When I was little, if I heard the word Shasta I’d probably conjure images of a soda pop rather than a garden flower. But Shasta daisies are one of my aunt’s favorite flowers, so I know them well. We have many of the hardy plants in our yard due to her careful planting, and my daughter loves to pick them up (with all her might; they hold strong in the soil!) and bring them in to enjoy at the table.
Most people are pleasantly surprised when they are visited by hummingbirds in their gardens. Many, however, do not plan visits from these tiny feathered friends on purpose. Doing so can almost guarantee that the birds will often visit, if not become regulars in your yard space.
Some good flowers to plant in your area to attract hummingbirds include:
Of course, you can also always install a hummingbird feeder and keep it filled to attract the birds. Sweet nectars, particularly red formulas, are usually their favorites.
If you have ever searched for florists on the internet then you realize the competition is pretty steep. There are hundreds of pages to search through that all have a million ads on them and it seems like all of the important information - like the full price PLUS shipping - doesn't come until you have nearly completed your order. Do thee companies not understand they are infuriating people who want to spend money? Why can't this be more simple?
I am talking about doing little things like offering shipping in the price. If your a local store and you are doing local business - have the #@$%ing price of shipping (delivery) included. This does a few things - one, it is less hassle for the consumer and two, you can tell everyone that comes to your site that everything is included! You can be the leader. Wouldn't that be something?
Another great thing would be having your contact information available on every page. Your email address, telephone number, and address should always be visible - everywhere. If I have a question and I can't ask you about something - I am not going to search for all of this stuff. I just move on and never go back.
Can we get this done for Valentine's Day guys - or do I need to stick to the national chains like 1-800-flowers, ProFlowers, and such? How can I buy local if you make it so hard to do so!
San Diego Flower in the Sun: by Michael Foley Photography - flickr
Carlsbad Flower Fields in San Diego: by San Diego Shooter - flickr