Hummingbird Adventures #14

Start for a new page of this thread. As I explained on the last page, I'll have to keep this short, I can"t type very well with one hand. Today, due to an accident, I sliced my pinky finger open. It is going to be fine. Required 7 stitches, luckily Lone Wolf was here and he took me into urgent care.

This is where we came from: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1007225/

Hand, camera, trip to OK, hope that someone keeps this thread alive.

I took this photo last March 16th of this year. I think that it was migrating on through.

WIB,
SW

Wanted to share this one again. Was also taken on Feb. 20, '09 after our afternoon walk.
WIB,
SW

I LOVE that photo. It's one of my all-time faves.

As my DH would say, I wish you'd just STOP IT with the cutting and the falling, girl!

14 pages of hummers,
and I just noticed you doing this.
I must be blind. Was sending pics
to Western Hummingbirds, now I
have a couple of places to do that.
Get well quickly and get lots of TLC.

This one is the king/queen? for the day.
Got tough on rufy's and its own kind.

Ha. just sent another pic to Western #4--
just automatic response.

a silhouette and good night.

SW.....no cutting allowed!! I should talk, I 'pruned' my little finger a couple of years ago. Very good pruners, nice and sharp. LOL Make sure you get some air to it once in a while, I lost a chunk. Take care and have a safe trip, hope you're back soon.

Nicely done dirt! And Welcome!!

ima, I am just a klutz. LOL!
Thanks dirt, most of the pages were on the CA Forum, but were moved to the birdwatching forum at page 11 or 12 of thread. U R Not loosing marbles. Happy to see you here, great people and we like chatting too. Feel free to share anytime.
Sally, too quick reflexes, knocked empty can off counter, not thinking I caught it. Lid sliced through finger. Promise to follow Dr instructions, and feel all the good energy coming my way.
Saw Zoom and BCH this morning, before tune up. Saw a swallowtail this aft. Sigh. Vase Plant blooming, never did before. Sigh.
Resting, reading, not getting hand wet, had to retape, bandage wiggled in sleep, so now have painters tape (green of course) holding it in place. Wish I could send photo. Is so funny! Go back tomorrow so they can check for infection.
Another one from my collection taken on 2-26-09.
WIB!
SW

I would'a done the same thing, girl. And I'd have the stitches to prove it, too. Last Wed, I fell off the (ONE) step in front of my studio, and my back's been tweaked ever since. Had chiropractor appt that very morning, so was nice and loose....LOL! Also twisted my ankle, smacked the bone hard & scraped the heck out of it, and hit my arm on the door hard enough to leave some lovely bruises. So in the klutz department, m'dear, you are SO not alone....~~~

OMG, time for everyone to be very careful!! It seems to be going around. LOL

I had a slight turnaround last week. I'd been having bad back pain for a few weeks, couldn't shake it even briefly. DH and I went to pick up some rocks we saw on offer at Craig's List and the next day my back felt better! I was really careful and didn't p/u any that were too big. He said we moved about a ton.

We decided I need a stack of rocks to just move around the yard from time to time. Apparently, that gets the right muscles exercised that I need. LOL!

A lot cheaper than a chiropractor Sis!! LOL

sitting in the arbor

a little bit closer
good night.

Awww! So pretty! Thanks dirt. Say, that's a nice arbor she's perching on too! Saw Zoom this morning. He hung around for awhile just to visit.
Taking the binoculars out with me so I can see where they go, and who they are. Keep ya posted. No new camera. DH has been gone most of week. Appreciate all the advice! : )
Hand is healing no infection. Slight fever though. Is okay. Dr. said to keep clean, dry, bandaged, come back on 15th so they can remove stitches. No wearing glove. : (
Keep up the good work all.
WIB,
SW

I agree, very pretty.

Still no photos to share, just an experience.
This morning, with my uninjured hand, I was applying water to a thirsty garden, when I noticed a hummer hanging around. I watched her out of the corner of my eye. Was surprised to see her "Bathing" in the water drops left on my four O'clocks. Was way neat to watch.
Lot's of activity out front in H.bird/b.fly garden. The boys are up to their usual antics. Zoom came up and sat with me today. He on his perch, me in my accustomed chair. Was nice.
WIB,
SW

SW...almost done with the deck.. Yeah!! It's been a pain. When I can widen my bed, what kind of plants are most attractive to hummers. It's an area that gets a lot of sun, but not the hot late afternoon sun. I have pokers at the other end, don't really want them up front. But what else are our little friends thirsty for?

edited to say: please anyone else chime in with your favorites.

This message was edited Jul 11, 2009 7:46 PM

Any Salvias you can grow, Sis? They love them. Generally, anything with a tubular shape is likely to be on the hummer list. Think of the ones you like and see if they are hummer friendly. They are attracted to really bright flowers, I know that - which is why the feeders have red on them - but that's not the only criterion. Then there's my old mantra - see what is native to your area. :-)

By the way, I got an update today on the little blind hummer we rescued. They thought she would have to be euthanized, but apparently she is adapting to the aviary, learning to get around and get to her food. Having a buddy helps. :-)

Such good news KC.
Sally, Salvia's are a must! Come to think of it they love my purple/lavender colored salvia a lot.
They seem to like yellow and red colors best, but also long tubular shaped, nectar producing flowers. Fuchias come to mind along with honeysuckle. See what grows for you locally. Remember they eat pollen too. Like from my hibiscus. They love my Lantana.
Zippy came and chittered at me this evening. Wanted to know why I was sitting out front instead out back.
You have a good evening and a great day tomorrow! Carpenters got to finish some day! Hang in there!
WIB,
SW

Hummers love my canna blossoms, too.
That's so cool about the blind hummer!!

