Bickelhaupt Arboretum Hummingbird Guide
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Fresh nectar in a minute.
Every bag of NectarBloom™ funds the guides, the Hummingbird Trail, the lab testing, and the free care resources on this site. When you buy our nectar, you help us keep hummingbird education open, honest, and growing — for every bird lover, everywhere.
NectarBloom™ — 2 lb Bag
Fresh nectar in a minute.
No boiling, no dye. The same sugar hummingbird flowers make. One ingredient, nothing else. Makes up to 160 oz of fresh feeder nectar per bag.
- Fresh nectar in a minute: measure, stir until clear, and pour
- No boiling, no dye
- The same sugar hummingbird flowers make
- One ingredient, nothing else: 100% pure cane sugar
- Lab tested. Resealable 2 lb bag, sourced and packed in the USA
1 Bag · 2 lb
$21.99
Free shipping included
2 Bags · Season Supply
$39.88
Free shipping included
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“Your purchase isn’t just nectar — it’s how we keep this hummingbird care library free, accurate, and growing.”
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Overview
Founded in 1970 by Robert and Frances Bickelhaupt and now stewarded by Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, Bickelhaupt Arboretum is a nationally recognized 15-acre outdoor museum in Clinton on the Mississippi River. It holds one of the top garden conifer collections in the United States (600+ cultivars), along with native prairie grasses, flowering trees, wildflowers, ornamental shrubs, and a bird haven garden. Its location directly on the Mississippi Flyway makes it an excellent spring and fall migration stopover site for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in addition to summer visitation.
Hummingbirds to Watch For
- • Ruby-throated
Most Common Hummingbird
The most commonly sighted hummingbird at Bickelhaupt Arboretum is the Ruby-throated.
Best Time to Visit
Plan your visit during April, May, June, July, August, September for the highest chance of hummingbird sightings. Early morning and late afternoon are typically the most active feeding times.
Plants and Habitat
- • Bee balm (*Monarda didyma*)
- • Cardinal flower (*Lobelia cardinalis*)
- • Wild columbine (*Aquilegia canadensis*)
- • Trumpet vine (*Campsis radicans*)
- • Native wildflowers (wildflower and bird haven sections)
- • Shrub roses and ornamental shrubs
NectarBloom Tip
The "bird haven" garden is specifically designed with birds in mind — locate this section on arrival (staff can point you to it) for the best chance of encountering hummingbirds at native plantings. The arboretum is free and open from dawn to dusk year-round — an ideal low-commitment stop on a Mississippi River scenic drive.
Visitor Notes
Free; open dawn to dusk year-round. No admission or registration required. ADA accessible on main garden paths.
Reviews and Sightings
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