Sorry about that. My hosting site was compromised years ago, and they somehow slipped in some re-linking java script into the index files. I thought I had them all fixed, but I must have missed that one. Like I said those were old pictures I had not looked at in a while. Thanks for notifying me, I have just deleted the offending script so it is clean now. Again, sorry. If it's any consolation the offending script simply tries to open up another website without your consent much like html pop ups.

Claire, I'm in the same situation as you. Last August, our trumpet vine finally began to flower, after years of only putting out foliage. The site is half shade, so the vine never really put out that many flowers, but it was enough to attract a female, and some juvenile males. After buying a commercial feeder that didn't work, I immediately improvised a feeder from a small sample whiskey bottle, put a red cork in it, and improvised a red flower with non-toxic (so the package says!) artist's sculpey clay. I hung it at an angle, and I must say it works much better than the attractive, but poorly designed commercial feeder that I bought. Anyway, we had at least 4 birds, and then they all left for the voyage south, some time in late September. I wish I could offer you some positive encouragement. I'm following the same path as you. I have some pots of Dianthus chinensis outside, plus snapdragons, and, of course, the feeder. There is an apple tree in the back yard in full bloom, and I understand that hummingbirds are attracted to them. I even dissected one of the Dianthus flowers, and touched my tongue to the liquid inside. Noticeably sweet, even to my big, clumsy tongue! I'm less sure about the snapdragons because I couldn't find any nectar inside when I carefully tore one open. It won't be long before the native columbines will be blooming. Anyway, I'm getting discouraged. The map shows them all around us, but no sign of any yet. I keep the feeder clean, and replenished, but nothing. I did read on the hummingbird map website that the first sighting dots on the map are just that--FIRST sightings. There is quite a bit of variability in hummingbird migration, and it's possible for some breeding birds to arrive weeks later than the first arrivals--just slowpokes, I guess. The males come before the females, but there is still a lot of variability between different individual birds. I try to take heart in that, reminding myself that it's still fairly early for hummers here in western Pennsylvania. You're right, Jenny, waiting IS hard! I keep fretting that maybe the few young birds I had just didn't make it through migration, and won't be returning at all. Then again, nature is fruitful, and there should be other birds to scout out my place. With more flowers than ever before, maybe they'll be showing up any day now. SIGH.

I wouldn't plant trumpet vine . . . there are plenty of other plants beloved by hummingbirds that don't have the problems caused by trumpet vine in a suburban garden! Right now I have a native trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) 'Major Wheeler'; it will continue to bloom in smaller amounts all summer. Native columbine (Aquilegea canadensis) is blooming now and will be followed by Lupines, hollyhocks (Alcea), red hot poker (Kniphofia), Delphiniums, monkshood (Aconitum), Cardinal flower (Lobelia), Penstemon, and Agastache. I have hummingbirds every summer, but no feeders since I don't want the bears near the house. I sounds like you've done a good job with providing food (do you change out the solution often? It does go bad fairly frequently) and water for them - do you have anywhere they can create a nest? Are there predators such as cats nearby that might spook hummers? I am also curious about the ribbons. I find they are fairly sensitive to movement, and so I'd worry about flapping ribbons scaring them away. They are attracted to red, however, and I've seen them check out my red garden sun hat, red tomatoes, and other red objects, so you could add some stationary red objects. I usually hear hummers before I see them as I am working out in the garden at various hours of the day. I don't find they tend to be active only at certain hours, though they aren't active at night. Ultimately, the best you can do is provide food, water, and shelter and then hope that they stop by.

We have Anna's that stay here thru winter, so I have feeders up all the time. I noticed the Rufous are back early. They started showing up last week. I have 4 feeders in the front, an 8oz, 16oz, 32oz and 48oz ones, plus another 8oz one on the back patio and right now I'm refilling at least 2 of them every day! Even the larger ones it's 2-3days at most. The other evening I saw 8-9 hummies trying to get at the 4 stations on the 8oz one out front! They were sitting 2 on a perch feeding at the same time! They're sooo cute! I call them my "little green flying piggies" because they clean me out all the time! I have to buy the big 10lb bags of sugar at WalMart because they're so much cheaper than the grocery stores. This time of yr now, I'll be going thru close to 2 per month. The little guys fly all around me as I'm out in the yard and sometimes they've come pretty close to ramming into me! Had one swoop past my ear one day. They also let me know when the feeders are out. And they often fly by and "thank " me after I bring out the re-filled one by hovering in front of me as if to show their appreciation. Sometimes one will land right on the feeder as I'm placing it back on the hook. I just love them so much!