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).

Monday, July 11, 2016

Best Hummer Plant: Porterweed

Perhaps the best hummingbird plant of all is porterweed (Stachytarpheta species), which comes in red,purple and lavender forms. here's Fred, filmed today, at porterweed.


Porterweed is quite hard to find (no garden center on Long Island seems to carry it) but it's still available at Long Island Hummingbird Plants. They also have many other excellent hummer plants, including Cuphea and Rosebud Salvia - check out their availability list.
Here's Fred at his sunset cuphea this evening:


And here I think is his paramour (who he treats very badly, scaring her and all other intruders away), also filmed today.


And here's a long look at some Lucifer crocosmia; my deer repellent seems to have protected the buds, but they bloom in vain, because Fred disdains them and chases all the other hummers away - it's still very quiet, apart from Fred doing his rounds.


Despite the still low activity,  I'll be opening early this year (july 20, 21, 22,  from 10 to 12.30 and from 3-5) then every week until sept 15, but only 3 days a week (and the occasional weekend morning or afternoon), AND ONLY AT to be ANNOUNCED DATES. If you would like to visit one of those 3 dates, please email me, but bear in mind there will be plenty of other opportunities, with more hummingbird activities (and only 1 visit per season is allowed). No visits without a confirmed appointment!

To finish, here's the view from the front deck a half hour after the above Fred vid.




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