I am so jealous! Only had one here in 5 years!

I saw my first one in years, last year in Sept. It was also at my firebush. Right now there are lots of butterflies around that bush, but now that you have mentioned seeing a hummer I will keep looking closer. I can look out and see this bush in our 'secret garden' while I wash dishes.

FlowerLady

Oooohhh Firebush attracts them? This week while up in Siesta Key, I took 2 cuttings off the firebush outside out room. I looks like it's taking, too.

Oh yes! They love the firebush. I have scads of them and the often startle me by "buzzing" me when I am working outside. They also like the coral vine and jatropha and they like to perch and take a rest in the bamboo.

I was surprised that you other gardeners do not have them with more frequency. So I looked them up on Cornell's bird site (A terrific place for bird info!) and it turns out that while the hummingbird summers in about the top 2/3 - 3/4 of FL, it does not typically venture into So Florida. I wonder why since if you view the map you will see that it winters deep into So America and I cannot image it is any hotter there.

Anyone know why this is? At any rate I think you all in So Fl are witnessing something fairly rare when you do spot a hummingbird!

Anita

Here is a link that might be useful: Hummingbird

I am in Palm Beach County and they are not at all rare here. They arrive at the end of September and stay here all winter, departing in spring. Their favorite plant here is red fire-spike, but they also like turk's cap, shrimp plant, calliandra and costus woodsonii.

They aren't rare here, either, but arrive in central Florida at the opposite time of year, showing up in February and leaving in late August...heading for YOUR house, no doubt! Basically, they are in the state of Florida somewhere all year long. However, sometimes they don't find home gardens as often as we'd like.

Congratulations, Gary! Firebush is one of their very favorites, along with coral honeysuckle and many of the salvias.

Marcia

Yep...like clockwork, my little hummer has been hanging out in my yard and will probably be WPB by mid-September. Sure wish they stayed around longer!

Here in Palm Beach County, as Vireyafl said, they are quite common from fall til spring.
In addition to the bunch that hang around all winter there are also flocks that pass through during the fall migration.
They are really a hoot when 20 or 30 are fighting over the firebushes, firespike, and honeysuckle, and zipping around your head.
I'm always amazed at how noisy and agile they are.

Anita, I'm not sure why you found info indicating they aren't in south Florida. They winter down there. But I actually think that they have become more common there in recent years as the weather changes a bit, so it might be that the info you found was slightly outdated or something. They DO head to central & south America, but a lot of them overwinter in south Florida, too, at least nowadays!

They are quite noisy when they want to be. Not only with the loudly humming wings, but also with little chirps and squeaks, especially if there are two males fighting over territory...or a FEEDER.

They are always so much fun to watch! I've had them in my gardens for years, but have only seen them in this yard the first summer we were here. I plant for them, and am hopeful some of them will find me again soon!

Marcia

With all this talk of hummers I rounded up my two feeders and have them all clean and ready to fill and place in the garden. I've never seen them since moving here. We had lots of them in NH. Every year it was such a treat to suddenly have one buzz my head. It was as if he was saying WE"RE BAAAACK! LOL I'd jump up and tell my DH that I'd seen one and run and make sugar water for the feeders.
They are too funny when they are fighting over a feeder!
Cann't wait to have them in my yard here.
Marion

I saw my first hummer today! It was nectaring on my tall, hot pink pentas. Last year they liked my dwarf powderpuff, and the year before that, the firecracker bushes (russelia equisetiformis?). I only see a few each year even tho I plant lots of stuff they should like. Maybe they'll start finding me more. I hope.

Anna

Glad you saw one Anna, they're great to see, even if its a fleeting moment.

Marcia, I also have coral honeysuckle and red and pink salvias, also faerie hibiscus. I have a lot of flowering plants, but maybe not enough to keep one happy for extended periods, at least until more of my shrubs mature. I realize they can't stop feeding for much time due to their metabolism.

Gary

We had them in Fort Lauderdale when I lived there. Saw them the same months I do here in Jupiter October--- April.

Marcia is right about the fighting....... Fun to watch !

D`Ann