For Holly Creek Life Plan Community resident Uli Kappus, his outdoor balcony is a haven for pollinators – bees, butterflies, moths, and especially hummingbirds. A long-time environmentalist, nature lover, and fisherman, Uli has a special affinity for hummingbirds.

“They are remarkable creatures,” said Uli. “Their wings beat 60 times a second and beat over a billion times in a year. Also, they always find their way home through their navigational skills, skills which scientists still do not fully understand.”

Uli loves hummingbirds so much, he plants his containers with plants they are attracted to, including Salvia, Bee Balm, and Columbine. According to Uli, the flowers with bright, tubular blooms are one of the best ways to attract hummingbirds.

Before retiring, Uli was one of the nation’s top water engineers/consultants who worked on water projects throughout Colorado and the west including the Reuter-Hess Reservoir in Parker, Colorado and the San Diego Pure Water Program.

In addition to planting for hummingbirds and other pollinators, Uli uses feeders filled with sugar water to attract “hummers,” as he refers to them.

“It’s imperative to use the correct ratio of sugar to water, never add dye, honey, or brown sugar, and always change the sugar water every 3 to 4 days or daily, if the weather is hot and over 80 degrees,” shared Uli.

Sandy, Uli’s wife, also shares a love for hummingbirds. Together, they will admire the mysterious little bird and snap photos of their brave visitors.

“Hummingbirds are known to attack much larger magpies to defend their feeding spots and aggressively defend their territory,” said Uli.

Next time you spot a hummingbird in Centennial, think about Uli, the fact that this tiny bird beats its wings more than a billion times in a year, and that it may just have visited Uli’s pollinator garden at the Holly Creek Retirement Community.