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Post by hummingbird231 on Jun 22, 2011 5:24:13 GMT -5
Hey Joe, I always see aloe under big trees or in the shade. Do you think they could do okay in full sun?
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Post by virgo10 on Jun 22, 2011 15:56:28 GMT -5
Can you tell me where you got aloe plants that will surrive outside in the Lakeland area? I'm originally from the Northeast and always think of them as an indoor plant.
Now I live in Auburndale. We haven't see a hummer here since April. The only plant I see listed on this thread that I have in my yard is a firebush and the flowers are just starting to show up on it.
I'm looking for a store that has some hummingbird friendly choices. Thanks.
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Post by hummingbird231 on Jun 22, 2011 19:02:55 GMT -5
I see them in peoples yard, I've been almost tempted to stop and ask for someone to give me one. I've not seen them in stores. The plant exchange thread on here may help . coral honeysuckle, firecracker (bush or fern) I have heard it called both,, and the bottle brush tree or shrub are also good choices.
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Post by lilyopath on Jun 22, 2011 19:45:30 GMT -5
Try Peterson's Nursery at 540A and Lakeland Highlands. They will have some of these plants and are very good at getting special requests.
Also try the Farmers' Market in downtown Lakeland. The Farmers' Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Saturdays towards the end of the month are usually good times to go, but before long the market will close because it's too hot.
Several vendors at the Farmers' Market have native plants or butterfly and hummingbird plants.
Sometimes you can get lucky and find really good hummingbird plants at Home Depot, Walmart or Lowes.
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Post by lilyopath on Jun 25, 2011 14:15:16 GMT -5
June 25 My husband saw three hummers....one flew across the yard while two were busy drinking from the hummingbird bush. The Farmers' Market in downtown Lakeland will be closed all July and August. Aloe is probably available from www.ridgeplants.com. Ridge Plants in located in Lake Wales. They also have hummingbird bush which is a great hummingbird attractor.
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Post by lilyopath on Jun 25, 2011 14:19:37 GMT -5
Someone from Ridge Plants will be at the Farmers' Market on Wednesday, the final day for the market this summer.
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Post by lilyopath on Jun 27, 2011 10:21:50 GMT -5
June 27
Just saw three RT hummers at once
Ridge Plants has assorted aloe and, also, red yucca. I am curious to know if red yucca is attractive to hummingbirds. Anyone know?
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Post by moboston on Jun 27, 2011 19:09:33 GMT -5
What time does the farmer's market run on Wed.? Trying to get Sue to go with me.
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Post by lilyopath on Jul 2, 2011 7:36:08 GMT -5
July 2
I am regularly seeing three or four RT hummers and so is my friend, Martha, who lives in southwest Lakeland. So yesterday we were thinking that if hummingbird banders are right and we multiply by 6, that means we have about 18 hummers visiting our yards?
It seems to me that the hummer behavior has changed; for a while (Apr.-June) they were feeding in the yard and flying off. Now they are feeding, perching, and hanging around in the yard. Also, they sound different.
I got the most beautiful red bee balm from Ridge Plants; can't wait to see if the hummers like it.
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Post by lilyopath on Jul 2, 2011 8:36:20 GMT -5
We have had the most amazing hummer airshow here this morning! Some of the hummers seemed so intent on the chase; some seem to get flushed out and caught in the chase inadventently.
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Post by virgo10 on Jul 2, 2011 10:28:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up on Ridge Plants. Hope to get over to Lakeland this coming Wednesday to see what they've got. I'm so envious that you are still seeing hummers in Lakeland. We haven't seen any here in Auburndale since April. I'm hoping that some plants will get them to stop by and visit during the summer months.
ETA: Just read the rest of this thread and see that the Lakeland market is closed until September. Not sure what the schedules are like in the summer for the Bartow or Lake Wales events.
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Post by lilyopath on Jul 3, 2011 13:43:34 GMT -5
I, too, am not sure what the schedules are for the summer in Bartow and Lk. Wales, but if the Bartow Farmers' Market is open next Saturday, I plan to be there.
If you can plant cuphea ignea and passionvine, do so. I think those were the plants that really grabbed the hummers' attention here in the beginning.