Good news on the little hummer sis.

I think Salvias,Cannas and Lantanas are good. I'll check my book. Can check with the PNW people too. I've got fuschias but the spot is too sunny for them. I'd never be able to keep them watered enough. We have a 'Gathering of the Gardners' show near here in September, it's all local people and that usually where I get my natives. Good things to check on, thank you everyone.

The deck is finished, well almost. A little trim and lots of clean up to do. There's a thunder storm passing through, so no more work for today.

I stood about a foot from the feeder to get this shot. He was very cooperative and I was very thankful to him. LOL

WOW---that's a pretty spectactular photo!

Just beautiful, 24. Love the you tube photo clips too.
Just have to report that Erin's ants came to visit my feeder yesterday. The only thing that is working so far against this onslaught is setting the base of the feeder stand in water. Not an optimal solution. 24, didn't you say something about water cups on another thread? Where did you find those? Don't want the old bird cage stands rusting away. BTW, most of ants are gone, but I need to make more juice for them. Rotten stinky ants!
Tomorrow the stitches come out. YiPPEE!
What kind of camera do you have? At this point am so frustrated, that I'm ready to go buy another point & shoot.
Well, best get going, got another busy day.
WIB,
SW

SW, I had ants at one feeder yesterday too. We put a thick layer of vaseline around the hook that holds the feeder. That stops them for sure. Or, you can buy the water cups at k-mart or other stores. I prefer the water, but they were sold out at our one store.

24 wonderful photo!!

Here's my little girl that comes to visit my newest Lantana every day. They also are going crazy in my Russian Sage and hollyhocks.

We make ant moats out of spray-paint can lids----drill a hole in the center part, put some hardware together so there's a hook on each end, fill 'er up, and WALLAH!

Thanks SW, I'm happy with the video clips. That was a bonus. Like the others said, you can buy the water cups at K-Mart, Wally World. If they have them in stock anyway? I got mine at Wild Birds Unlimited. I use two cameras, both Olympus. One is an E-500 and the other is an FE-20. Most of the time I use the little camera (FE-20) for my macro shots. I use the big one (E-500) for my birds, races, people, etc. Once you get your stitches out, maybe you should consider wearing HEAVY gloves in the kitchen? LOL ;)

My dh made a mote out of a water bottle, cut in 1/2,drilled a hole through the lid,slid it on the shepards hook main rod and silaconed it in place.

We repositioned it ,pushed it down,so you dont notice it as much,Iam going to paint it black too

3

Hugger, I really like your version of the mote. Thanks!


One of my male Anna's.

Beautiful photos, and descriptions.
Is anyone else having trouble viewing the photos, and not being able to return to the thread without having to go home first, or is it just me?
Broke down and brought a new feeder today, with perches. Also got some nectar mix (for the guy house sitting), and an ant thingy. It doesn't look like any of yours, but they had it at the pet supply store. I'll let ya know how it works. : )
Saw both Zippy and Zoom today, they had to come say Hi. Probably don't like the stinky ant in their nectar, but I will be putting out the new one tomorrow, as soon as I can figure out how to do it w/o getting hand wet. While they were visiting one of the BCH's snuck in and got a good long drink. The aerial battles are in the front yard too. Having fun watching them feed on the Honeybird bush (Tecoma stans).
Stitches still in. Wasn't supposed to keep it wrapped unless, I might get it dirty or wet. I live on a farm, for gosh sakes. That means I can listen to music, watch tv, or read. I can't do the things that give me joy like taking photos, watering and weeding in the garden.
Will have Dr. check it out at Rheumatologist visit Friday. Take 'em out myself if they are ready. At least my hair is clean and my skin can breathe again. : )
Thanks for sharing your photos, duc, huggergirl, and 24. I really like seeing who's visiting your backyards.
WIB,
SW

You hang in there, girl!!! We're all rootin' for you to get those stitches out---and get a new camera!!

this little guy says hello in its own raspy way.

Sally some of the plants ( in many varieties ) that hummers love are hyssops or agastaches.
here's three: two in the first pic (left) and two pics of the same kind -- and for a limited time
only, a hummer is included at no extra cost. They are usually perennial and pretty easy to grow.
Just kidding about the hummer, they usually find it rather quickly.

ohhhh, I like that one. Thank you. If it works for you, it should for me.

dirt, I like your raspy friend. Reminds me of Pigpen from the Peanuts cartoons. LOL!
Really loved your collage, with hummer. We know they don't hang around long. Thanks for sharing the photos with us.
Sally I hope your garden overflows with hummingbird friendly flowers.
WIB,
SW

Hummers very happy with new feeder. They like the perches and so far the ant's haven't been back. Yea!
WIB,
SW

At last! I caught one. They've been very active since the noisey work stopped on the deck. And they are getting a little more used to me being out there working. But they seldom stay long at the feeder, in fact they're more in my face than anything else. I think I'm being scolded. LOL

When they come to the windows and glare at you, you KNOW you're being scolded! LOL