Congrats to you. I think it is funny that you are going out in the car to lookout for him :)

I was fixated the first day I saw mine too. Maybe we WILL need a 12 step program.

Some may think I need to be cured, but I sure don't want to be cured! I've seen hummingbirds many times in my walks in the woods, occasionally in the garden, and also exotic ones at the aviary where I used to work. As many times as I've seen them, I just never get blase about it. They are such little miracles!

Although I've always grown some flowers, it's only recently that I've started to tailor my outdoor plantings to suit them. I got interested last August when I saw at least 4 different birds buzzing around my Trumpet vine.

As for my vigil, I sat in the car patiently for about 15 minutes, the rain softly falling, but never saw him again. I was listening to NPR news, so perhaps he's an ultra right wing hummingbird and was turned off by all that liberal chatter! I would have stayed longer, but my mom came home and I got distracted making dinner for her. After dinner, I renewed my digging efforts to expand the garden and make some space for the three columbines I just bought at the nursery. I worked until dark, but he never showed. Maybe he found some flowers in someone else's yard, or maybe he was just passing through. Still, it's good to know that there is at least one who has returned. I wonder if he's one of "my" immature males from last summer. No way to know.

The way I see it, where there is one returnee, more will likely follow!

Congrats Kristin!

Hi Kristen!

How wonderful!!!! I'm sure he will return. :) Just like you I love them to pieces and I will never tire of them. :) I really love reading your follow-ups. You have a beautiful way of expressing yourself! I have three huge perennial gardens in my front lawn! Whenever I purchase a new perennial or annual I always say to myself hmmmm.........which one would the hummingbird like!!!! They are truly Gods little flying jewels. I love to watch them buzz from flower to flower! One once perched itself on one of my many cherubs scattered about the garden!

There are worse things to be addicted to........that's for sure! LOL

Have a blessed day!

Marcy :)

Thanks Penny, and Carol, and especially Marcy for the compliment! I love to hear what others write, too. Hummingbirds are just one of those things that are easy to get excited about, and that's one of the reasons I enjoy this forum so much.

As for my lone male, I was out all day, so didn't have a chance to look for him. Judging by the level of nectar in the feeder, it doesn't look like any nectar has been drunk, so perhaps he was just passing through. If he were one of my returning males, he would probably have come to stay, remembered the feeder, and taken a few sips. The feeder is so small, that I think I would notice a drop in nectar levels, even if only one hummer were feeding from it over the course of a day.

The columbines will be the next to bloom, so I'll be keeping a close lookout.

Congrats Kristin! I got my first hummy - a male and the very first time that I actually have seen a mature male in person - last Saturday (4/29). Last year I got my first in June (a female). I last saw one while on the phone Monday evening, but at least I know they are here and still willing to come up to my spot to buzz around.

Glad to hear you've gotten one, too! I think you guys in eastern PA are a little ahead of us. I have a sense that the major bulk of hummingbirds are just starting to appear now in more northerly areas. Although the first sightings in this area were in mid April, I suspect it's only a tiny minority of birds that make it back so early. Still, even though I knew this to be true, I just about went nuts waiting. I'm so relieved to see the one, and I feel calmer now. I feel confident that I will soon be seeing more.

SO, JUST A NOTE TO MORE NORTHERLY HUMMINGBIRD WATCHERS: My humble advice is not to get all wowed by those first bird reports. You need to understand that even if you haven't yet seen a hummingbird, you probably will be soon. I think the overwhelming majority of us do not see our first hummingbirds at those early dates. It took me 2 full weeks past the first sightings to see mine. From what others are writing on this forum, I get the sense that the leading edge of greater numbers of birds are starting to arrive now in the northeast. So, if you haven't seen any yet, take heart! You very likely will be seeing them soon!

Hi Kristen!

Have you had any steady hummingbirds yet??? I'm still waiting. I've gone so far as to wear a red tee shirt outside when I'm working!!!!!! I agree, it won't be long now.........look how long we all wait!!!!! Patience is a virture right?

Have a blessed day!

Marcy :)

Nope. No steadies yet. I only saw that one male, and as bad luck would have it, didn't have the feeder out right when he came. I put it out immediately after, but I never saw him again.

I haven't had much chance to watch for hummers this past week because I have been diverted by a family crisis. However, I'm keeping the feeder cleaned, and filled, and there's no sign that any sugar water is being drunk. I'm hoping that as their numbers build, I will start seeing them. Last year, I only saw them in August and September. I've added lots of new plantings, and hope this will draw them in earlier in the season.