Now if I go out, I might see one in the feeder and one in the Fire Bush. Or maybe there'll be three scattered about the backyard.
I love it.
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Post by virgo10 on Jul 7, 2011 7:31:54 GMT -5
I've got a passion vine but it's in its first year and, so far, it's all vine and no flowers. I'm still trying to find the time to get to Peterson's nursery. It's not too far from where I live.
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Post by lilyopath on Jul 13, 2011 12:43:45 GMT -5
July 13
At the feeders today we have seen thrashers, hummingbirds, house finches, titmice, cardinals, Carolina wrens, red belly woodpeckers, mockingbirds, bluejays, and some very small unidentified birds (blue gray gnatcatchers and yellow throats???). What are those tiny birds that are almost as small as hummers?? They seem to come when the titmice come.
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Post by lilyopath on Jul 29, 2011 10:08:30 GMT -5
Karen Norris at Peterson's, 540A and Lakeland Highlands Rd. in Lakeland, has aloe. She also has a yellow coral honeysuckle.
Hummingbirds love gloriosa lilies. The first time I saw four hummers in my yard at one time was when they all were trying to visit those lilies. Of course, a big fight broke out!
The gloriosas are in full bloom now and every afternoon we have an "air show" in our backyard.
I have seen hummers everyday since before Christmas except for the two and a half weeks I was out of town. A neighbor keep my feeders fresh for me when I was gone. That helped.
Everyday I have tuffed titmice. I think the little birds with the titmice are northern parulas.
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Post by lilyopath on Jul 30, 2011 20:46:30 GMT -5
July 30
I have at least three RT hummingbirds now; I've seen that many at one time this evening.
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Post by lilyopath on Aug 15, 2011 8:17:02 GMT -5
Aug. 15
I am continuing to see hummers; there are at least four for sure. Martha has at least four also. Martha and I both live within a half mile of 540A between Lakeland Highlands and County Line.
I have females and immature males. Could it be proof that they are nesting here when they have been here since before Christmas and there are immature birds here for at least a month?
Hummers are here year round. Some hummers migrate through the area. This is what I think.
Their behavior has changed. Prior to this last month they came, ate and, usually flew off. Chases were brief. Now they are in the yard a long time and often they are chasing one another. The chases last quite a while. When Burna came over about a week ago, three hummers chased each other around and around the oak tree and the coral honeysuckle for thirty or forty minutes. It was like they waited and watched for her and, then, they put on a show.
The polydamas butterflies appear to be chasing the hummers away from the honeysuckle. Maybe they are just following the hummers, but the hummers avoid them.
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Post by lilyopath on Aug 15, 2011 8:20:18 GMT -5
By prior behavior (in my last post) I meant behavior in April, May, and June.
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Post by lilyopath on Aug 25, 2011 13:20:50 GMT -5
I just saw the most beautiful mature male RT hummer. First mature male I've seen since early June.
I increased my feeders to three today.
Does anyone know if hummers like regular white and yellow honeysuckle...the honeysuckle you see along roads and in the woods?
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donla
New Member
Posts: 33
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Post by donla on Aug 28, 2011 9:14:13 GMT -5
I believe they are always looking out for aggressive males invading their territory,ie. when perched very high with a good view of the flight path to the good stuff. Before when they would leave your good stuff they would probably just be making the daily rounds of neighbors good stuff.Yours is probably the only good stuff that has survived this brutal heat and still has enough nectar like for the hummers.(Man can't change animal instincts) If they all stay through the winter then I'll say you have something. Japanese Honeysuckle yes they like. (Lonicera Japonica) invasive!
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Post by moboston on Aug 29, 2011 18:31:49 GMT -5
I have seen a hummer in my yard twice today. This morning it came up to my feeder and hovered but never drank. This afternoon it was nectaring on my Red Shrimp plant, Black and Blue Salvia and Red Pentas. Neither time did I get to see it from the front but the glance I got from the side led me to believe it is an adult male but I could be wrong, as it was very overcast at the time.
But yeah! At least I can say one was in my yard Today!
