Skills

…and we can’t drive without being distracted.

 

Grey Garden

  Today was a cold, grey day where temperatures didn’t vary from dawn to dusk.  It was a good day to clean the hummingbird feeder…

…do some light pruning (Note the hummingbird enjoying the warm, sweet nectar?) …

…be thankful we can take our naps inside where it’s warm…

…and pose for another growth portrait.

 

It was a very grey day in the garden today.

 

      9 weeks old – December 7, 2010about 12 weeks old - December 27, 2010    

     3 months old – January 8, 2011

almost 4 months old – January 29, 2011

                                                                                  

Hummingbirds in the Garden

Most all the leaves are off the trees now.  We’ll be ready to dormant spray soon…just as soon as the wind and rain calms down a bit.  Late this afternoon, the wind picked up and a few showers followed.  Now it’s cold.  Well, 37°F is kinda cold.  It’s cold for around here.  Tomorrow afternoon, the salad bed will get covered because the temperature should dipped a bit lower.  Frozen lettuce is junk.

The hummingbird weather vane indicated that the someone up in Alaska forgot to shut the freezer door.  Come on Sarah.  Pay attention!  It got so cool around here that visiting wildlife had to reconsider their travel plans.

Hummingbird Season

At first, she was intrigued by her fresh catch.  The animal.  The huntress.  She was wild and conquering.  Her skills were sharp - almost as sharp as her teeth and claws.  She was ready.  She is ready for dove season; but today…today is hummingbird season.

Be vewy quiet.  I’m hunting hummingburds.

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are in Bakersfield year round.  There are different types migrating at various times of the year.  I’m no expert.  I’m not even a novice about these birds.  I just enjoy watching them.  They come around just as the sun comes up and feed until the last sliver of sunlight has vanished in the west. They come from Alaska to South America and places in between.  The type that are around here the  most are called Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna).  Impressed?  Heck, I just picked up a little Bird Watcher’s Digest – Enjoying Hummingbirds at Home Depot.There’s always a brightly colored male that claims the  bird feeders as his own.  I call this tyrant, whomever he is, Napoleon.  This year, Napoleon rules over his kingdom from the top of the pergola, perching on the wisteria.  If any other hummingbird (male, female – it doesn’t matter) approaches, he zooms in after them clicking and screeching then engaging in midair warfare as if he’s a war bird in action. 

Sugar water is left out for them year round to supplement the nectar they gather from any blossoms and the small insects they eat for protein.  (May I direct you to the broccoli?)  I know these little, hyped up birds are grateful for everything I do for them…

 

 

 

  …and it shows.

Hmmmmmm

I have hummingbirds year round. There are feeders outside my kitchen window (makes scrubbing pots a bit more interesting), on my patio, and outside my office window. I have a butterfly bush, lilacs, and wisteria for them to get drunk on. Those are just coming into bloom. When there aren't any blooms, the feeders help keep these guys chubby. By the way, hummingbirds eat bugs too.

If you have a feeder, make sure to keep it clean. Take it down once a week to flush, clean and sterilize. I use bleach and hot, soapy water. Here's the nectar recipe:

1 part sugar
4 parts water

Bring the water to a boil. Remove from heat. Add sugar. Stir to dissolve. There's no need to add red food coloring. Clean and clear is best. Cool to room temperature. Fill feeder. Enjoy.