The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: garden scene

BASICS

BASICS: "Hummingbirds.....where is the person, I ask, who, on observing this glittering fragment of the rainbow, would not pause, admire, and turn his mind with reverence..." (J. J. Audubon).

This is a blog about my summer life at the Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary, at my winter garden, Calypso, in the Bahamas, and aspects of life in general.

This private sanctuary is now permanently closed to the general public, as a result of a lawsuit brought by a neighbor. Only my friends and personal guests may visit (paul.adams%stonybrook.edu).

Sunday, January 19, 2014

garden scene

The light was beautiful this afternoon, though the day has been quite cool (high of 73) and tonight, since the outdoor temperature went below my threshold of 65 degrees, we have a fire at Woodstar this evening. Casuarina wood is the best burning wood I know, tremendously heavy - it sinks in water! - and burns without the slightest sparking, releasing a fragrance of cedar. The fireplace in Woodstar is a great rarety on the island, and is decorated with a surround of old Delft tiles. I have been told that these tiles are worth the rest of the house put together (it's a bit of ruin, but old, comfortable and characterful, and Claire has made it quite pretty).
So I took some more garden shots; I think the one above came out quite well. The main palm is a Royal (Roystonea regia, from Cuba), my favorite. Note the spear coming out of the crown of the palm: the tightly rolled new sentinel frond. The splashes of red are ti plants, and the banana-like leaves to the right are heliconias.

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FAQs

1. How can I visit? Unless you are an invited friend or personal guest of the owner, Paul Adams, you cannot. The sanctuary is now permanently closed to the general public.

2.Why did the sanctuary close? The sanctuary opened, on a very limited basis, during 1998-2017. However, a neighbor, Kamal Bherwani, and 2 former neighbors, Fred Terry and Shawn Hamilton, brought a $3 million lawsuit, and forced complete and permanent closing. The plaintiffs claimed, incorrectly, that the sanctuary was a "commercial business". Though no evidence for this claim was, or could be, produced, the owner decided to settle the lawsuit and permanently close.

3. When do the hummingbirds arrive and leave, and where do they go for the winter?

They arrive on Long Island late april, and early may. They leave between aug 1 and oct 1. The adult males arrive and leave first, then the adult females, then the young, in order of fledging. They all go to central America via the Gulf of Mexico.

3. What varieties do we have at the sanctuary?

Only the ruby-throat (only the adult male has the ruby throat). This is the only one that breeds east of the Mississipi. The US has about 9 other species but they are all western.

4. Why are there rocks in the trees? How long have you had this place?

I have had the property for 27 years and each year I put a new rock to mark the beginning of a new hummingbird season (may 1).

5. What is the best place to sit to see hummingbirds?

On your bottom! Since you may have to wait a bit choose the spot that best suits you.

6. How can I attract hummers to my yard?

Plant cardinal flower (right variety!) and black-and-blue salvia, maintain a couple of small clean feeders, both placed where you spend a lot of time outdoors (or in front of a picture window). Read this blog or lihummer.org for further suggestions.

BASICS

Sunday, January 19, 2014

garden scene

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