Hummingbird visits have been slowly increasing over the past few weeks with the late arrival of warmer weather. We have had 49 consecutive days of below average temperatures. From a wintertime average of 2 quarts of nectar per day, I'm now averaging about 5 quarts per day. Mostly Anna's with a number of black-chinned and an occasional Allen's. Lots of work, but worth the rewards are worth it.

I've spent most of the Spring finishing up some hardscape (flagstone walkways and stone borders), and planting numerous hummingbird plants (cupheas, penstemons, pentas, sages, etc.) The cool weather has delayed most of plant growth about a month but things are quickly changing.

It is frustrating trying to take hummingbird pictures because if I get back far enough to see all the activity, the photo is too busy and the hummingbirds don't show up. If I use a zoom lens to blur the background, then I can only get one or two feeders in the photo. I can only tell you that being here in person is a treat. It is common to see 15 or 20 hummingbirds at the feeders with as many frolicking in the surrounding trees.




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Farmer Steve
Deluz, CA usda zone 10a

Farmer Steve, I remember your lovely feeders from previous years pictures and for sure the hummers are flocking to them - I see lots of them...Even though the spring has been cold for early starting blooms, there does not seem to be a lack of hummers there...Here in CT I currently have no hummers but my goldfinch is busy on my B&B's getting seeds....just wish there were at least one hummer....

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Steve, your feeders are lovely and so are the flowers. I can only dream of that kind of activity! Carol, maybe you will have summers soon. Hummers in my back yard have increased this week from one regular male to at least three.

Linda
ne AL
zone 7b

I can't imagine what that must be like! The feeders are almost as pretty as the hummers. Please post some more pictures of your garden when things get growing, I'd love to see how the hardscape has changes since you posted last year. I know y'all had constructed an impressive pond.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Steve
Be still my heart! Look at all those hummers! I stopped by our farmers market today and was talking to our area co-operative extention service agent. He asked me if I have seen any hummers this year and said that he hasn't had a single one at his place. If he is there next Thursday, I will be dropping off a plant list for him. He too is very disappointed at the lack of good hummer plants in the area.

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

Steve,

Have you ever had a Bander up to your property? It seems it would be an ideal spot and a banders dream!

Pam NJ 6B

Thank everyone for the kind comments. These feeders have been around for four or five years and they were getting pretty corroded. I knew there were clean because none go for more than 48 hours without a good rinse and cleaning, but all the color had faded and the clear coating on top the copper was worn off. Last month, I soaked each in a solution of vinegar and salt to remove the tarnish (at least most of it), and used a high quality enamel (DW's fingernail polish) to repaint the red on the flowers.

Did it make a difference to the hummingbirds? Not really, but I figure the new red paint might attract a newcomer or two. It did make a difference to us however because they look somewhat clean again. I'm hoping the new plantings will take some load off the feeders, but so far in seems they have just increased the numbers. Counting one other feeder in the front yard, we now have 9 feeders up for summer.

Joan, you have a good memory since you remembered the pond. Seven years ago our home was sitting on a flat, bare building pad of partially decomposed granite rock. My goal was to do all the landscaping myself over a 5 year period. Well, that period came and went so I now just say it is a work in progress and it will get finished when I'm done with it. After all, isn't it all about the journey?

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Farmer Steve
Deluz, CA usda zone 10a

You've got that right. I'm kind of running out of space here so I might have to stop planting for a while. There is a possibility I might not be at this location forever, whatever that means. But if I did move, it would be with mixed feelings. I'm pleased with the way some things have worked out, but it would be fun to start over somewhere else with a new set of limitations to work with. Yes, it is all about the journey.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Pam... never had a bander here. It probably wouldn't be the best spot to band since the majority are resident and live among the avocado trees on the farm. It would be a good spot for a bird watcher though, since we have more than just hummingbirds.

Some nearby locations like Frank Janzen's have huge numbers of migrating hummingbirds which would ideal for a bander.

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Farmer Steve
Deluz, CA usda zone 10a