It has been extremely dry here in my Tennessee garden and I think all the animals and insects are beginning to notice. The dryness is about the only explanation I can find for the swarm of honeybees that enjoyed a full hummingbird feeder of sugar water. Surely they did not get the word that today is Labor Day?
At first the hummers would just move to another feeding spot on the feeder and avoided the bees. It then got so bad that not even the hummers could get a drink. I was a bit nervous for my well being filming all the honey bees. I have since removed the feeders because the swarm of bees was just too much and too close to our back door. It was amazing to watch though and I thought you all might enjoy the show....
in the garden....
Other than bee guards is there another way to dissuade the bees? I have poured water over the feeder and that seems to help for a bit but the bees drink way more than the hummers. They have not harmed us in any way but were none too happy when I removed both feeders they were swarming.
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,
In the Garden
Showing posts with label Hummingbirds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hummingbirds. Show all posts
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Gas Woe
I am not happy about the price of gas today but that is not my only Gas Woe. I am going to reveal an ugly secret hiding in my garden!
Just what every gardener wants to see in their yard right? NOT! This big old ugly gas tank provides us with wonderful heat during the winter months. Heat is good during the winter but the tank is not something I care to see on a daily basis.
What is a gardener to do? Well, use their imagination and create a solution to hide the big Silver Bullet.
See that little banana tree in the middle Tina?
In time, I will dig out saplings and plant them along the chain link fence behind the tank to cover the neighbors privacy fence. That task will take place once we are out of drought conditions. I have enough to water now!
The Trumpet Vine grows well in my garden with little care and provides me with beautiful trumpet shaped clusters of blooms. I prune it in the spring to keep it away from the tank because the Gas Man needs a clear pathway to the tank.
In this picture you can see the pollen has been moved about by a pollinating buddy of mine. Probably a bee but the hummingbirds and butterflies really enjoy this flower as well. They were another factor in me selecting this vine as my fence cover.
Trumpet Vines can be grown on Arbors, Trees, Telephone poles as well as Fences. Their invasive way must be kept in mind as they will become heavy in time such as the Wisteria Vine.
Look at the yellowish throat of this red-orange bloom! She is a real beauty in the garden and has been putting on a show for several weeks.
I see Trumpet Vine growing along the banks of the lake as well as the roadside here in Georgia. It loves full sun and does not seem to mind the drought conditions we have been having the past few years.
I believe I chose a perfect solution to my GAS WOE, in the garden...
Just what every gardener wants to see in their yard right? NOT! This big old ugly gas tank provides us with wonderful heat during the winter months. Heat is good during the winter but the tank is not something I care to see on a daily basis.
What is a gardener to do? Well, use their imagination and create a solution to hide the big Silver Bullet. I had an old piece of wooden fencing lying around without a use. The Saint dug two post holes and cut a 8 foot fence post in half for me. We put the posts into the ground secured with a bag of quick-crete. The next day, we put the fencing in place and hammered a few nails.
I wanted to plant some type of vine that would grow quickly along the fence, thus hiding the ugly gas tank. I selected Trumpet Vine! This is a 12 foot piece of fencing so the sales person at the nursery suggested two plants. I took the bait and bought two when one would have probably been fine. Darn sales people!
See that little banana tree in the middle Tina?
Trumpet Vine (Campsis Radicans) is native to the southeastern United States. It grows really quickly and can be viewed as an invasive plant in the garden. The leaves are really pretty with their bright green color and pointed ends.
In time, I will dig out saplings and plant them along the chain link fence behind the tank to cover the neighbors privacy fence. That task will take place once we are out of drought conditions. I have enough to water now!
The Trumpet Vine grows well in my garden with little care and provides me with beautiful trumpet shaped clusters of blooms. I prune it in the spring to keep it away from the tank because the Gas Man needs a clear pathway to the tank. This is year 3 for the vines and look at how many blooms came with this grouping!
In this picture you can see the pollen has been moved about by a pollinating buddy of mine. Probably a bee but the hummingbirds and butterflies really enjoy this flower as well. They were another factor in me selecting this vine as my fence cover.Trumpet Vines can be grown on Arbors, Trees, Telephone poles as well as Fences. Their invasive way must be kept in mind as they will become heavy in time such as the Wisteria Vine. Look at the yellowish throat of this red-orange bloom! She is a real beauty in the garden and has been putting on a show for several weeks. I see Trumpet Vine growing along the banks of the lake as well as the roadside here in Georgia. It loves full sun and does not seem to mind the drought conditions we have been having the past few years. I believe I chose a perfect solution to my GAS WOE, in the garden...
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Flying Flowers
Yesterday, I showed you my Butterfly Island. Today, I would like to take you in the mist of the island to see some of the beautiful Butterflies and Hummingbirds or "Flying Flowers" as I like to call them.
I have 2 Hummingbird feeders nestled in the middle of the island for the bird species of the Flying Flowers. I think the tiny Hummingbirds are little flowers themselves with their brilliant colors!
Hummingbirds sip sweet nectar from the butterfly bushes and the feeders we provide. Here in Georgia we have the Ruby-Throated hummer as our guest.
See the males vibrant red throat? Compare his tiny size to the telephone cable he is sitting on! 
Such a tiny bird but don't let her size fool you. I saw her chasing an Eastern Phoebe bird many times her size away from the area! Here she stands guard against any intruders! Note that the other day, the male had this area in control.
I am very proud of this next picture. I snapped 165 pictures on Friday just to attempt to capture her in flight! My persistence paid off as I was able to catch her for you to see. Just wish I had a better camera or knew how to work the settings I have on this camera! ha ha...
