Hummingbirds at my place!

 I tried for years at the farm to attract hummingbirds with little success. I established a hummingbird habitat, and tried different feeders, but all I could get was an occasional hummer.After moving here, being out in the open and not having any habitat, I didn't see how I could possibly attach any hummingbirds. Yet,. after visiting Dad, and enjoying the hummers there, I wish so bad that I could. Then, three days ago, there it was --- staring me in the face---the hummingbird feeder.  All I had to do was make the nectar, and take the shepherd pole out of storage and set it up. It would be that easy, and only minutes to accomplish. I decided,  nothing ventured --- nothing gained. So, I did , but with the attitude that the only thing I was going to attract was ants.

After setting it up, I went back in the house with little hope. But, for what ever reason, I  glanced out about five minutes later-- surprise! There was a hummingbird!

Two hours later --- two hummingbirds!  In less than twenty four hours,  there were three. Then, this morning, and again this evening there were five!  Five hummingbirds within thirty six hours! Am I excited or what.

Oh, --- on the day that I set up the feeder,  this bluebird paid a visit. For about a minute or less it was perched on the pole, while a hummer enjoyed nectar from the feeder. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera in hand, but then some moments are just meant to enjoy.

A bluebird of happiness. How appropriate! 

Hummingbirds

Recently, I spent the day with my 92 year old dad. After lunch we were sitting on his enclosed side porch, watching the hummingbirds. It wasn't long before Dad dozed off.  So, while he napped and all was quiet, I slipped out of the house with my camera to take photos of the 5 hummingbirds that visit his feeder each day. At first I was afraid that I would scare them off. But, no they were not scared. If anything perhaps they tried to scare me off by zooming and darting about my head. However, I held my ground, and was able to get these photos.  Taking photos of hummingbirds makes one realize just how wonderful  a digital camera is. ... Because...  I erased many more photos than I saved!

After Dad woke up from his nap, I showed him the photos that I had taken. My dear dad -with a twinkle in his eyes - chided me for not being able to get all 5 of the hummers in one photo. I wasn't successfully able to get even two in the same photo!

This is as close as I came...

All in all, it was an enjoyable visit with my dad, and a fun photography session with the hummers. When I went to leave, Dad summed it up best when he said, "It's been a good day".  Indeed it was! 

More on grass

This time last year we were surrounded by red clay dirt, and weeds, waiting for the day we could plant grass. That day finally came the 3rd week of November. Then it was a question whether it would sprout, and become established before winter. It did, but we had a harsh cold, snowy winter, and I wondered if our young tender grass would survive it. Thankfully, it did survive, and in April I had tall lush green grass that needed to be mowed. But then came the hot summer sun, and drought, and our grass turned brown and crunchy. I will note at this time that we are not set up to irrigate the lawn. Besides, my time and energy was spent trying to keep our young trees and shrubs alive. Our poor eight month old grass has taken so much abuse! It has endured being planted late in the fall in poor soil conditions, a harsh winter, and a summer drought.

Amazingly, thanks to recent rain showers, our grass is green again!

It is said that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I say, perhaps so, ......but I have noticed something in our lawn that the neighboring lawns do not have ....

That's right ---weeds!  And not just a few, but...

lots of them!  So it is.  But, I will be thankful that there is grass in with those weeds. and hope for better years ahead with some weed control efforts.