Spotted first one of the season this afternoon! Male ,ruby-throated, made a quick stop then about 10 minutes later on again on the other feeder, yaay!! But don't think they are same ones that were here as they ignored me, smile...home gems used to do happy dance with dips to greet me and express their joy of making it back, would do happy dance when their babies started flying....wish there was a way to track them, also wish they were banded, but main thing they are back. Weather to be around 40 on sat, as long as it doesn't freeze, but did think they'd wait a while. Now off to mark the date on the map. Bea in Belle Chasse La ( near New Orleans )

I haven't seen any hummingbirds yet. Then again, the only blooms in our yard right now are tulips, daffodils, iris, harlequin flowers, azaleas, and pansies... a few dianthus. The brugmansia and lantana are showing green two months early. The ginger lilies, cannas, asclepias, and elephant ears seem a bit early too. Passion flower, clematis, columbine, and gerbera daisies all have large flower buds on them. Easter lilies started popping up in December, oddly enough. First year I've noticed them doing that. Oh! The big box store astilbes that I thought had died started coming up earlier this month. Very excited about those! If I had known spring was going to come this early... Well, it seemed more like summer a few days this past week... I would have started seeds in early February or late January. Now I'm scrambling to get everything sown before it becomes too warm! A few cold nights ahead, so hopefully the late winter sown containers will catch up with the others. Jeff

I've seen a few over the past few days, drinking from my new salvias. This is the earliest I've ever seen them (although according to the map, they've been here for a month already!)

Robert, I see from another thread that you like planting seeds. Just wanted to say the Aquilegia seeds itself. Last year I cut off the seed stalks and just put them on a batch of bare ground (thin layer of mulch), and left it there. This year there's at least a dozen tiny little seedlings there and another dozen near the mother plants. There were zillions near the mother plant last summer, but a dozen is pretty good given the winter, and godzilla edging grass and leaf raking. The columbines also get better every year. You will love them. Mine have buds right now. Bloom for about a month in May. Will rebloom if you cut them back after blooming.