I took my binoculars with me today and patiently waited to see whay showed up. I got an excellent view of a male Rufous. He was very brown,had what looked like a dark beard and had a mostly white breast. He was perched on my shrimp plant. Don't look for him in the photo below. He's not there.





I have seen two male Ruby-throats also and some females, but I don't know what species. They have been visiting my Hong Kong orchid tree regularly. These two are the most visited in my yard. I have a picture of my cross vine, but I don't want to publish too much here. Here's the tree. It's about 30 feet high and about the same width.



These are, by the way, the first pictures I have every posted online. I followed the very clear directions on this site.

Tom,



How beautiful!!! I have never seen a shrimp plant that big, ever.
Where are you located? Sorry if this has been asked before, but I gotta know!!




Pam NJ 6B

Sorry, I should have posted that. I am in Clermont, Florida. Zone 9. Here's the same plant with my son in front. Can't get a picture of the back of it...

My goodness WHAT a shrimp plant. I have never seen one that huge.

You did a good job Tom. Handsomd young son too.

Since the vines I want to plant under my small trees and shrubs always get killed back during the winter I am beginning to think it would be safe for me to plant them.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

Like everone else I have never seen a shrimp plant that large either Tom! That is one gigantic shrimp plant.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I have never seen shrimp plant like that. That is outstanding!

THAT I have seen, lol. Nice shrimp plant Tom. They do love Florida. Hey, did the convo with your son go sommething like this?

Tom: "Son, get in front of the shrimp plant for a size comparison for my photo please."
Son: "Dad, do I have toooooooooo????"

Heeeeeeee! They are so cute when they're that age. Handsome boy!

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

You got it on the head, Maryjane. My son, James, read what you wrote and said, "Hey, that's what happened; how did she know?"

James is an unmigitaged joy. Fortunately he has his mother's disposition.

I was fifty two when he was born. He has brought me joy every day since.

Peace,

Tom

I'd say that's a jumbo shrimp! Nice looking boy too!

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Hey Tom, thanks for posting these pics. I think it can be safely said, we forum members never tire of images of hummer gardens, especially those as impressive as yours. So, please post more whenever you are able.

Lizette, New Orleans, La.
USDA Zone 9

Tom, tell James I once had a son, and I remember that age well. (And tell him just wait until the next growth spurts hits, lol.) That's the age they shoot up all of a sudden.

Peace to you and yours.

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a