Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies to Your Backyard ... (ISBN 0875968619)

Amazon.com Review:
This accessible, comprehensive volume will answer any and all questions about the visiting habits of hummingbirds and butterflies. Which flowers attract butterflies? Why do hummingbirds fly toward the color red? What's the role of water in attracting these revelatory creatures across the garden's boundary? The book opens with a chapter called "The Basics," which explains where and when hummingbirds and butterflies tend to emerge and their migration patterns, climate preferences, and life cycles. Later chapters include "Tempting Butterflies with Treats" and "Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden Designs." It concludes with a series of clear drawings of various species and their identifying characteristics, favored plants, range, and habitat. Writer Sally Roth is a natural guide to this flying world, and although her text contains reams of information, it never seems complicated or overwhelming. Well organized with illuminating sidebars and remarkable close-up photographs--a mother hummer feeding her young in their tiny nest--Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds to Your Backyard will help you turn your garden into a destination for these miraculous guests. --Emily White

Delightful!:
I received this for Christmas and have read it three times since then, referring to it constantly as I build our new hummingbird/butterfly friendly backyard. Sally Roth has changed the way I garden - her relaxed style, her obvious pleasure in her subject, the wonderful photographs, great descriptions of hummingbirds, butterflies and the plants to sustain them, have made organic gardening accessible and understandable. I have always had a no-spray garden, but always felt some distress when things started getting chewed, as will happen. Now I look eagerly for the first signs of 'munching' on the passiflora I just planted, hoping for some fritillary action. Host plants are now mixed in with the nectar flowers - and I can't wait to see a monarch caterpillar on the milkweed! Thanks, Sally! I have hung up the big giant strawberry feeder with pride!

Good reference:
This is a super resource. It has great info on both the host and nectar plants of butterflies, talks to the different needs of hummingbirds and the plants they like, how to set up the garden to be most inviting. There are full chapters on things like "the lure of water", "the shletering garden", garden designs, butterfly & hummingbird behavior, etc. There's a section on hummingbird feeders as well as butterfly feeders (rotting fruit - they love it!) It's a great into to the lives of butterflies and hummingbirds, explaining the cycles they go through and their needs and has really straightforward info/ideas on how to create the habitat that will be right for them. The photographs of the caterpillars, butterflies and hummingbirds (even one feeding young in a nest) are fantastic. It also tells (a little bit) about how caterpillars overwinter. Really one of the best books I've seen on the topic - glad I bought it - its a lot of fun! I highly recommend it for anyone looking to set up a garden to attract these folks or augment an existing garden. Build it and they will definitely come! We've had great succeses!

A beautiful book - enjoy and be inspired:
I've read a number of gardening books lately, as I have decided to start gardening. This is one of the best. There are beautiful photographs and illustrations of flowers, butterflies and hummingbirds. The author has an obvious love of the subject. She doesn't make the whole gardening idea into a religion, however. She has a light touch, tells some stories on herself, gives a lot of good advice and makes the whole thing seem like a joy, not a chore.

Wonderful!:
I borrowed this book from our local library, and I read it from cover to cover! Most gardening books are good for browsing, but are too boring to read. I am an avid gardener and bird/butterfly watcher, and I found this book VERY informative, well illustrated and also well written. I've added this book to my wishlist hoping someone will buy it for me! If you're interested in butterflies or hummingbirds, this is the book for you!