The shot of the male in flight is not quit as good. The female was chasing him off every time he entered the picture! She was being so rude this day!
Not sure those hummers constitute "Holy Grail" status Gail and Frances. Am I at least close enough for the consolation prize? Giggle...
I have 3 colors of Butterfly bush in the island. Two shades of purple and a white to make up the beauty. It appears that the butterflies prefer the white because most pictures of the butterflies were taken while on the white bushes.
As Frances over at the Faire Garden has mentioned, it is very difficult to capture a fluttering butterfly or bug busy at work! I had to be very patient and snap lots of useless, blurry pictures to capture the photographs I have for you!
*I am not sure I have identified the butterflies correctly as some look a bit differently then they appear in my butterfly book. If you can identify them correctly, please do so for me...
Long-Tailed Skipper: Top View; The colors remind me of the hummers
Long-Tailed Skipper:Under side view was not as colorful.
Common Sootywing:
Painted Lady:
Common Checkered Skipper:
Silver-spotted Skipper:
Banded Hairstreak:you may have to enlarge the pic to see this one.
Pipevine Swallowtail:
Black Swallowtail: Can you tell the difference between these two?
Pearl Crescent:
Gulf Fritilliary: Open wing and under wing view.
Gulf Fritillary: Under wing view.
Gulf Fritillary: Open Wing view.
Dun Skipper:
Zebra Swallowtail:
Lunar Moth: I know, the Lunar moth is not a butterfly nor is it in the butterfly island. I just wanted you to see it because I think it is beautiful with its day glow color of green.
I never realized how many different types of butterflies we had fluttering around in the Butterfly Island until I started snapping pictures. I then had a closer look and was shocked at how many we have. Keep in mind, I only snapped these pictures over two weeks time. We have many more types as they come and go all summer long.
If you do not have butterflies in your garden, then put out the Welcome Mat by planting a Butterfly Bush! I promise, you will not be sorry you did!
My favorite would be the Gulf Fritillary. (I may live in Georgia but I am a Tennessee girl at heart- Go Big Orange!) Which one do you like the best?
Hummingbirds sip sweet nectar from the butterfly bushes and the feeders we provide. Here in Georgia we have the Ruby-Throated hummer as our guest. 
See the males vibrant red throat? Compare his tiny size to the telephone cable he is sitting on! 
The female does not have the ruby colored red throat but she is a very colorful little bird just the same.
Such a tiny bird but don't let her size fool you. I saw her chasing an Eastern Phoebe bird many times her size away from the area! Here she stands guard against any intruders! Note that the other day, the male had this area in control.
I am very proud of this next picture. I snapped 165 pictures on Friday just to attempt to capture her in flight! My persistence paid off as I was able to catch her for you to see. Just wish I had a better camera or knew how to work the settings I have on this camera! ha ha... The shot of the male in flight is not quit as good. The female was chasing him off every time he entered the picture! She was being so rude this day! Not sure those hummers constitute "Holy Grail" status Gail and Frances. Am I at least close enough for the consolation prize? Giggle...This Sphinx Moth is often mistaken for a hummingbird since they closely resemble them. I know, not a great clear picture of the Sphinx. I tried my best but this little bugger was too busy and would not slow down for me! I recall someone else snapping a fairly good picture of one and thought it was Dave but I could not find a label to the Sphinx over at The Home Garden. Dave, was it you or am I mistaken?
I have 3 colors of Butterfly bush in the island. Two shades of purple and a white to make up the beauty. It appears that the butterflies prefer the white because most pictures of the butterflies were taken while on the white bushes.
As Frances over at the Faire Garden has mentioned, it is very difficult to capture a fluttering butterfly or bug busy at work! I had to be very patient and snap lots of useless, blurry pictures to capture the photographs I have for you!
*I am not sure I have identified the butterflies correctly as some look a bit differently then they appear in my butterfly book. If you can identify them correctly, please do so for me...
Now sit back and enjoy more Flying Flowers!
Tiger Swallowtail:
Tiger Swallowtail: under side view.
Long-Tailed Skipper: Top View; The colors remind me of the hummers Long-Tailed Skipper:Under side view was not as colorful.Common Sootywing:
Painted Lady: Common Checkered Skipper: Silver-spotted Skipper: Banded Hairstreak:you may have to enlarge the pic to see this one. Pipevine Swallowtail: Black Swallowtail: Can you tell the difference between these two? Pearl Crescent: Gulf Fritilliary: Open wing and under wing view.Gulf Fritillary: Under wing view. Gulf Fritillary: Open Wing view. Dun Skipper:
Variegated Fritillary:
Yellowpatch Skipper:
Firey Skipper:
Buckeye:
Zebra Swallowtail: Lunar Moth: I know, the Lunar moth is not a butterfly nor is it in the butterfly island. I just wanted you to see it because I think it is beautiful with its day glow color of green. I never realized how many different types of butterflies we had fluttering around in the Butterfly Island until I started snapping pictures. I then had a closer look and was shocked at how many we have. Keep in mind, I only snapped these pictures over two weeks time. We have many more types as they come and go all summer long. If you do not have butterflies in your garden, then put out the Welcome Mat by planting a Butterfly Bush! I promise, you will not be sorry you did!
My favorite would be the Gulf Fritillary. (I may live in Georgia but I am a Tennessee girl at heart- Go Big Orange!) Which one do you like the best?
I am so happy I created this simple Butterfly Island and I enjoy all the FLYING FLOWERS, In the Garden...
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