Hummingbirds

We have quite the crew of hummingbirds this summer. 

They have consumed 5 pounds of sugar in their homemade nectar.

This feeder has nectar in it still. 

The hummers have been draining our four feeders rapidly because of our intense summer heat. Basically the plants, grass, and we ourselves are wilting.

Hummingbird Nectar

1 Cup white sugar

4 Cups water

Boil for two minutes then cool completely.

 It is important not to skip this step as it helps 

prevent bacterial growth in a high sugar solution.

Keep unused solution in the refrigerator.

Our hummers will fly to South America soon. 

They will return on April 1st next year.

In Olive Out news Joe is humming along too after his hip replacement. 

He is walking without a cane and now driving.

I cannot say how much blogging I will be doing in the future. 

I have gotten many things accomplished whilst disconnected

 from the web BUT I have missed all of you terribly.

I made jewelry from vintage pieces of jewelry, thrifted here and there, painted two doors, cooked up a storm, cleaned a horrible storage room, played with a fat cat, played with my dog, sent CC off to school, and cared for my sweet man.

That is merely the tip of my enormous list. 

peace and joy

Olive

Hummingbirds

I am their humble servant.

Hanging fresh nectar every other day.

Love them.

Olive

Beautiful Weed

Montbretia

Montbretia (crocosmia) is a vigorous bulb like plant from South Africa. It is a perennial and a weed. Described as noxious in places. 

 I likely will never get it out of the flower garden. Our humming birds love it. You can see them drinking from these orange blossoms constantly.

The rate of growth is rather amazing. Last year it was about seven inches tall. Look at it now. I have it tied to a wrought iron pole.

Would you remove this weed or leave it? 

Move it to our side lot?

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linking@Wow Us Wednesday's

joy and peace

Olive

DECK SCENES

 I sat on the deck with the camera and snapped some of the activity around me while I painted shells yesterday. Gilding shells is not for wimps {I am a wimp when it comes to strong odors} as the paint is toxic. Shelley Boo was watching over me.

 We always have birds flying around the deck and hummers at the mini feeders every minute.

This is the basket I chased the snake out of and tried to save the baby birds from.

 For those of you who had never seen a Walking Iris this is what it looks like at dawn. Where it is touching the ground it will make another plant.

We continue to find toys buried on our property. It's exciting to dig them up.

Sweet potato vines are in my favorite pot.

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joy and peace

Olive

~found nests~

These tiny nests were  found on our property at the yellow house. The first one is made out of a single natural fiber. The second one is a hummingbird nest and is made of pine needles, feathers, and spider webs. It saddened me no end to discover the hummingbird nest after a recent storm. Our hummingbirds arrived on March 30th and are busy, busy, feeding, and zipping around.

Joe recently bought me the antique petite rocking chair at an estate sale. At first we walked away from it {I regretted it too} but Joe went back later in the day and got it for a lower price. It is solid maple and beautifully made. Thank you my love.

Yellow pottery post here.

linking@Wow Us Wednesday's

joy and peace

Olive

The Wings Of The Hummingbird

joy and peace

Olive

Seeing Red

We saw our first red day lily at our yellow house Sunday.

Miss Nola gave me more day lilies than I could count and I got all the colors mixed up so it was a surprise when this red one bloomed first.

You can read about Miss Nola's day lilies here.

We are wondering where the next red day lily will bloom as I planted them all over the property with the other four colors of day lilies she gave me. I am thrilled they bloomed this year as I did not think they would after being transplanted.

The hummingbirds are getting accustomed to us and I am attempting to photograph them which is not easy to do even with a better camera.

 

 ♣♣♣

Shelley Puppy keeps putting his giant paws on the lap top keys so any misspellings in this post are his. 

All earlier misspellings are mine of course. Joe is following up with our doctor today and then we are going to a favorite lunch spot. We pray Joe does not require neck surgery.

Linking with:

Wow Us Wednesday's 

joy and peace

Olive 

Hummingbirds

I captured, with my camera, our humming birds this morning.

 I am always thrilled to see them and then to catch them on camera as quick as they zip zip around is a bonus. Is it just me or do they sound like squeak toys when they are in the trees?

 

The day lilies and lantana are blooming. The hummers drink nectar from the lantana. I have noticed the hummers are more active now that the temperatures are reaching 90 every afternoon. I will be refilling the numerous hummer feeders tonight. I do not keep them full because it is so hot here. I just turned on the air conditioning and am not happy about that. Last year I did not turn it on until June. I cannot have CC roasting upstairs though. She is too sweet for that.

Wishing all of you a wonderful day. 

CC and I have errands to run and are having lunch out somewhere.

happy bird watching

Olive

Flowers and Bird Feeders

I took this most strange photo last evening.
No planning of the image.

 I feel as if I am behind in my gardening chores.

 I may be ahead.
The weather is confusing the matter greatly. I have decided to quit worrying about it. It very well could be 105 degrees by June 1st and everything will be burned to bits any way. I will endeavor to enjoy each day, each minute in the garden. It has rained for two days and the squillion day lilies we planted are rejoicing. I was to mow the lawn. Now I am going to iron.
Guess which one I like better.

The bird bath and bird feeders viewed through another empty bird feeder.

I see this and think CUPCAKE.

I am getting ready for basil, tomatoes, and olive oil.

Flowers, some overtaking the roses, are all over the place. 

I finally got the large black planters filled with begonias.
Begonias are perennials here.

Clovis basks in this warmth.

 This is the view from the chaise lounge.

 I can frequently be found here.

Mystery flowering shrub. 

Love it, but it remains unidentified.

Amaryllis, a gift to us from a customer of Joe's.

I find peace among the flowers and while digging in the dirt.
I heard and then saw our first hummingbird on April 2.
They are incredibly entertaining if not demanding.

#4 of the Hold Everything Lightly Series is below, just scroll down

Wishing you beautiful flowers and sunny, sunny days my friends.

joy and peace

Olive 

A Fine Way To Start The Day

The hummingbirds are on a feeding frenzy.

They are getting ready for their epic journey south.

Joe and I are enjoying this new window feeder.

I opened the blinds one morning and had a hummer greeting me. 

That is a fine way to start the day.

This is the female that always perches in the crepe myrtle.

 They are feeding on the lantana as well as other flowers in the garden.

They must add some grams of weight for their eighteen hour non-stop flight south. 

They are predators also.

One quarter of their diet is protein in the form of insects, like mosquitoes.

Can you tell they fascinate me?

may joy and peace surround you

 Olive