Hummingbird Feeder from an Old Coke Bottle

(Summarized from article originally printed in Birds & Blooms)

Materials Needed:

• Glass Bottle (less than 375 ml and that will have a tight fit with the stopper)
• 5 feet of 4 gauge untreated copper wire
• 3 feet of 12 gauge untreated copper wire
• Hummingbird feeder tube
• Beads or other decorations
• D ring
• Screw eye

Tools Needed:

• File
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Wire Cutter

Steps:

• File copper wire ends.
• With the 4-guage wire and bend at the end to form a small circle.  This will need to be able to fit loosely over the opening of the bottle.
• Insert the bottle in the circle and then make a loop around the bottle neck to hold it securely.
• With the neck of the bottle securely in the two loops, wind the rest of the wire around the bottle.

CREATE YOUR OWN DESIGN!

• Bend the last 18” approximately of the wire to make a hanging hook and then make a loop to hang.
• Decorate feeder using the 12-gauge wire.
• Use the tools to shape the wire to your design.
• Use colorful beads or other decorations to complete your design.
• Remove bottle and fill with sugar water.
• Insert the feeding tube and twist the stopper into the opening of the bottle.
• Place bottle back into the copper holder (shake gently to remove air bubbles).
• Put the copper ring through a screw eye and hang your feeder.
• Change the sugar water every few days.

The plant materials on display during this episode are selections from the Welby Gardens’ 2010 Annual Trial Gardens and some of the selections we were excited to see!

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