Ha ha! It must be the lilacs! And of course the buckeye, but I have one of those, now if the thing would ever put out a flower, maybe a hummer would show up a little earlier, like some other people get. Thanks for sharing : )
Ruby Throat Hummingbird Migration 2008
My pleasure.
Here's a quick look at some of my Oriole lures. I have oranges set out on fence posts and nailed to a tree, too.
This is the orange 'lure' the oriole was checking out. Oranges, grapes, half of an apple and suet on there. Should get some meal worms, too, I guess, but I ran out...
My iris started blooming this week, too. Dogwood is in bloom and allium among other things. It's really getting to be 'high spring' around here.
Did I mention that we had a bluebird in the yard this week too? I am hopeful he'll like what he sees and decide to stay... (-:
Well, if you don't get any Orioles it is certainly not for the lack of trying! LOL
That is quite a spread you have put out!
I have started some of the seeds you sent me last fall. I have some zinnia sprouts up!
What a hoot! It looks very inviting (and you know I love orange & red!)
Isn't that a clump of grapes hanging from the tree, too? Don't you have squirrels, racoons & possums? That buffet would be gone the first night here!
We first noticed our hummers here about 4 days ago -- although the migration charts showed that they'd gone much further north. Ours must have taken a detour, somewhere, but they arrived here to our feeders ready -- and lilacs, redbud (neighbors), dogwood, apple trees, and flowering crabapple blooming. On the ground, the tulips are just finishing, pulmonaria is finishing. The forsythia is still yellow - but waning. The horse chestnut trees are budding, but not yet open. Magnolias still show bloom - but are fading.
T
Theresa
western PA
LOL yes, those are grapes. I'm shocked they are still there too. We have all those critters but they have better 'pickins' in the back yard.
Our neighbor 'monitors' the raccoon population so we do not have too much trouble with them. Didn't I tell you that the Park Ranger found a huge mound of carcasses along a path in the woods (just inside our neighbors property) last year....Peeeuuw!!
Nanny, I hope some of those seeds come up for you. I have had no sign of any eupatoriums, but have some milkweeds and loads of verbena bonarienses. I kind of forget what I sent out but some of my 'collected' seed from the park seems a little pokey/dead this spring. I don't have much experience with seed starting or collecting, either. I'm planting my WS seedlings into the garden today. Right after I finish spring cleaning my office. Ugh.
thwoods, lucky you! That is a great list of blooms! :)
tab, I think if I put oranges out, things besides orioles would get them here. If I forget to put a trash bag in the covered can, it is always torn open the next day. They go after it even though there is usually no food in it. Just smelly old meat foam and liners. I have never seen one in my yard, and it would be cool. Do those orange feeders they sell work?
The hummingbirds are officially later than last year as of today. I saw my first on May 8th last year, there is a migration report just for new england http://www.nehummers.com/SpringMigration%202008_files.htm and I noticed someone else in NH said theirs were 2 days later as well. They are now in every bordering town here, except one. It's funny how some people are getting them early and I am not, just my luck. :( I have buds on some of there supposed favorites. Red Columbine, Coral Honeysuckle, and some Coral Bells. I just made up a fresh batch of nectar, and I will clean the feeders today.
This message was edited May 9, 2008 6:24 PM
OMG! I just saw a male at my feeder! Yaaaaaaaay! 8>D
Meredith -- It is the list of bloomers in this yard that lead us to purchase the house. Every time we drove by, while looking, something else was blooming -- nice mature flowering trees...... :)
The house needed to be remodeled -- and we did that, and now we are gradually adding more bloomers -- which keeps the hummers and butterflies happy. Once they arrive -- we have them until fall -- which makes us so happy.
T
Theresa
How quickly we forget! I had to do a search to find out how to clean my feeders. I remembered not to use detergent, but couldn't remember what was safe to use.
I will probably double check the amount of bleach and water, the next time my feeders are due for it. This is the feeders' second year and they are growing mold easily this year. My hummingbirds have gotten very low key the last few days. I am worried my kitty is scaring them off. Either that or they are nesting or have moved north. I need to get kitty a bell on his collar just in case it will help keep the hummingbirds safe from him. He is a sneaky kitty and gets out every time I open the garage door.
I htink the hummers get busy with their families...I always have a lull, too.
NOW, Where are the butterflies? I have stuff here for them, they have been here, and I have seen one of everything I usually have (except Monarchs and Viceroys) but they are not coming around like last year.
Suzy
I have noticed that too Suzy, in regard to the butterflies. Not near as many as last year so far.
This message was edited Jun 9, 2008 3:38 PM
I have coneflowers blooming but very few butterflies so far :(
Today's the first day I saw a hummingbird at the feeder. She was here twice drinking. There was a third attempt that I interrupted when I walked around the corner.
Last week I saw a ruby throated male at the nepeta in front of the house. I almost swatted at him because he buzzed by while I had my head down pulling weeds from the garden. I thought that he was an enormous bug at first.
Pennefeather, what kind of nepeta was it? I just picked up a Walkers Low, I hope they like that one.
I'm still having a hummer lull right now. My husband saw one at the feeder yesterday, but I haven't seen one in a week!
the hummers must have by-passed alabama this year. i haven't seen 1
Well let me just chime in here again and say that I have only had three this whole season!
Sigh.
now i don't feel so bad
Meredith,
It was a walkers low. I planted two of them last year, and they have spread and become huge. I am going to have to move one of them next year because they have clearly outgrown their space. These are part of my walkway plantings.
This is a shot of them from the grass looking towards the walkway.
Oh my! that is huge for only it's second year. I think I will be dividing mine pretty soon if it grows as much as yours. Thank you, I'm glad this will attract hummers. : )
I planted one of those last year and had to move it in the fall! l had bought a second one but just didn't have room for i,t so it died a slow death in a pot...bad me! I am hoping my Black & Blue Salvia's don't drown with all this rain. They like my May NIght Salvia too. I don't think I have seen them go to the Marcus Salvia.
Nanny, I have a May Night but I haven't seen the hummers on them. Not that I've seen much of them on anything lately. I saw a female today, she went to a couple coral honeysuckle blossoms then took off. The honeysuckles right near the May Night, so maybe they don't go to mine because they prefer the honeysuckle.
I saw a female around here, too...she went to some white Maltese Cross and also some allium sikkulum. That spelling doesn't look right, but it's close.
Suzy