My New Best Friend

We've had various hummingbird feeders over the years, some cheap, others expensive and none of them perfect.  The ants always figure out how to climb in and drown, or they are hard to clean or something breaks. You know. 

This  year there were fewer hummers than usual, but we were diligent with the nectar and the ant removal and of course provided lots of cool flowers as well as nectar, with an abundance of red blooms this year, everything from geraniums and petunias to begonias and verbena. 

The past few weeks I've noticed that whenever I work in the garden I get "buzzed."  The tiny bird, wings beating, hovers nearby as if to say, "Hi!  Thanks for the delicious nectar."  They are pugnatious little things and guard their territory well.  I alwys  offer a greeting in return, if only, "Hi!  Birdie."  Lately they have been coming to the deck and saying "Hi!"  and this morning, for the first time ever, I saw two birds in parallel flight, not squabbling or dive bombing each other but flying together.  This was so cool.

I think they like me.  They do like the nectar and they seem to know who brings it and fills the feeder regularly.    Can a woman have a relationship with a hummingbird?  I don't know, butI think we are definitely friends.

The Joe Pye Weed in the garden has finished blooming,(alas, butterflies)  but we have morning glories galore and  the cleomes which reseeded themselves from last year are great.  I had a tiny coleus grow from a seed dropped last year. I have to say I love my little garden, from the leggy somewhat drab phlox I rescued from the old state hospital grounds to the heath that blooms all winter to the  chipmunk-chewed tomatoes to the coleus that I grew from cuttings that have been fruitful and multiplied.  We have a bumper crop of cukes this year.  The soup made with buttermilk and avocado was superb, as was the gazpacho from a 1964 (no typo) Gourmet.

Here's a photo taken of my little friend.  Isn't he/she sweet?        We have another feeder in the meantime.  They always come, no matter the feeder.  I shudder to think of their long perilous journey in hurricane season.  Yet they always return.  Seems like a miracle to me, just like our weird little friendsip.


Grapeshot           

A Non-Traditional Mothers Day

Appalled that I haven't posted for a week.  In New York for a writing event.  Back home to get ready for the Toastmasters District Conference.  Lots of last minute changes that kept me glued to email and spread sheets.  Conference was Saturday with inspiring speakers, including one, Rory Vaden, who talked about procrastination, a topic all of us, including moi, need to take to heart.   A fun meal at Acquitaine after the conference, to celebrate Mother's Day Saturday instead of Sunday with crowds, bad service, screaming kids and well, yanno, not exactly a relaxing experience.

A friend came to visit and we took a hike through the woods and had a pleasant Sunday.  I made spaghetti and meatballs, not exactly a traditional Mother's Day entree, but somehow right.  Accepted phone calls, flowers, etc.  Very satisfying.  The meat balls are from the New York Times International Cookbook of yore.  Sicilian meat balls, the best I've ever eaten and I never make anything else.  Good garlic bread and a decent salad.  We were too full for dessert which would have been some homemade rhubarb bread.
  Rhubarb Bread  

My "to do" list is absolutely frightening.  Well, one task at a time.  Today is catch up day.  We fed the Scottish Highland Cattle.  Iris and Maggie are old and rambunctious and calfless.  They treat the bull badly and try to hog all the food.  Both bullies.

The little hummingbird is back.  I wonder  if he had to fly through the terrible storms.  It's always such a marvelous relief when they return.  I keep fresh sugar water out at all times, replentished weekly.  The beautiful paper white narcissus I planted last year are now blooming, and the red azalea burst into bloom yesterday in time for Mother's Day.  Sometimes the gifts are spontaneous and just right.

Close Encounters of the Avian Kind

Rubythroat at the feeder

Today I took a beaker of thistle seed into the woods to refill the feeder, frequented mostly by goldfinches and chickadees.  While I was in the woods, I spied the little Garden Gnome in his red cap.  Might as well take him in, too, I thought, since Earl convinced us to take all the extraneous candles, etc. into the house for the winter.  The dwarf was filthy, so I put him down while I stood on the highest step of the deck to water a plant and the plum tomatoes.  This accomplished I started hosing off the dwarf.  Down by the tomatoes a large butterfly.

No, a hummingbird, who came closer and closer until I could have touched him.  "Hi there!" I said.  He stayed right by me and then I realized it was the dwarf's red cap that interested her.  It was a she.  We stayed like that for a moment and she flew off and filled with  awe, I carried the dripping red-capped dwarf (gnome) into the house.

I wonder if other "hummers" have buzzed him in the tree crevasse this summer.   They buzz me when I am by the feeder, but this was special.  Resolved:  we will plant red nicotania next year.  I love my tiny birdies.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.flowers.vg/1024x768/nicotiana-red.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flowers.vg/flowers/nicotiana-red.htm&usg=__F4pWlMrL_NEEn970nmw_wiBMVBs=&h=768&w=1024&sz=119&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=XUPGj6itBFg2OM:&tbnh=149&tbnw=201&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dred%2Bnicotiana%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS287%26biw%3D933%26bih%3D592%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=496&vpy=99&dur=1859&hovh=167&hovw=223&tx=117&ty=78

Spring in the Garden

I noticed some of the colors are washed out.  Must be the glare of the midday sun.  Finished my work on everything except the wildflower garden which needs much attention--weeding, removal of grass, removal of raspberries, feeding, etc.  Usual garden chores.  I had a wild iris bloom this year, and the heuchera is doing well.  The heath didn't bloom, but looks very healthy.  Finally had the creeping phlox bloom this year.  The weigelia (no clue as to spelling) bright red.  Hummingbirds not pleased that I am out there working so much. 

Chill, birds, because the main body of work is done.  Gardening is hard work, but it is also soooo relaxing.   Especially is one is hunched over a keyboard all day.   Thisbe, who has been ultra-brave in the yard of late, exploring beyond the porch and the deck, almost encountered the Whippet today.  A cat can never be too careful.  Here is what the plantings looked like on Memorial Day.  I have a lot of purple sage and the herb Sage is blooming, too.  Nice bouquet for indoors.