Learn this sweet homemade recipe for hummers

Despite the chilly breaks lately, the signs of springtime are making their presence known. From the return of hummingbirds to the time for gardening preparation, you’ll be seeing more bursts of color in no time.

Hummer Food

Making hummingbird food is simple, and there’s no need to boil a gallon of water. The standard nectar ratio is 4:1 -- four parts water to one part sugar. So, if you’re using 4 cups of sugar, you’ll end up with 16 cups (or 1 gallon) of nectar. But don’t worry, you don’t need to heat the entire gallon. The goal is just to dissolve the sugar, so heating 4 cups of water is plenty. You can use hot water straight from the tap, microwave it, or heat it in a tea kettle -- whichever is easiest.