Marcy and Kristin,
I saw my first male Wed. evening at 6:04. I hope he is a keeper. At least I know that they are hear in the area now.

Penny

Congratulations! Mine didn't stay, but I hope yours will. Maybe my bird continued on north and found his way to your place!

Hey Kristen, don't feel bad........I haven't seen one yet either this year! I guess they did fly up to Penny's! LOL

Have a wonderful day girls and I hope all goes well with your family situation Kristen!

Keep us posted Kristen and Penny!!!!

Take care!

Marcy :)

Well I think I saw one briefly on Friday evening. He/she buzzed into a hanging green vine that is at the back of my yard in some heavy brush that lines a fence. It was such a brief sighting but I'm pretty sure. He/she didn't touch any of my flowers so I wonder if he/she was after some spider webs or insects? I immediately put out my feeder and am now really watching to see if he/she returns!!! I was so excited! I just planted a new Cross vine too!

My first sighting was Saturday. I'm guessing that this was a passing migrator. She went straight to the feeder, sat for about 2 minutes and was gone. My resident last year showed little interest in the feeder. As I currently have many of her favorite plants in bloom, especially a massive bloom on the Gold Flame Honeysuckle, I doubt this was a returning bird. I'll keep waiting.

I visually confirmed a female at my spot yesterday. I thought I had seen one earlier last week but wasn't sure as it was dusk.

Just based on this one's flight behavior, she seems to possibly be my returning female, as she seemed to "know" where everything was from last year (although there are some things blooming that were done before she came last year and there are some new things). She immediately went to check on my Mandarin honeysuckle and even pecked on it, although it won't be blooming for awhile (but has buds starting to elongate). She also did a straight-down dive after nectaring at the feeder, which last year suggested to me that there was possibly a nest down there in one of the trees or shrubs against the front of my building.

Jenny,
How attractive is the Mandarin honeysuckle? It did not bloom here last year, but is covered with buds now. Once they found the Gold Flame honeysuckle last summer, it became a favorite. It looks as though the Mandarin will follow it by a few weeks which could provide a long period of spring attraction.

Kristen - Glad your long wait is over. Was particularly pleased to learn that you had previously had to wait until August of Sept to see them. I am still in that category. Last year had them off and on (only one at a time though) from August till Oct 11th. A few years one male came thru and stayed one day then took off up north. There is always hope that one will come before we leave for Maine on Monday. Told Marcy and Penny I have lots more plants this year than last that are in bloom. Anyway hope your family crisis is resolved soon. And that your hummers are keeping you pleasantly occupied - Loved that you waited in the car in the rain to see them...I do similiar things.

Oh gee Harry! Sorry I missed your message.

The Mandarin honeysuckle is burnt orange with a deep yellow throat. I don't know what it is about it but my hummers keep going over to it despite the fact that a brand new blooming Coral Honeysuckle is right there directly across from the feeder, literally a couple feet away! LOL

Here is what the flower looked like last year (mine bloomed for the first time last year after having it 3 years):

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It's looking like it should be blooming in a week or two, as the buds are more elongated now, and need just a bit more length and some coloring before opening. I know this honeysuckle seems to have one of the longest time ranges to go from bud to actual bloom that I've seen! LOL

Jubilation! My 2 sisters and friend are visiting my mom's house for the weekend. This morning, while I was still at my apartment, my sharp-eyed sister spotted a female hummingbird at my home made feeder by the window. She told my mom, who was also sitting at the table, eating breakfast, and they were both thrilled to see her. They were so excited that they shouted up to my sister's friend, unconcerned that my other sister was still sound asleep and on California time! Mary Lou, the friend, (how can I put this delicately?) was upstairs in the bathroom, and came charging downstairs, with no idea what the hubbub was all about. She thought for sure that there was some grave medical emergency and was no doubt wondering if she should dial 911. By the time she got downstairs, the little lady was gone, but Mary Lou got to see her later when she returned within the hour to sip at the feeder.

They said she came at least 3 times during the morning hours, and I got here about noonish, but haven't seen her. I'm putting some fresh nectar out, and at the moment, the feeder's sitting in the freezer, cooling down as quickly as possible so I can put it outside again.

