Our sunflowers began in spring as seedlings in terracotta pots. A good transplant location caused them to respond in kind, shooting up tall, straight, and proud. A roadtrip through South Dakota in 1994 convinced me to be a sunflower fan. We were traveling the highway to Mount Rushmore (the rustic version, prior to the facility remodel). Suddenly, a huge field of mature sunflowers appeared beside the road! The flowers lined up in perfect formation almost like soldiers, countenances turned upward toward the sun. It was an image I’ve never forgotten..but not to be duplicated in an urban backyard!
So we plant just a handful of backyard sunflowers. They stretch and shine, then droop with age and weight. The stalks have been cut and are drying now, reminiscent of old curved walking sticks. The seed pod faces, gnarled and textural, will provide food for the sparrows and mourning doves this winter. Nature always offers a wonderful cycle:)
Summer is coming to a close and my little bird will be leaving the nest. He heads back to school this weekend, a College Senior, University of Redlands, Class of 2009. Time flies painfully fast sometimes, and though I miss him as a child, I love the adult he has become.
He is a proud member of the Kappa Sigma Sigma Fraternity too. He is a Bird. Fraternity Headquarters "The Birdhouse"...
Peak Migration Time for Hummingbirds begins in August and can continue into October. Fortunately, we see them all year long in Southern California, but even here, peak season means increased 'squeaks and humming' and more 'aerial combat' near the feeders. In the early 1970’s, Seals and Crofts sang about Hummingbirds. While their hit referred to the Baha’i Faith, the lyrics in simplest form can express feelings of loss when hummingbirds leave. Loss of a friend, maybe; but we are forever changed...
Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away. Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away. In you I've found a fragrance. I'll love you 'til I die. I just love you, love you, love you. I don't even know the reason why. Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away. Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away. The sweetness of your nectar has drawn me like a fly. I just love you, love you, love you. I don't even know the reason why. Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away. Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away....
Up early, I tilted the blinds of the computer room (which faces the backyard) and discovered the blooms of my Peruvian Apple Cactus still open. So pretty! I noticed lots of bees too, so I grabbed the camera and headed outside. The cactus was alive and literally humming with busy, intense workers who could care less that I was watching. I'm glad they're back though:) In the 1980's, California had an infestation of Medflies which threatened fruit crops. During that time, state government decided to attack the little pests by helicopter. Malathion sprays were conducted at night, and though deemed "safe" for humans, we stayed indoors and protected our cars from the paint-corrosive chemical. The bee population dropped considerably during that time and numbers were slow to increase for many years...but now a change has come. Welcome back, bees!
Rufous in a Grapefruit Tree (isn't from the 12 Days of Christmas), yet the
grapefruit tree is a perfect perch for a hummer. It comes complete with
bugs an...
Sugar solution for hummingbirds is simple to make:
4 Cups Water
1 Cup Sugar
Bring the water to a boil and stir in the sugar. Boiling the water isn't to
st...
Notice that the feeder (above) has an ant barrier cup attached to the top. Fill the cup with either water or mineral oil to keep ants from invading the feeder.
LA Weather
Birdie Rescue
Many years ago, I found an injured hummingbird at our local Towne Center.... A spot of glittering, iridescent green caught my eye as I rushed to complete some errands before heading to school to get my son. The tiny bird (barely alive) was laying motionless on a cement sidewalk on a very hot day. I believe the bird had probably flown into one of the plexiglass panels which enclosed an outdoor area near the movie theaters. I scooped it up, headed to my car, and placed it in some Kleenex tissues stuffed into a cupholder. We drove to school, then home.
At home, the little hummer was able to swallow some homemade hummingbird nectar. We were hopeful! I contacted a local veterinarian specializing in birds (but not wild ones). He gave me the number of a "hummingbird lady" who rescues injured hummingbirds. Since transporting the bird to her home was not an option, she diagnosed a possible head injury and told us how to treat the tiny animal. We followed her advice and by nightfall, the hummingbird was flying in our house. In the morning, we set it free:)
If you find an injured hummingbird, the Hummingbird Society wants you to keep these points in mind:
• Hummingbirds fed on a diet of sugar-water alone will die, and a full-nutrition formula for them is not available to the general public. You must seek competent, licensed help to assure a bird's survival, and you must do it quickly.
• Keeping a hummingbird in captivity is a felony offense in the U.S., as is possession of a nest or any part of the bird (such as a feather)--all of which is another reason to transfer the hummingbird to a rehabilitator.
• Mother hummingbirds rarely abandon a nest, although it can and does happen. Never assume that abandonment has occurred; you must watch continuously for at least an hour, sometimes more, to be sure she is not returning. In general, if the chicks look healthy, the mother is taking good care of them. Feedings can be extremely quick and surprisingly infrequent in some stages of the chick's development.
Hummingbird Rehabilition Facilities in Southern California (approved by the CA Department of Fish and Game)
LA County (Anaheim) Hummingbirds/Helen Bishop 714-635-3368
San Diego County (Chula Vista) Hummingbird Rescue Center 619-420-5156
This is a new skull cap that I've just posted to my website. It's made
almost entirely from bamboo, which may sound a little weird, but spinable
fibers c...
Today marks the beginning of Gishwhes 2013. May the Wooster look down upon
you with kindness. It shan't be easy but I believe we will all try our
damnedest...
The West Carson River near Luther Pass (Lake Tahoe area). Just a slight
detour off Highway 395, you can wet a line, take a hike, snap some photos,
or ge...
Participating in your first swim meet can be a little scary! Proper
preparation, of course, is the key to success. This video is full of great
information ...
Awhile back I had the opportunity to tour and consult on a potential
remodel project in Wyoming, this one a sweetly suprising Jim Alexander
designed MCM tu...
Our sunflowers began in spring as seedlings in terracotta pots. A good transplant location caused them to respond in kind, shooting up tall, straight, and proud. A roadtrip through South Dakota in 1994 convinced me to be a sunflower fan. We were traveling the highway to Mount Rushmore (the rustic version, prior to the facility remodel). Suddenly, a huge field of mature sunflowers appeared beside the road! The flowers lined up in perfect formation almost like soldiers, countenances turned upward toward the sun. It was an image I’ve never forgotten..but not to be duplicated in an urban backyard!
