Maybe they were trying to decide if your red hair was a flower.

The other day I was sitting on my stool and dead heading some fowers. A bumblebee kept circling my head over and over.
Finally, I thought to reach up and removed my blue bandana, and he flew away.

BTW, the almond bushes are green, but have not leafed out. What sun condition should they be in? Perhaps they are not getting enough sun where I have them.

k

When they return and the sugar water hasn't been hung, we always believe they're saying, "Where's the stuff?!"

Sadly, I found a hummingbird with his beak stuck in the screen of the screened porch the other day. Dead, with his tuny feet clutching the screen. I can't figure out why he did that. There are no flowers on the porch.

Nell

We've had the Ana's here all winter, last week the Rufus returned so out went the feeders.
When we saw Rufus hovering at the dining room window staring at us while we eating dinner a couple of years ago, I bought another feeder for that window. They rarely use it apparently they were just informing us their favorite feeder was empty, cheeky little devils.

Annette

Nell,

It is not so well known, but Hummingbirds are actually insect eaters. The sugar water is what they need for quick energy because they burn so much in order to fly and hover, but their main diet is small insects, like mosquitoes and such. He was probably after an insect, poor thing.

My little hummers like to drink out of tiny cups that I hold in my hands. It is such a thrill, but sometimes when they sword fight, it is VERY exciting! They have never hurt me, even when the battles get really bad.

No sign of the Black Chins yet. They come a little later here. About ten years ago when the fires were raging in Mexico and Central America we had several species that came here for the summer to escape the fires. One that I was thrilled to see was the Magnificent Hummingbird with his blue-violet head and aqua throat. They are much bigger.

~Annie

Kathy,
Flowering Almond likes full sun, moisture but with good drainage, but it likes late afternoon filtered shade when it's hot.
They are pretty sturdy little plants.

~ Annie

Doncha just love it? No Ruby-Throateds have returned here yet (wise choice--might be late freak snow tonight). In previous years, they have 'talked' to me when I was working around Tithonia.

Meanwhile, over-wintering pair of Cardinals are announcing "I laid an egg". I crack the dawn window to hear them, even if it is hovering around 40ºF. A gentle snuggle under covers to greet the day.

~Ana, who'se related to hummers only in spirit.

Ana - how cool is that? I must ask my local spert what that sounds like. I heard the kingfishers tonight, and turned my head sky-ward to see them courting!!! Very cool. Most of the usual suspects are back here. Morning is a lovely cachophony.
We only get the rubies here!!!

Nancy.

Annie, don't you love how the little living things just KNOW who tends the garden they love too? I swear my bees, hummers, birds - every single living thing seems to know me and not be afraid. They all seem so gentle and kind - even Ms. Robin who is nesting in my rose. A truss of the rose fell in a big wind, and I had to ask her permission to tie it up. She obliged but let me know that I needed to speed up and not let her babies get the chills!

GGG,

Yes they do!
When I go out to feed the wild birds in winter or summer, they fly down to the lower branches of the trees just above my head or near my side, and wait for me to fill their feeder. If they are not nearby when I got out, all I need do is call them, "Come on Babies!", and they dart down, fluttering anxiously and chirping in excitement. They don't do that for anyone else.
The honeybees follow me from flower to flower and sometimes land on my hands (they also like little cups of sugar water left in the flower garden). I call them my little "Fuzzy Buddies".
Animals know who cares about them. They have as much right to life as humans. We cannot live on this earth without them. All life has a purpose and all life is linked.

~Annie

Thank you, Annie. I melt with these sweet stories. I love hummer's.

I have two Ana's that stay around all year. Recently I saw my first ever Rufus. It landed in my crabapple tree and looked like it was choking. I was so scared and didn't know what to do. I ran in the house and made fresh sugar water and cooled it off with ice cubes. Immediately hung the feeder. That little hummer drank for a good 15 minutes and didn't leave the feeder for 3 hours. I think it was overheated from it's journey.

I totally agree with GGG. "I swear my bees, hummers, birds - every single living thing seems to know me and not be afraid."

I am so glad they are back. I have not seen any yet. We have 80 every day now and no rain in sight. I am sure hoping that the drought does not return. I have a number of things planted that the hummers like as I don't hang feeders so I hope they come soon. c

I took this photo April 15th. He (Lord Banks) is a male. He was just fluffed up in this photo, so you can't see his ruby-throat.

{{gwi:600531}}

He is very friendly. He fed today from the hanging basket and a window feeder while my husband was sitting beside him on the patio.

Cameron

Oh, how beautiful!
What a special thing to have happen. Communing with nature is the greatest, esp. when they see you as just being part of it with them.
Thanks Cameron.

I am sooooo jealous of y'all with so many species and such numbers of hummers! We only get ruby throats here (far as I know) and in much lesser numbers, but I so love what I've got!

I was out watering a little while ago - I was watering down low along a border and to my amazement a male Ruby Throat flew right between my legs and hover in front of my feet! To look down and see him there - I just have no words to describe that moment. He hovered there for several minutes, then set down in the puddle, fluffed out and began bathing in the water spray! Once in awhile he would rise up about an inch off the ground then lightly touch down again. He just stayed there hovering in the spray, all fluffed out. It was the greatest thrill to have one feel so safe with me that he could fly between my legs and hover at my feet like that! After five minutes, he flew over on a cage I have around a plant, so I moved the spray there. He loved it! He bathed for several more minutes, ruffle his feathers shaking off the excess water, wiped his beak on the wire, chirped a little "thank you" at me and off he flew.

I stood there for awhile still taken aback.
What an astonishing experience! I wish I had the right words to describe that fantastic scenario.

~Annie

They love to play in a sprinkler (I don't have sprinklers). I've had them fly through the water when I spray it high in the air from the hose. I've read somewhere that some gardeners install a hummingbird sprinkler for them.

Cameron

Cameron,
I only hand water, too. I enjoy it. I have well water and it sure is nice. Don't have to worry about chlorine hurting me or my plants. I was watering with the garden hose and spray nozzle when that little hummer flew down at my feet.
It startled me for a second or two.

I do the same thing for the birds here too. In the summer, many of the little wild birds will follow me around the yard when I am watering. They will tweet and squawk at me for a cool drink and a refreshing bath. I spray high up into the trees and they just love it. Sometimes there are dozens of birds perched overhead waiting to be sprayed with the hose. So cute!

I have two sprinklers that I sometimes use in the summer. My grandsons love to play in them out on the grass. My cat Demon likes to dash through it as well. Funny kitty.

Deemie is 15 years old now, but still acts like a kitten, except for when he is being the boss around the place. He thinks he is Captain America - has to run to everyone's defense, including me, whether we want his assistance or not. :)

Everyone likes "Evil Deemie". He runs out to greet the mail carrier, jumping up on her truck window and startling her. She has finally gotten used to it, and always says hello. He walks back and forth along her door window, purring and rubbing on the door frame. He loves to greet all visitors that way. He also loves to ride in trucks, perched up on the dash looking out the front windshield or on the back of my seat so he can see out but be near "Mommy'. Little stinker!
~Annie

Critters (domestic and wild) are so entertaining.

I was misting some seed areas yesterday and a frog decided to join the shower, even though he has our stream to live in.