They're Back!

HUMMINGBIRDS!

I looked out my window early yesterday morning 

just as a hummingbird was zipping toward the Red-bud tree. 

Quite suddenly, he stopped his flight... 

hovering in mid air.

He cocked his head in all directions then seemed to stare right at me.

"What? No feeders up?"

He then flew away just as quickly as he came.

Did you know that Hummingbirds return to the same nesting place year after year?

Yes, they do... it has actually been documented.

"Most of these birds DO return to the same feeders or gardens to breed year after year. What's more, they often stop at the same spots along the way and arrive on the same date! Not bad for birds with brains no bigger than a grain of rice." Hummingbird Journey North

Well my feeders are up now and the Salvia 'Black and Blue' is planted. 

Did you know Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' 

is a Hummingbird Magnet?

Once this salvia starts blooming in my gardens,

 the feeders are abandoned.

The hummers spend their days dancing in the blue blooms 

sipping the nectar with their long tongues.

They put on quite the show!

♥ BTW... all pictures in this post are from my archives.
No pictures yet of Hummingbirds 2015.
Seriously...  thinking maybe I should always have my camera dangling from my neck.
Sometimes I miss the best shots!

All content created by Carolyn Bush | Copyright © 2010 - 2016 All Rights Reserved

This Grandmother's Garden | Highland, Utah, USA

It's a Crazy Busy Life...

Hummingbird Hurry

Sometimes LIFE just get's so crazy busy.

See my Feet?

You just gotta stop a minute to

catch your breath.

But just for a minute...

Back to Business

 cuz it's a crazy busy life.

 It's a good thing I love what I do...

do you?

♥  ♥  ♥

For the past several weeks I've started and ended my days in the Hummingbird Garden.
Sometimes my Honeyman joins me... 
now that's a real treat, 
cuz he's really crazy busy.


These little hummers put on quite the show.
I've taken thousands of pictures 
and have gathered tons of information.

It may take me years to sort out all the images.


More posts starring these Little Guys 

will surely follow.

Getting Every Last Lick

BTW, have you ever seen a Hummingbirds feet?
They're often tucked up in their feathers while they're in flight
like in the image above 


 

but never have I seen them perched quite like this before.

 Kind of a big deal if I say so myself.  :)

All content created by Carolyn Bush | Copyright © 2010 - 2013 

All Rights Reserved | This Grandmother's Garden

Highland, Utah, USA

We've Got the Blues...

And they're dancin' in our gardens.

Salvia 'May Night'

 Full Sun

Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds

Lobelia 'Techno Heat Electric Blue'

 Low Growing Mounds of Delicious Blue Blooms.
Keep them moist and they'll dance all Summer long.

Lobelia 'Hot Springs Sky Blue'

 Trailing Habit

Invites Butterflies
Very Heat Tolerant...  
(perfect for our hot Summer)

Just can't get enough Lobelia.

Blooms all Summer long...

always a star in our gardens.

And so lovely mixed
 with white.

 

Lupine

Tall elegant blooms 
tower over delicate foliage. 

Scabiosa Columbaria 'Butterfly Blue Pincushion Flower'

Butterfly not included.

Although they just may visit if you plant this little beauty.

Salvia 'Black and Blue"

This Salvia is an annual in my Zone 5 gardens.

And yes, the HUMMINGBIRDS go crazy 

over those sweet blue blooms!

Speedwell ''Royal Candles'

 This plant happily grows in my gardens 

with very little attention from the gardener.

But once it blooms... it's a real show stopper!

Delphinium

I have always loved Delphiniums.

Wherever I have lived, 

I have nurtured delphiniums in my gardens.

They belong to my heart. 

Surely a "Grandmother's Garden" kind of flower
don't you think?
 

Our grand garden event is just a month away...
almost done with the planting... 
and then it's 

GROW, BABY, GROW!

Earth Day 2013... Why Should We Care?

Each morning I wake up, open my sleepy eyes 

and look out through my windows to greet the new day...

my own little corner of the world.

Sweet melodies of the songbirds fill the air and my heart

and I am blessed that they choose my gardens...

as their home.

I believe we are guardians over this beautiful earth

and all the creatures that live within...

and as we do our part 

to protect and provide...

our eyes are opened wide 

to the everyday miracles around us.

 

And we are made better 

because of our connection...

to them!

As we come to truly understand 

our stewardship...

and take serious our role...

 we find delight 

in every living creature!

 Through them 

we may learn more about ourselves...

 

 and increase our desire 

to show love and kindness to all living souls.

Even those 

we may not particularly like.

Surely we will discover...

that their well-being 

is entwined with ours!

 And then maybe

just maybe...

we can learn to live peacefully with each other.

Happy Earth Day 

 Resolve this day to do your part 

to keep this world 

a beautiful place for us all to live.

 ♥♥♥

All images taken in

This Grandmother's Garden

I've said goodby to Disqus... too many unfriendly changes.
IE visitors can now comment!
Thank you to those who emailed their comments to me.
You are sweet friends.  :) 

Still Dreaming of Spring

My Dream of Spring... 

is one full of life.

Sweet melodies of redheaded songbirds 
early in the morning... 

their ode to the new day.

Butterflies and dragonflies
dancing through the vibrant blooms in my gardens.

Swelling buds that gracefully give way 
to tender leaves of green.

The "woosting" of hummingbird wings 
as they swiftly fly by. 

  Ahhh, this is my Dream of Spring...

but I'm still patiently anxiously waiting here.

28°F in my gardens this morning
with the promise of loads sunshine today.

(All of today's images were found dancing in my archives.)

Welcome to my gardens!
Your comments are the sweet nectar that keeps me posting!
Please leave your Blog's URL so I can visit you!

Farewell My Little Flying Jewels...

I knew this day would come...

  it's all a part of Nature's eternal plan for the Universe.

Reason tells me it's a blessing...

for with every Fall comes Winter 

and with every Winter, 

a bitter cold these little jewels could not abide.

So they fly South to Mexico for the Winter.

But oh... 
how I'm gonna miss my Hummingbirds!

 Did I know that very morning 

would be our last photo shoot?

 

 And if I did, 

would it have been any sweeter?

 And how did they know it was time to go?

There were still blooms left to sip from

in my gardens.

Were the mornings getting too cold?

  

  I've learned that it actually has nothing to do 

 with the availability of food

or with the temperature; 

in fact, hummingbirds migrate south at the time 

of greatest food abundance. 

As Autumn approaches, the urge to leave is triggered 

by the shortening length of sunlight... 

 and when the bird is fat enough... 

it migrates.

This little guy is quite plump 

don't you think?

Yes, they were ready...

but I wasn't.

I've also learned that a hummingbird may retrace it's path 

every year as long as it lives.

This means I'll see my little Flying Jewels again next Spring...

when it's warm again.

I can live with that,

it really was getting cold out there every morning

sitting patiently

 capturing their frolics with my camera.

♥   ♥   ♥

Oh! 

For those of you who saw 

my delightful little slideshow

at the hummingbird feeder...

here's an update:

 Not only did they figure out 

how to sip the nectar...

 they also became 

quite territorial over it.

Naughty little fellers...

there's really enough in there for all of you.

Farewell My Little Flying Jewels!

*BTW, the Audubon Society tells us that in the Fall, 

we should keep our feeders up for two weeks 

after we see the last bird using it. 

As the hummingbirds migrate 

they'll benefit from the extra boost 

the nectar gives them.