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Post by moboston on Sept 1, 2011 19:52:08 GMT -5
Definitely have an adult male in my yard. Saw him this afternoon as he came to the feeder to drink. Didn't land but hovered and showed up twice. Caught a glimpse of one this morning - probably the same one.
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Post by moboston on Sept 11, 2011 21:06:03 GMT -5
Reorting back that my male is still here. I see him in the early morning then he shows up again about 4pm and hangs out till dark. He feeds about every 15 minutes in the evening. He seems to tolerate me being out in the yard better than birds have in the past. He, like others, seems to have one particluar branch in the Crepe Myrtle that he used to overlook the yard.
This morning I saw a second hummer on the other side of the yard. I couldn't tell if it was a male or female. It checked out the pentas and red firespike but didn't stay long. I had just seen the male on the other side of the pool screen and I ran back in to check, it was still there in the same position.
Hopefully, will catch a glimpse of it again.
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Post by lilyopath on Sept 17, 2011 19:46:39 GMT -5
That mature male that came on August 25 is still here. An immature male is here, too. I don't know if the immature male is new or not. I'm not sure about females...it's quite hard to tell the difference between immature males and females.
The hummingbird activity has changed since August 25. For one thing that mature male is very agressive; he chases all the others away. Prior to August 25 if I looked out the window, I saw a hummer. Now they are less visible, but still here.
Last night a hummer was in the coral honeysuckle. Another hummer came out of the oak tree and chased her away. Then a third hummer popped out of the hedge and began drinking from the coral honeysuckle at his leisure. Then he went to the fire bush and continued drinking and taking his time. Later the one who chased the first one away came back and went to one of the feeders.
I have seen hummers everyday since mid December 2010.
Last evening I watched and thought I saw about five.
They are visiting both flowers and feeders. I have four feeders out.
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Post by virgo10 on Sept 18, 2011 10:58:24 GMT -5
We've had a male RTH here since last Monday. I've only seen him at the feeder, not on any flowers. Haven't noticed him yet today but it seems like he's usually around in the late afternoon.
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Post by Joe M on Sept 21, 2011 9:26:00 GMT -5
Returned to Lakeland late Monday night and while my wife was unpacking the car I made up a batch of sugar water solution (first things first). Hung the feeders Tues morning and within 15 min had a mature male feeding at one of the feeders. Two others at flowers but unlike the male, they obviously didn't have a clue about artificial feeders. They will probably figure it out if they stay for more than a day or two. Nice to be back but it will take a week or so for me to get used to the 30 degree temp change. Joe M. Lakeland, FL
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Post by Joe M on Oct 2, 2011 9:58:14 GMT -5
The picture is poor but I was only trying to confirm the presence of a band on the hummers right leg. If you look carefully you may see the band visible through his belly feathers. Will try over the next few days to ascertain the numbers on the band. If my guess is correct, based on his use of this feeder and its location, he may be the same bird that has claimed this feeder as his own for the previous 7 winters and make this the 8th year he has returned. Have my fingers crossed and hope that he is in fact my "old guy". Joe M. Lakeland, FL. Attachments:
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Post by lilyopath on Oct 10, 2011 0:28:18 GMT -5
October 10, 2011
I saw two mature RT hummers today; one of the two has been here since August 25. Both were in the yard all day long. They did chase each other, but not with the same level of aggression that I've seen in the past.
So, now I've seen hummers everyday since before Christmas, 2010.
Lily
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Post by Joe M on Oct 14, 2011 16:08:56 GMT -5
Picture taken just after sunrise this morning. His adversary, another adult male, was perched about 4 feet above him. It was a 'Mexican Standoff', with no winners or losers. Both retired to their neutral corners. Immature RT that showed up about three days ago is having a tough time of it with these wily veterans guarding the feeders. They will sort things out as time goes by and decide when to chase and when to give the youngster a 'break', just hope the immature doesn't give up the fight. Joe M. Lakeland, FL Attachments:
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Post by johnhreesmd on Oct 23, 2011 11:02:11 GMT -5
I live in eastern sarasota county. i justy moved here in July and just put out feeders yesterday. When do hummers come , all year ?
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