The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: what's in flower right now

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).

Friday, May 29, 2015

what's in flower right now

A very good and old friend from England, a longtime Boston resident, stayed with me in Baiting Hollow for 36 hours and helped with watering in all the new plants. He also took a lot of photos, and here are some.

more wild cherry

and more

Red Buckeye - Esculus pavia (good hummer tree)

red buckeye again

ostrich ferns and columbine

columbine and Wendy's Wish salvia

wild cherry

this very fragrant small flowering tree was at the Slaves' Burying Ground, in Orient. Any identification?

Salvia splendens "van Houttei"

Salvia guaranitica

3 masks on a storage shed

Terry Farm Rd becomes Hummingbird Way as it enters the sanctuary

The nearly extinct bell

shrimp plant

the small white flower has nectar

the bract surrounding it is colorful

Golden Shrimp,, Pachystachys lutea

Abutilon (Flowering Maple)

Clerodendron thompsoniae

Allium

6 comments:

UnknownMay 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM
The flowering tree you are not sure of, could it be a Russian Olive? They are very fragrant.
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Paul AdamsMay 30, 2015 at 10:23 AM
Pat - I think you are right. The vegetation around that "cimetiere marin" is mostly invasives (there used to be a nice Mimosa tree there, loved by hummingbirds). Thanks for the suggestion. Now I have a dilemma - do I plant a possible invasice whose scent is intoxicating? - Paul
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Paul AdamsMay 30, 2015 at 12:25 PM
But on more careful study I think it's autumn olive, which has greener and less narrow leaves, as in the images. Apparently the fruit are very healthy which might tip balance for me.
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UnknownMay 30, 2015 at 9:17 PM
Is there a nursery that carries red buckeye?
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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.