Hayward here (though now we're retired we spend a lot of time in Baja - no veggies there - just cactus!) First year garden at this location. I was late getting started because I had to till, bring in soil amendments, till, bring in sand and till some more - still not totally happy with the soil, but ran out of patience. First seedlings didn't get planted out until May 10th - but I ate my first squash yesterday (had to borrow a male flower from my neighbor to pollinate it)and will have bush beans and beet tops within a week. Tomatoes (17 varieties, 22 plants)are full of blossoms and seem to be setting fruit, as are the various cukes, peppers and eggplants. Snap peas are flowering, as are the potatoes (will pinch them off tomorrow), green onions are over a foot tall and Elephant garlic is similar. Have various lettuces growing in a Flowerhouse Seedhouse, along with some Chinese Cabbage. Multiple melons, mostly musk type, went in the ground today. Gonna try to train the little devils to climb - the cukes caught on quite quickly. Winter squash (Dumpling, Delicata, Spaghetti & Butternut) goes in tomorrow. So far the only 'dud' was the English Peas, they went in right before the 3 day heatwave last month and got crisped - got about 3 peas off each vine and they never got above 6 inches tall. Of course, since then we have had no heat at all and cold winds every day (which is why the melons only just graduated from the Seedhouse). From here on, it's just a daily battle between me and the multitude of bugs that want to beat me to the harvest and I am determined they will not win!

Thanks for the input all. Michael I'll look up those 2 you recommended. I'm not too worried about disease pressure because she hasn't had any problems so far that weren't easily dispatched. She has Sterling Silver, Mr. Lincoln and Oklahoma and not had any issue with mildew... i most want a beautiful VERY fragrant bloom on a smaller old rose.

It could be a rufous, Allens or Annas. Those are the three most commonly seen hummers in North CA. I believe. Here is a link to a Rufous Here is a picture fo a Anna's and here is a link to a Allen's Penny

Hello everyone! We're in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and today it has been minus 3 degrees. Our little Anna's Hummingbird visited the frozen flowers today and I do think they survive on insects at this time of year...well until the Spring they must. Anna's Hummingbird is relatively new to Vancouver according to my bird book and they are a joy to see. Our summer variety, the Rufus Hummingbird is long gone to warmer climes.