These questions arrived in the tinekegardens@juno.com e-mail box, so I'd like to address them, as more people have asked about these subjects.

Q: Last year, you wrote about plants that hummingbirds feed from and I clipped it out, but we have moved and I misplaced it. Can you give us a list again of the plants that will attract these tiny birds to my garden?

A: I am glad to. This list is not complete and not in any particular order, but it will get you started. Most of these plants may be available now or in the summer in your local garden center. As you will notice, these are plants with tubular-shaped flowers, the type of flowers that the hummingbird uses its long tongue to extract the nectar from:

Hollyhock, columbine, Clarkia (including Godetia), delphinium, foxglove, gladiolus, coral bells, iris, red hot poker plant (Kniphofia), lion's tail (Leonotis), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), lupine, monkey flower (Mimulus), bee balm (Monarda), beardtongue (Penstemon), sage (Salvia), bird of paradise, Californian fuchsia (Zauschneria californica), zinnia, spider flower (Cleome hasslerana), trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), flowering maple (Abutilon), Grevillea "Noellii," many varieties of lavender, honeysuckle (Lonicera) and the Cape honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis), and aloes, especially the tree aloe (Aloe arborescens).

Any of these plants should keep your neighborhood hummers busy and content. Oh, and keep your cameras handy! For those who want an 'instant' attraction, hang several hummingbird feeders around your patio, balcony or garden. For a feeder solution, use one part sugar to four parts of water. Boil the solution, let it cool and then fill the feeder. There is no need to add red food coloring. Never use honey instead of sugar, as this may be fatal to the hummingbirds.

Q: We are planning an outdoor garden room We are using garden statuary and wicker furniture and would like to use containers with unusual plants and flowers. Do you have some tips and suggestions?

A: Great project! I would include foliage plants with interesting textures and colors, and there are lots to choose from. Popular colors are silver, chartreuse, hot pink and plum. I am thinking here of the exciting new coleus colors that have been introduced. Visit your local garden center, or several of them, and check their offerings.

If you are using pillows on your wicker furniture, choose glazed containers in colors that match or complement the fabric. There are some fabulous sets of glazed pots (with or without drainage holes) in blue or jade-green, made in Asia, that are very affordably priced. You can also use a pot (with no holes) as a water feature with a bamboo waterfall and some aquatic plants.

You can arrange the colors of the foliage and flowering plants to create a dazzling design. Place your pots in groupings of three or five, which looks better than one or two. You can also elevate some pots, placing them on bricks or on upside-down pots, to create a wave effect. Include some window boxes and hanging baskets.

When it comes to watering, make sure there are saucers underneath the hanging plants to catch the overflow. Terra-cotta window boxes come with a matching saucer. The best (and also most expensive) are those made in Italy.

Another option would be to use the same colors from indoors, flowing them over into the new outdoor garden room. Consult the many garden specialty magazines that are on the newsstand these days for fresh ideas. Your local library may have them on the shelves as well.

Good luck!

Tineke Wilders is a freelance garden writer. Questions to: tinekegardens@juno.com.