My husband called out from the garden yesterday — the hummingbird had returned and was buzzing around in a rose of Sharon shrub.
I quickly grabbed a kettle and began boiling water to mix up a sugar solution for the little guy. The hummer stops here in late spring on his way north, and again on his way back south. I also saw a couple of monarch butterflies indulging themselves on a dwarf butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii ‘Nanho Blue’).
Visits from hummers and monarchs mark the end of summer, but not the end of the gardening season. It’s time to scout around for new mums and ornamental cabbages, and when cool air returns, I must repair the stone edging on the air-conditioner bed. It’s not over until the snow flies.
Other recent posts by Judith Adam:
Hi Beverley (Sept. 19),
Yes, I know how you feel about missing them. My one hummer visitor was here for only two days this month, on her way south. But she fed more than ever before, and used the feeder. I count on her memory and our delicious sugar syrup to bring her back next May. They are really so special!
— Judith
I am pretty sure that my regular hummers left over the Labour Day Weekend. Unfortunately for me, I was not here…as I swear they always come and say goodbye to me… Noticed their absence when I returned!!
However, I have had a number of visitors passing through over the past 2 weeks. I’m glad I made a new batch for my “travelling” friends. Interesting to view their different characters compared to my regular, summer friends…. who I miss already!!!