I am so psyched! It looks like we're finally getting a regular, and much earlier than last year. The native columbines are in full bloom, and I also have what I think are Salvia coccinea that are blooming lightly. It's been so darn cold and wet that the Salvia is sulking a wee bit, but I know that when we get back to normal May temperatures, the swelling buds will burst into bloom. I've got some "Billy Green" Fuchsia in an 18" pot, so hoping it will bloom soon so I can see if it's as good as Gartenmeister Bonstedt. My Monarda, "Gardenview Scarlet" is also looking good, but no flowers yet.

..And this just in... While writing the previous paragraph, with the feeder still in the freezer, my sister shouted again that she was back and looking in vain for the feeder. I dashed to the freezer, grabbed the cooling feeder, and raced out the door in time to see her giving up and zipping off to the Steinmetz's house, across the street and diagonal from us. "Oh come back," I shouted foolishly, but she didn't listen. They've got lots of flowers over at the Steinmetz house, so I imagine she's enjoying a fine dining experience over there.

The feeder's out again, and I'm hoping she'll reappear. Unlike our one-time male, it looks like she's here to stay. I am so, so happy! Can you tell?

The male may be a resident also but the males tend to do more traveling around than the females from what I have experienced. They are surveying the neighborhood to see what is available. Your female will probably return after she makes the rounds of the neighborhood also.

Kristen with regards to your Gardenview Scarlet bee balm. Keep and eye on it for powdery mildew and if you see any develop treat it right away. Some people had a problem with it last year. If this year is wetter, it may not be as much of a problem.

Penny

She did indeed come back Penny, just as you predicted. I got some non-digital video of her at the feeder, so won't be posting any images. I've still not seen any males since that single sighting.

I understand that dry conditions are what favor the development of powdery mildew on Monarda. That always seemed strange to me since I thought mildew was something that grows under moist conditions. Why would that be, I wonder?

If dryness is the problem, my Monarda probably won't suffer from it because of the unusual design of my garden. Last fall, I dug a 3 foot deep, 2 1/2' x 6' trench, and lined it with pond liner to within a few inches of the surface. I poked some holes in the sides of the liner to allow for some lateral drainage, but my aim was to produce a somewhat poorly drained patch of ground. The problem with our suburban soil is that the developers just sheared off the soil, so we have, at most, only 6-8" of decent soil, with limestone and sandstone rocks underneath that result in excessively well-drained soil. When you combine this with semi-shade, it's hard for plants to grow well. I finally decided I'd had enough of this, so I am lining various holes around the garden with rubber liner, and placing moisture lovers like cardinal flower in the soil. You can't tell anything at the surface, but below ground is a reservoir of water for the roots to access. I hope it works. I've got my Lobelia cardinalis in this sort of hole, the Monardas and Mimulus cardinalis in the other.

Glad to hear she has returned Kristin! Also if she is nesting she will make fewer visits to the feeder. She will feed as much as she can so that she can go longer periods.

You are right about the dry conditions being the cause of powdery mildew and I agree with you it doesn't make sense when you think thatwhat we know as mold and mildew delvelop in warm moist conditions. If you provide plenty of air circulation for your plants they should be fine. This year may not be as much of a problem as last year. Last year was very hot and dry all summer and from what I was hearing from a lot of people, many plants not normally affected were affected by powdery mildew.

I like your reasoning of using a pond liner to create a moister planting area. Unfortunately my yard is the exact opposite. I have heavy clay and I use compost, pea gravel, wood mulch and whatever else I can add to the soil to get better drainage. I think the only ones that have decent soil all the way around are those that live in coastal areas and have that nice silty, loam. The rest of us have to do what we can to make it workable.

Penny

I can't believe I am here now in Maine at the Harraseeket Inn and posting from their computer! Am psyched! We arrived about 1/2 hour ago and I have already scoped out the garden for the hummers I saw lst year...Nothing at this hour but you can bet I'll be checking every chance I get...The gardens are beautiful - tulips still in bloom, ref currant,white things, (have to ask), others and gartenmeister fuchsia bush right next to the patio. I'll be down here at 6:00 a.m. with my coffee just waiting! Tried to access the Hummingbird Forum from google - no luck and forgot the whole name of network 54 to try that. If you are around Penny or anyone could you send it to me on this site? Thanks! Glad Kristin your hummers are buzzing around. Sounds like an exciting time with your sisters... DH is napping - it was not a long trip but tiring on the highways - So have to go check again before supper and after - still obsessed!! But know I can at least see one up here hopefull!

Carol
If you don't get the link, email me and I will send it to you. Here is the link to Bob's Place

Penny