A "Hummer" of a Week

Wow, haven't been here forever this garden season. We were blessed with a new Granddaughter and my garden kinda took a back seat. Thank God my gardens love me because they wouldn't have survived this season without the care I have given to them previously.

Anywho, I have a new friend in my life. Alot of drama has been happening in my little corner of the world and when I can exscape into my office this is who is waiting for me, like an old friend. My male hummingbird has been here everyday from about 5:30 am  until 8:30 when I leave my office. Every once in a while I check back and there he is protecting his stash.

I think I must be his favorite place to eat. I'm not sure if he has a family or not close by. But I'm glad he's here. I get great joy watching my little friend chasing away all other "Hummers" and even watching him take a bath and preening his feathers. I never thought about Hummingbirds and feathers, because their so smooth. But now I can see him everyday close up and watch him, it's amazing this little guy. Such beauty and such a strong little guy. I love his little feet.

And as I watch him, watch me, he's proably thinking my house needs painting, and my gardens need weeding really bad, and when the supply is gone he flaps his wings in front of the window to get more.

I'm really enjoying this little guy and hope you enjoy my post about him. I'll be back soon with garden news as long as my plants hold up for me and don't die from "Grandma" neglect. Thanks for stopping by and excuse the running sentences.

Great Bird Book and Hummingbirds today.

I would like to recommend a great book if you enjoy watching and feeding and housing your birds in your back yard. It's the "National Audubon Society North American Birdfeeder Handbook".  A great little reference book for a quick pick-me up to see what bird is at your feeder!

I keep this book in my kitchen on the counter along with my binoculars for a quick pick up. The feeders and woods  are in the back of the house and that's where I bird watch most of the time. I do keep a small pair of binoculars on the end table in the front just in case somethings going down:)

Here are a few pages out of the book. Contents, Illustrated bird pages  and I gave you a page on how to make a scrap feeder for your birds if you aren't able to get a book.(Click on Photo to view larger so you can get directions). I use to work for the Library system and I had the privilege of seeing EVERY book first. I'm  not sure if that was good or bad because at times alot of my paycheck when back into buying books. Especially GARDEN books!!!! Oh the beautiful books they would order upstairs was awesome. I love hardcover books and table top books and I love the history of gardens, and folklore, and garden stories by other gardeners. Anyway, The reason I'm  recommending this one is today the 'Hummers' were outside this morning fighting over who's feeders they were. Good thing the Cameras not to far away.

Aren't they awesome. I could sit and watch these guys all day. Squeaking, fighting and drinking. (Oh, what a minute sounds like I'm at pub.No offense I like a pub!) And if you don't fill the feeders quick enough they come looking for you. They will look right into the house saying "HELLO" it's dinner time. Here are a couple more pics. I can't refuse. There not great but who said I was a professional photographer :)

I think this is a young one.....

Well as usual I've said enough to keep you and me a week. But I do love to share. Thanks Again for visiting my blog. And I'll be visiting yours  real soon. Thanks Again Joyce

Planting, Pulling, Weeding, Choping and Clicking the Garden.

You haven't seen this garden  because it's been hidden under weeds!!! This is part of the front garden coming down our driveway. Today we are having  an overcast morning so I took advantage and finally got my big butt in there and cleaned it out  It was still hotter then two H's but no SUN . There are big clumps of 'Heuchuera-Purple Palace and other Coral Bells in there with big stepping stones a white azalea and a 'Varigated Yucca' I got from a friend that was being hidden by tall grass in the lower part of the bed. The Upper part of this garden has sedums, peonies, daylilies, Miscanthus, Canna lilies, Iries and other stuff.  I took out 3 not so happy 'Ostrich Ferns' and moved them under the window by the garden shed, they will bounce back nicely.  My beautiful Japanese Maple had a hard go this winter as the top split right in the middle from the weight of  3ft. of snow-ugh. We planted this maple tree when my daughter graduated from High School on her way to college. It is now 13 yrs. old and still standing tall. I was scared I would lose the tree because of the damage but she has bounced back nicely.  You might notice the top is a little bare with exposed limbs but I don't care it gives her character. So I pulled are the grass and I trimmed up the bottom of the tree. I know some people gasp when you tell them you prune your Jap. Maple. I don't prune, I trim :)

And this picture is the extension of the front area leading up the the Sun room. This area has taking alot of different changes. I'm still not happy with it!  I might take out the tall 'Liatris' and the 'Toadlilies' and move them into another bed somewhere and just put in some low growing stuff so you can see the hedges I've trimmed to look like bonsai. I forgot I had 'Speedwell' in there and the 'Creeping Sedum' needs it's own area so you can see the beautiful purple color. And there's a 'Helleborus' behind the Cooper bees and a there's a couple of resurrection lilies that come up in August in the mix.

And the Clicking  part of the garden is  me walking around taking pictures of other stuff  I'd like to show ya! Today the "Eastern Tiger Swallowtail" and the "Hummingbird" were battling over the hummingbird feeder. While the Zebra Swallowtail was just enjoying the flowers.

And here is a Volunteer 'Hollyhock' that I left to grow so next year I think I should get the flower stalks.  I had these in this area and last year I decided to pull them all out because of rust. And this year I purchased 3 Foxgloves to put in the garden so I guess this year they will grow leaves and next year I'll get blooms hopefully.

And the other picture is the "Book Gnome" sitting next to a 'Agapanthus' plant that has never bloomed. I need to read up on these. It's been there for 2yrs. now. I might dig up and put in a nice pot and then overwinter in the greenhouse.

So with all that said and done I'll be leaving. I hope you have a blessed day and Happy Gardening .......Joyce