Hummingbirds in the Southeast yet?

That's very good to hear. I am hoping that is the case here as well.

They're here. They come and visit my 'Black and Blue' salvia as well as other trumpet shapes flowers in the garden.

does anyone know how to deadhead a shrimp plant? My son gave me my first one for Mother's day, want to keep it blooming for my little lady hummer.

I think I saw one yesterday, but maybe not. Cville, any sightings your way?

quaqbe- ooooo! I love your shrimp plant! I want one really bad, and may order one this week. I agree about the pineapple sage, the hums LOVE it. I do too! It gives a light flowering during the summer, but really goes all out at the end of summer,early fall. I use it all the time as an herb for chicken, new leaves in salad, and add some to stirfries, especially teriyaki, or orange ginger. I tried the flowers in salad, and they are very nice..or floated in a cocktail or even iced green tea. I collected seed last year and had great germination success this year , so I have it planted in many places.

wow, u saw the pot!!! yes, its my thought that it would have to come in for the winter. Thanks for the input I will cut off the old shrimp.

I was just buzzed by one ruby-throat hummingbird by the Salvias. Here is another tender perenial that hummers love to visit.

Hyssop?

Is it a firecracker fern? Very Pretty. If I was a hummer, I would like it. Wait....I don't have to be a hummer to like it.

scarletbean has got it. Here it's on pf http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1334/

I have them coming on a regular basic now.

Woo hoo! My husband said he saw a hummer at one of our feeders tonight!!!! Well, I will be glued to the windows that have feeder and flower views this weekend. How unfair that I didn't see it! oh well, at least I know there is at least one here. Come on over hummers!

Yay! I do think I hear their calls at times so hopefully they are in the vicinity. There are a number of predators around here so perhaps they have sought safer places to feed and nest. If that's the case, then it's fine.

I've been relied on flowers in the garden to attract these lovelies. Yesterday, hubby and I set out our trellis in a new location. This morning I hung a nectar feeder. Hopefully we'll find the birds attractiving to this red & blue display.

I don't know about Ruby-throats, but I have a Black-chin male that only comes to the feeder first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. Mrs black chin won't come to the feeder until later in the season.

I think I just got used to the behaviors our hummers have displayed in the past. It doesn't mean that those can't change or new ones in the area behave differently. :)

***YAY***

They are here! Finally the hummers came back!! Last night I saw 3 of them sipping from a feeder. This morning, I saw a few zipping around between the 3 feeders I have up. I am keeping an eye on the flowers, since I hope they will avail themselves of natural nectar sources.
There is a tiny hummingbird visiting one particular feeder. It is the one my husband saw. I think it may be the one that I watched land on the ground earlier this spring.
Anyhoo, They are back and I am so happy.

Congrats scarletbean. ^_^

You should probably try to ID the "tiny" one. It sounds like it is out of its normal range, and maybe worth reporting to Auduban or somebody.
Here tiny means Calliope, but in TN it might be a Cuban species that got too far North, too.

This message was edited Jun 10, 2013 5:29 PM

O. h, well, that would be exciting. I can try to photograph the little one. but I have not had much luck with pics of hums. I will pay close attention and maybe get a good enough description to ID thru a website, or bird field guide. Thanks for the suggestion, pollengarden.
The Hummers are back in full swing! I hear their chirpy noises and have been watching the antics of the typical feeder bully. I have 3 feeders in sight of each other, but will probably put up another to overwhelm him so he gives up his greedy ways. They have discovered the salvia guarnitica (blk &blue) and my cleome is coming into bloom. What happiness I get from these (and all) little birds.

I'm glad you have them back, scarletbean. I can hear chirping noises in the early morning that I think are them but still haven't seen any. I washed out the feeder and hung it back up so it would still be where they left it. And the red attracts them. I hung a beautiful Mandevilla right next to it. They usually go crazy for that. So either they didn't survive the migration or they are out there dining on other plants. Time will tell. I never give up. :)

Ooohhhh, poor Cville. I will hang a map up near my feeders and have a talk with my hums about spreading the beauty.
I am glad you say they go wild for Mandevilla, because this year I planted cardinal climber which was a success last year and also Scarlet O hara morning glories to climb a trellis on the porch. I fell in love with Mandevilla and want to try it for next year. I wasn't sure if Hums would go for it.
Not to rub it in, but they are hitting one feeder harder than the other 2 and have gone thru 10 oz in 2 days!
I think they will be at your place soon Cville!

^_^ Thanks. ^_^

Scarlet, try Cornell Lab of ornithology. We do a citizen science feeder watch now all year long. I don't know if the lab responds to individual inquiries. A bunch of years ago there was no funding for that. Now they have all kinds of corporate partners and sponsors so the website is massive and perhaps a hotline for citizens too?

