Here are 11 plants to attract hummingbirds to your garden
Plan your hummingbird garden using these 11 plants.
Angela Peterson and Lou Saldivar, Wochit
Spring arrives in March along with gardening-related activities to help you start planning for the warmer-weather months in Wisconsin. Rent a garden plot; learn about organic gardening, native plants and rain gardens; or find inspiration with a class, show or plant sale. Here is a list of events to get you ready for spring.
Community Garden Rental, Milwaukee County
The UW-Extension Milwaukee County Garden Rental program operates eight gardening sites across Milwaukee County. Seasonal plots are available for use from May through the end of October. Plots are rented on a year-to-year basis, with an opportunity to renew or re-lease them each spring before the season starts. Submit garden plot requests now, for processing in April. Visit milwaukee.extension.wisc.edu/urban-agriculture.
Rain Garden plant sale, Fresh Coast Guardians
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Rain Garden plant sale is open for online purchases, and plants must be pre-ordered by April 2. Any private property owner, local nonprofit group or municipality may purchase plants. Plants are sold in bundles of four plants for $12, or $3 per plant, unless otherwise noted. There is a minimum order of $45. Once plants sell out, the sale will close. Plants will be available for pickup on June 6 at MMSD headquarters, 260 W. Seeboth St. Rain garden webinars and workshops are offered during the spring months in preparation for planting. Attend a workshop and learn how to plan and install a rain garden. In-person Rain Garden workshops are scheduled for Villard Square Library on March 7 and Mitchell Street Library on March 21. Garden experts will discuss design tips and assist you with creating your rain garden. For plant sale information and workshop registration, visit mmsd.com/about-us/news/2026-spring-rain-garden-plant-sale.
Plant Sale, Friends of the Monarch Trail
The annual online plant sale is open and features milkweeds and native plants for pickup in May. Select from six varieties of native milkweed species sold by the flat, half flat, in a combo bag, or in a six-pack, or choose from a mixture of native plants. A super-size Monarch Habitat-in-a-Bag group of 16 plants is available for $60. All species of native plants that support birds, pollinators and monarchs will be available at the in-person sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 9 and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10 in the Greenfield Park Pavilion, 2028 S. 124th St., West Allis. To order, visit themonarchtrail.org.
Production Tour, Ebert’s Greenhouse
Take a behind-the-scenes production tour March 10 at the gardening center, W1795 Fox Road, Ixonia. Free tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Look at how the growing season begins in the greenhouse, and learn about new plants and watering and fertilizing tips. Online reservation required. See ebertsgreenhouse.com.
Container Gardening workshop, Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens
The friends group is offering a Container Gardening workshop at 1 p.m. March 16 at Whitnall Park, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners. Learn to grow plants in containers such as pots, tubs or baskets. The cost is $20 for nonmembers and $15 for friends members. Register online. For more information, call (414) 525-5653 or visit boernerbotanicalgardens.org.
Realtors Home & Garden Show
The annual landscaping, gardening and home improvement show runs March 20-29 in the Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center, 200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis. Visit the cooking patio and garden center stage for seminars, stroll the garden promenade that features design trends and hardscaping products, or attend gardening presentations on container gardens and water-wise gardening. The show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 20-21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 22, 4 to 8 p.m. March 25-26, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 27-28 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 29. Admission is $12. See mkehgs.com.
Spring Seminar, Retzer Nature Center
Learn how to make your landscape more beneficial for wildlife at the Spring Seminar from 9 a.m. to noon March 14 at Retzer, S14 W28167 Madison St., Waukesha. Experts share information on invasive species present in southeastern Wisconsin and the simple steps property owners can take to incorporate native plants. The cost is $20 per person. Register online at waukeshacounty.gov/parks-and-land-use/parks-and-recreation.
Connecting People with Native Plants, Roots & Branches
The West Bend community group is offering a free gardening seminar, Connecting People with Native Plants, at 7 p.m. March 5 at West Bend City Hall, 1115 S. Main St., West Bend. Get tips on restoring local habitats by using plant species that support birds, pollinators and other wildlife. Register at rootsbranches.org.
Veggie garden series, Stone Bank Farm Market
Heirloom Kitchen Gardens is offering an eight-part series on organic vegetable gardening at Stone Bank Farm, N68 W33208 County Road K, Stone Bank. The first class will be held at 10 a.m. March 13, with additional classes in the series held one Friday per month through October. Individual workshops are $40, or purchase the full series for $280. Register online at stonebankmarket.com.
Gardening for the Birds and the Bees, Wehr Nature Center
Two Gardening for the Birds and the Bees workshops will be held March 21 at Wehr, 9701 W. College Ave., Franklin. The 9:30 a.m. session is an Introduction to Native Gardening for Beginners, which provides basic information on starting a pollinator/wildlife garden. The 12:30 p.m. session is Designing Your Native Garden, which will show how to design a native plant area that fits your yard. The fee per session is $10 per person or $8 for Friends of Wehr members. Reservations recommended; walk-ins are welcome as space allows. Call (414) 425-8550 or see wehrnaturecenter.com.
Orchid & Spring Garden Show, Milaeger’s
View a showcase of rare orchids, early spring flowers and tropical plants at the Wisconsin Orchid Society’s Orchid & Spring Garden Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 7 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8 at Milaeger’s, 4838 Douglas Ave., Racine. Attend a plant talk on houseplant care, a seminar on blooming tropical plants that thrive in the Midwest, or an orchid-repotting demonstration led by experts. Free to attend. See milaegers.com/orchid-show.
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