Some days I don't see any Hummingbirds in the garden and I wonder if they've left but then I'll spot one or two visiting the Red Runner Bean flowers or the Montbretia, both of which have the red blooms that attract the Hummers the most.
We have both the Rufous and the Anna's here. The Anna's is known to stay year around but the Rufous normally migrates. Last winter during a very cold stretch we are fairly sure we lost whichever ones that had stayed.
I wondered if they migrated in groups but looking it up I read that they fly alone. Youngsters on their first migration have to navigate without parental guidance.
They fly by day and relatively low so they can spot any potential food source to top up their energy.
I took these images off the internet...first is the male Rufous
....and the female
The male Anna's...
Well, that's probably more information on Hummingbirds than you wanted .
On a different note I found that my Casa Blanca Lilies, the ones that grow 3 to 4 feet tall, were almost completely hidden by the white Phlox. Those Phlox are needing to be kept back because soon they will have covered a good part of the area where Lilies and White Delphiniums also grow.
So I cut the Lilies and brought them inside where we can see and enjoy them. This was taken the first day that I brought them in. I had to cut off the stamens later because pollen was falling onto the petals , spoiling their beauty. Then I was finding very sticky drops of what I assume is nectar on the table. There are times when I think that bringing flowers inside makes a lot of extra work. My mom loved flowers but I don't remember her ever bringing any indoors. Could be she had more sense than I do!!
It's a much cooler day here and a good day to putter outside. What does your day hold?
Thanks for coming by to visit, G.M.
Lovely to hear about your, photographs of the birds are so lovely. Lovely to hear about your day. It's been very hot here in the UK very muggy now its night time x
ReplyDeleteWe are still getting hummers. They will leave soon and I will be sad to see them go.
ReplyDeleteInteresting facts about the humming birds.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful lilies! I've not had good luck luring hummers to our feeders. :-(
ReplyDeleteI think the hummingbird facts are interesting, too. Even if those are photos from the internet, they sure are pretty. I don't bring in flowers very often, but I do occasionally with the irises.
ReplyDeleteLovely lilies. I don't really cut flowers to bring inside the house. They last longer outside, and I enjoy them more there. Adam buys me flowers at the grocery store sometimes. And I do cut my garden flowers (what few there are) for church during the year. Then I bring them back home for the rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love to read about your hummingbirds. We've had several here enjoying the pansies in my hanging basket. I just bought a few new feeders that I can put on the trailer windows. I'll do that after we move and get settled at the new place. I hope they find the feeders.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the stickiness from the flowers but they sure are gorgeous.
Blessings,
Betsy
Dear Granny Marigold, you have a good heart for these small birds and for the flowers and more 💖💖💖
ReplyDeleteA valuable post!
I also reduce bringing flowers inside. I see, that outside in front of my door they live longer. But sometimes I cannot resist to put them on some nice place in my house.
Hi GM...Those Humming Birds are very colorful and pretty. My Mum use to bring flowers into our Home and put them into vases- I remember Violets the most. Were having cold days and nights and about 8:00pm we had a huge thunder Storm which didn't last very long - we've had a lot of rain and our Sydney dams are near full capacity- which is great! Best Wishes. KEV.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are lovely. Those humming birds are so fun to watch. We did not seem to get many hummers this year. But then most often the only time I could sit in the yard to look for them would be afternoons and I hear they come and go throughout the day. I hope that you are having a good week GM. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteGreat bird pictures and lovely flowers. My lilies have finished blooming for the year here in SE Kansas USA.
ReplyDeletepretty birds, never seen one.
ReplyDeleteMr D and I love hummingbirds. Every year we set out feeders and wait for them to come. We were so disappointed this year because we only had one little hummer come for a visit. Usually if there is one there are more, but we didn't see them.
ReplyDeleteI took my hummer feeders down because of a bear in the area, but even when it was up I didn't see many birds. I wonder if something happened in the hummingbird community last winter. It's amazing how they find their way around the world! The lilies are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWe see the same hummingbirds in our garden. Such swift little creatures. Our cool summer hasn't been the best for our garden - the tomatoes are dismal. However, the zucchini is flourishing so we take what we can get!
ReplyDeleteYour lilies get so big in the PNW! I find indoor flowers messy, too. I like them better outside, but I didn't really think about it until you mentioned it!
ReplyDeleteWe have those very green jewel breasted hummers. They are so happy this summer!
Sometimes the flowers almost demand to be brought indoors, they want so to be seen more often. NO, I don't believe that! Flowers themselves are happy to bloom for God, and I am the one who wants them closer by, under my gaze. But then... as you say, they often make a mess, and start not looking quite "themselves." Your post, and everyone's comments, make me feel better about the fact that I rarely bring any into my house, either.
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention it, I have not seen our hummingbirds recently. They must still be around though since there is plenty here for them to buzz around for. They do love the red crocosmia, but they are done now.
ReplyDeleteToday was our grocery shopping day, and then after resting, I used some over ripe bananas to make muffins, most of which have gone into the freezer. Tom spent some time snipping and clipping, and I checked in on him as I strolled around the yard. Now we are sitting and fixed on our screens.
I have also read that the hummingbirds fly alone, but I find it interesting that they seem to come in droves and seem to leave the same way. We only have Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, and right now we seem to have a zillion. I hardly ever bring in a flower unless it is blown to the ground. Every time I start to snip one, it seems to cry, and I then wonder what bee or butterfly might stop by that one pretty flower.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t seen any hummingbirds in ages! It is too hot here, they probably all ran away.
ReplyDeleteBack when we used to have a yard (before apartment living) we had tons of hummingbirds all summer long. I was always sorry when October would come and they would leave then. I should try to get them to start coming to the kids' yard... the littlest grandkids would love that! Your lilies are so GORGEOUS! I can almost smell them lol !!
ReplyDeleteI think it was very interesting to learn about the hummingbirds, as we don't have them here. I didn't know there was two kinds of them. They are beautiful birds.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Lilies! We still have hummers here I need to catch some photos at the feeders! :)
ReplyDelete