Hummingbird Heaven...

All critters and birds are welcome in our little backyard...

...and that definitely includes the tiniest visitors, our hummingbird friends.

I have four feeders in all. Two of the feeders hang from our swing set deck, one on each side.

I love sitting out here in the evenings because our little hummer(s) always hit at least one, if not both, of these feeders as they rotate around the yard about every 15 minutes or so.

It's a bit hard to see this little guy in the photos so I really cropped them.

But if you look close, you can see him enjoying his sugar water.

From the swing set deck, you can see across the yard to another hummingbird feeder that hangs from the mulberry tree.

And just look at that Lucifer Crocosmia in the foreground, now in full bloom. I have some very lazy hummers this year because they choose to fly right over those beautiful hummer flowers, preferring instead to plunk down at the various feeders!

(So far my Sammy Squirrels have left this window box alone. Remember last year when they dug out all my flowers so they could lay in the cool soil during an oppressive heat wave? Well, we're having another one of those heat waves, so the flowers may not last much longer!)

The white metal 'thing' that the feeder hangs from was a freebie from the dump several years ago. I had no idea what I was going to do with it when I brought it home, but it's the perfect place to hang the mulberry tree feeder.

I was able to get a picture of the female hummer at the mulberry feeder, but it was taken from over on the swing set deck with my zoom on, so again, I'm afraid the quality isn't so hot.

The last hummingbird feeder hangs from the old oak tree next to our deck.

This photo was actually taken last year. I was sitting on the deck right next to the feeder when this little gal came to eat so I was able to get some pretty decent photos of her.

I find myself changing the sugar water every other day in this oppressive weather. I found this great way to speed up the sugar water preparation (which is always 1 part sugar to 4 parts water).

Quick Hummer Solution: Put 1 cup water in saucepan. Put 1 cup sugar in saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring with a wooden spoon to dissolve sugar. As soon as it starts to boil turn off the burner. Add 3 cups very cold water to the sugar solution and stir. And that's it!  Now it still might need to cool down before you fill your feeders (I always check it with my finger to make sure it has cooled enough), but it's just ready so much quicker than having to boil the entire 4 parts of water and then having to wait for all 4 parts of water to cool!

Speaking of cool, I hope you are all taking it nice and slow. So much of the country is suffering from such extremely hot temperatures, as we are here in the northeast. So take it easy, everyone!

I'm linking up to Cindy (My Romantic Home) for Show & Tell Friday so be sure to stop by and visit her and everyone else!

Donna

Our tiniest visitors...

Of all the creatures who visit the feeders or baths in our yard...

(click any photos to enlarge)

... the ruby-throated hummers are the tiniest visitors.

I never did capture them at the bee balm or crocosmia...

...but a couple of days ago I was able to snap pix of them at the hummingbird feeder by the deck.


I can't believe that they'll only be around for another couple of weeks before heading south.

The summer, although extremely hot, has flown by. I can't believe fall is just around the corner! And although I enjoy the cooler temperatures of autumn, I absolutely dread the freezing temperatures, ice, snow, and darkness of winter... So I'll try to focus on these little guys for the next few weeks and enjoy what is left of our beautiful summer!

Be sure to visit Cindy at My Romantic Home for a list of everyone participating in Show & Tell Friday, and to see Cindy's gorgeous chandelier!

Donna (who would also like to fly south for the winter months)

Dusk....

... my favorite time of the day to sit down and relax in the back yard (it's really too soon to call it a garden... soo many things still to be done! But it's getting there!)


The birds are very active at dusk. This little wren, on top of the girls' old swingset, has some straw in her beak and has been busy building a nest. (You may have to enlarge the photo to even see her! Wrens are just so sweet, and what lovely, loud singing voices they have for such tiny ittle birds!)


A mourning dove landed on top of the birdhouse before flying down to one of the birdbaths in the backyard. Poor birdhouse. It was a cheapy from The Christmas Tree Shop within the last year or two. You get what you pay for, that's for sure. I'll see if I can spruce it up and get a few more years out of it before it warps and falls apart completely...


And here are my first shots of the female hummer that arrived yesterday. She definitely likes the feeder down by the patio, which is where I was sitting.

Here she is on another trip to the feeder, as it was getting darker. Of course that's when the mosquitos started coming out. Are there any parts of the U.S. that do not have mosquitos? I think that's where I would like to retire some day!

On my way back to the house I spotted one of our Chips. It was very unusual to see him that late in the evening. They're usually in bed a good hour before sundown; or at least they're not coming around for peanuts during our last hour in the yard so I assume they're bedded down for the night.

So I tossed Chip a few peanuts before heading in for the night. We're working on a project that I'll share with you soon, hence the pile of lumber in front of the shed. I think Chip is going to miss it when it's gone. He was enjoying being king of the mountain!

It's POURING buckets here right now, and tomorrow is supposed to be off-and-on showers, so I'm not sure how soon this project will be completed, but I'll share it with you soon I hope!Wishing you all a lovely week!

Donna

All good things must come to an end...

I knew I wouldn't have to wait too long at the hummingbird feeder this past weekend for somebody to show up. Activity at the feeders has been on the rise as these little beauties get ready to migrate...


I've had several females battling it out for the deck feeder over the past few days. The winner of this particular round celebrated by taking a loooong sip of sugar water...


"Ahhhh, that was good!" (Finally coming up for air...)


And now she's flying off (top right of photo) to preen herself or to catch some insects until her next visit to the feeder.

I'm going to make the most of enjoying them for the next few weeks. They'll continue to visit the feeders into September, but those visits will taper off, eventually stopping completely (except for an occasional straggler who stops by while heading south)...

So all good things must come to an end, but thank goodness it's only temporary until next May, when the yard will be humming again!!! So safe journey to you all, my little feathered friends!

Donna (who is still not ready to say goodbye to summer...)

The birds and the bees (and butterflies & Chips)

My hummingbirds have finally returned! I have no idea where they were for a few weeks, but the male and female have been all over the yard lately, at the feeders (here's the female last night) and at the flowers. And they're very territorial (just like the Chips!), so they chase each other all around the yard, going so fast that it's hard to follow them with your eyes!


I finally got my foxgloves planted and they have been a HUGE hit with the giant bumblebees! If you look closely, you'll see one of them in the center flower. They land on the end and then walk all the way inside to the back in order to collect the pollen/nectar. They are fascinating to watch!


I'm afraid I don't know much about butterflies but I snapped this beautiful yellow (swallowtail?)on the lantana hanging pot at the front of my patio yesterday.


And last - but definitely not least - I give you Chip.. Foxy Loxy has always wanted a "coonskin" cap (just like the ones Davey Crockett and Daniel Boone wore)... But since I don't allow any hunting in my backyard, I guess he's going to have to settle for a live "munkskin" cap instead!


Chip(s) love to climb on top of Foxy Loxy's head to eat their peanuts... By the way, these are two different Chips. Their coloring is slightly different and the top Chip has a long, narrow tail whereas the bottom Chip has a shorter, fuller tail. I'm getting to be an expert at telling all my Chips apart. And their numbers are growing. I think we have about ten now. Word must have gotten out about the endless supply of peanuts!

Donna