Guess this year I'll just have to enjoy all the butterflies and dragonflies. :)

Thanks A, I will try them.

Cville- Not a bad consolation prize, butterflies and dragonflies.

The bfs and dragonflies are my first choice if I have to choose. But, then, that's just me. We're a Monarch Waystation. Sorry hummers. :)

Please someone send me some Monarch, I thought I saw one lone Monarch several weeks ago. But not a sign of them lately. Love the 'pillar' pix Cville_Gardener.

I saw the hummingbird yesterday on my abutilon. I actually saw it hit it twice but it was too fast for me to get a picture. By the way, I'm hoarding all the Monarchs down here in Florida, LOL!

Melanie

So that's where they're all hanging out. lol.

Dad spotted two hummingbirds while he was out in the garage today so we've got at least a pair of the little guys. Still haven't seem them at the feeder, but I've got porterweed which they really like.

Melanie

I think I have seen a couple going past swish ..., fly- bye ,,, Did see the one stop at the daylily though . more will come later . Hibiscus , Cardinal flower, one look at those , and shade that's warm ,,, Oh boy !!! they say ,, free Nectar !!! is that anything like us and free beer ?!!!?

I think it might be Juhur! I've certainly seen them fight over the flowers and chase each other away. They're pretty fierce for such small creatures.

Melanie

I wish I had more monarchs. In 3 years here I have seen maybe a dozen. I have many others though, tiger and zebra swallowtails, red spotted purples, gulf fritillaries to name a few favorites.
I am 2/3 finished with the planting of my hummer/BF garden and will post pics soon. I am afraid I didnt get enough of the sod off and will be plagued with some weeds and awful grasses(bermuda and crab UGH!) I tried the lasagne method, but had to rethink it when some stuff started poking thru... I probably didn't do it right, or didnt make the layers thick enough. Anyhoo, my hummingbirds seem to be happy lately, drinking about 40z of nectar a day from one feeder, and taking full advantage of the blk &blue salvia, as well as a few sips from nasturtiums, and a basket of petunia,verbena and trailing blue lobelia. Once the Zinnias are in full bloom I will see more of them I think. The hummers are easier to see against the larger flowers. I just love the big riot of color and the neverending blooms from zinnias. Also, My butterfly bush is getting ready to bloom! Yay! I planted some Scarlet O'Hara morning glories and cardinal climber vine specifically to draw hummers up to the porch. The vines are making their way up the trellis, but no flowers yet. Soon, I hope.

We only get Monarchs here in the fall, apparently on the south bound migration. I have never seen the caterpillar stage here - I see them once in a while closer to the river & mountains.

Had my first an actual sighting of the season of a female ruby throated hummingbird about thirty minutes ago.

I thought I had heard them over the weekend. I have had feeders up for weeks and weeks. Got tired of the drill, but they are filled now and will remain so for the duration.

I saw her in some very tall plants at the back of the yard where she found a hyssop. Hurray for hummingbird mint!

Yay!

A- I am doing a little happy dance for you and your hummingbird! Actually, I am doing more of a happy squirmy wiggle since I am sitting on the sofa cramming zucchini muffins with cream cheese into my mouth. i hope you get the sentiment.

The BF/Hum garden is planted! whew! I think it will need some tweaking as far as plant combinations. Once it gets settled in the effect will be more pleasing. The first year of most plantings is always a bit spare looking to me. I am afraid to overcrowd, but still hope for a lush look.

while at walmart today I noticed a hummingbird nectar concentrate withadded calcium and vitamins....anyone ahve any thoughts on this stuff? Is it better/same/worse than home made 4 - 1 sugar water?

Sounds like a gimmick to me - I would have to see independent research on what hummers need in there diet that they aren't getting.
I figured that planting plants for insects and Hummingbirds plus feeders would balance their diet.
I was at my Mothers and she had a hummer foraging in there peach tree, for tiny insects as near as we could tell.

Thanks Jess. :)

From all I've ever read, the commercial mixes aren't any improvement on the 4 to 1 recipe. I agree with PG (pollengarden) above - what we give them is just a boost to what they get out there on their own.

Haven't seen them today, but I'm guessing they'll find their way back to the yard.

Glad your plantings are finished. I haven't done much this season and it bums me out, but Court and I were talking about maybe heading west next year. Makes me sad to think about leaving my weeds, and I suppose puts a damper on starting new ones from seed.

Will keep you posted. Keep 'em fed! Sounds like yours are really out of control.