by cutting it to the ground in late fall, and covering it
with a thick mulch of pine needles. It is more popular with hummingbirds
than Bee-balm, previously their favorite.

My Pinapple Sage is just starting to bloom and should also prove attractive
until frost. Have tried to overwinter it as well but have been unsuccessful
so far.

Still have a few hummers about the feeders as well as the flowers -- we are
keeping our eyes open!

Gail Mackiernan

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Jeff Shenot <>

> PS = we have not seen any change in Hummer activity yet.  They are still as
> active as they have been ever since they fledged.  There are quite a few at
the 
> two feeder stations now, mostly they still fight a lot with each other and so
> far as I know all are RTHUs but I am watching!  This year I grew about 6
> pineapple and 2 other sages to see if I can attract something (hummers) later
> this fall; they are not even blooming yet but are growing very well.  Time
will 
> tell.
> 
> Cheers!
> Jeff Shenot
> Croom, MD
> (southern PG County)