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Post by janamontverde45 on Jul 4, 2013 23:53:51 GMT -5
I've been noticing HB's a lot the past few days. They have been using Bottlebrush trees, fire cracker grass (russelia equistiformis) and fire bush( Hamilia patens) . So if you want to encourage some to visit your yard, I would plant the grass and fire bush in large patches. I also had lots of use on the native scarlet morning glory vine, which reseeds so plant it where you don't mind it always coming back up.
Jana
in Montverde
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Post by debbielight7 on Jul 5, 2013 10:07:55 GMT -5
Hi Jana. Are you just west of Orlando? Glad you're seeing hummingbirds! I live in east Orlando, and am still seeing some rubythroats. It's hard to tell how many, but there are at least 2 or 3 visiting my plants. They are using mostly the coral honeysuckle and candycorn cuphea, and sometimes the tall red pentas, firebush and Wendy's wish salvia. My firecracker plant is not blooming, which is disappointing. Maybe it's not getting enough light. It's in partial shade. I don't have hardly any full sun areas as I am adjacent to a conservation easement. My firespike is growing tall, but is not blooming. Do you know when it should be blooming? I put up a couple of hummingbird feeders, but the rubythroats have only been using the plants and have not gone to the feeders. How many times a day do you see the hummingbirds? How many do you think you have?
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Post by janamontverde45 on Jul 7, 2013 0:34:06 GMT -5
I'm near Clermont. I've noticed her using the bottlebrush tree, also sinnigina (hope it's spelled correctly), cuphea schumanii is another one. Firecracker likes full sunand more on the dry side. Firespike blooms in the Fall. At least 2, maybe 3.
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Post by debbielight7 on Jul 7, 2013 12:41:17 GMT -5
I thought the firecracker might need more sun. I might have to eventually move it, but a sunny spot will be difficult to find for it. I have the honeysuckle, cuphea, milkweed, and mexican sunflower in the sunny strip I have. Thanks for letting me know the firespike blooms in the fall. Unfortunately the rubythroats may migrate before they bloom.
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Post by janamontverde45 on Jul 22, 2013 0:07:30 GMT -5
Since my garden has been in for about 5 years, I seem to have activity most of the year.
Jana Montverde
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Post by debbielight7 on Jul 22, 2013 9:16:50 GMT -5
Jana, I would love to have hummingbirds year-round! I began planting my hummingbird/butterfly garden late summer of last year and have been adding plants along the way. Do you cover your plants to protect them when there is a freeze in the winter? And do you put up feeders during the winter when there may be fewer blooms? I would like to try to have some stay past the summer/fall. Thanks, Jana.
Debbie
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Post by janamontverde45 on Jul 22, 2013 9:33:18 GMT -5
Debbie, I try to cover the plants that are on the patio. The larger garden is under an oak tree. I do put up feeders, usually too many.
Jana
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Post by debbielight7 on Jul 22, 2013 21:39:05 GMT -5
Thanks, Jana. I hope some will be around after October. I'll try to keep some of the plants blooming and maybe add feeders. I noticed budding on my firespike. I'm eager for them to bloom for the hummers that are here. I think some of the hummers are juveniles. They like to check everything out. On Thursday I was sitting on my patio next to a potted plant and one of them came right up to some blooms next to my leg. I could feel its wings. I was thrilled!
Debbie
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Post by janamontverde45 on Jul 27, 2013 0:01:52 GMT -5
Debbie , have you checked the Hummingbird Forum?
Jana
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Post by debbielight7 on Jul 27, 2013 7:19:30 GMT -5
Jana, is that the network54.com site. If so, I had signed up for it, but before I had a chance to post there, the site was hacked into and I had to change my passwords for everything as suggested. I have felt cautious about logging in after that. I do read and enjoy the postings though and have learned a good deal from everyone there.
Debbie
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Post by janamontverde45 on Jul 28, 2013 0:08:43 GMT -5
I read it often. Rarely do I have anything to add to it. My Fire spike is blooming, it's under an oak tree. We went to Arizona one year to see the hummingbirds ,it was Great. It was Southwest Birding festival. Had 2 HB's chasing each other around this morning. Jana
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Post by debbielight7 on Jul 28, 2013 10:27:25 GMT -5
Seeing hummingbirds in Arizona must have been fabulous, Jana. I understand that you can see several species there and in large numbers. I have spikes on my firespike and hopefully blooms will open within a week. Can't wait to see the hummers using it. I didn''t get to spend much time out yesterday so I missed any hummer action. Hopefully I will see them today. In the meantime today I have seen a gulf fritillary, some swallowtails, many zebra longwings, and some rather large dragonflies (I hope they don't go after the hummingbird juvies).
Debbie
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Post by janamontverde45 on Jul 28, 2013 14:16:56 GMT -5
We went to a place that was a B & B, they allowed visitors during that Bird Festival. They had hummingbird feeders hanging on the brackets that are used for barbed wire. The hummingbirds were thick like bees. You could stand near the feeders and hope not to be stabbed. It was Great! 2 HB here, do you have scarlet morning glory vine? It's a big hit here.
Jana
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Post by debbielight7 on Jul 28, 2013 22:19:03 GMT -5
I can't imagine seeing that many hummers at one time. I would be in awe. What a wonderful experience for you. I did see one hummer mid-day today on the coral honeysuckle, cuphea, and red pentas. I don't have the scarlet morning glory. I was concerned that it might be too aggressive in spreading. I planted some cardinal flowers, but they are being eaten by slugs. I have tried a sunken container of beer and sprinkled some cornmeal (which supposedly kills them) around but they are still getting to the plants. I think they will be completely consumed before they have a chance to flower, which is disappointing.
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brian
New Member
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Post by brian on Aug 7, 2013 13:31:01 GMT -5
Hi there, just joined this group today. Very interested in the Florida Hummingbirds, we have some Bottle Brush tree's and Fire Spike which has attracted them to our yard. After seeing them, we added some feeders and now I see them everyday. Our location is in Deltona and hopefully I can get a few more photographs of them. It looks like three female Ruby Throats so far. Will get a few images up soon.
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Post by debbielight7 on Aug 7, 2013 20:00:57 GMT -5
That's great Brian. My firespike has now started blooming and it didn't take long for the hummers to find it. I did have a feeder up but they didn't use it, only the flowers. I'm in east Orlando.
Debbie
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Post by janamontverde45 on Aug 20, 2013 17:20:59 GMT -5
I saw a female RT today at The Florida Scrub-Jay Trail in Clermont, Fl. It was using a red Firespike plant. One female in the yard at Montverde. Using the scarlet morning glory vine.
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