Feeders and Flowers

penny1947

19 years ago

We always remind people to leave at least one feeder up over the winter if they can maintain it but since my little hummer arrived here after our snowstorm on Oct. 16th who won't use or doens't know how to use a feeder, it set me to thinking that a lot of people start cutting their plants back in the fall or pulling them out completely before the frost takes them.

I would like to encourage people to leave those plants alone if they are still blooming because it may provide the necessary nourishment for our late migrators who don't go to the feeders. Many of my plants were flattened by the heavy wet snow and I was very close to going out and ripping many out to tidy things up after the storm. Since the ground was so saturated my intentions were thankfully thwarted and because of it my plants including many of the flattened ones have provided necessary food for my little late migrant. So if at all possible leave those plants that still could bloom for as long as possible. Right now I kow of two others in the Great Lakes region beside myself who are still hosting migrant Rubythroats. These hummers will still need food sources as they head south. Please also encourage your friends, family and neighbors to leave their plantings for our migrating birds.

Penny

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Comments (5)

tracey_nj6
19 years ago
As long as my plants can still stand and have flowers to show, they'll be left up. I'll also leave the feeders out for as long as I can. As sweet as it must be to see a hummer this late, it's got to be a little nerve-racking. I wish those late migrators would stop by; I have plenty of salvia's still blooming nicely, but I'm afraid not for long...
hummersteve
19 years ago
Penny--Im afraid my plants were taken by the recent hard freeze we had here. But I will still continue to leave my feeders out and fresh for any that may happen by.--Steve
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penny1947
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks Tracy,
There are now two hummers from my part of western NY and three from Mich and I am sure there have been others sited just not reported. Most of my plants look pretty sad after the snow storm but they are blooming so they shall be left alone as long as possible. I am going to have ulcers if she doesn't leave soon even though the temps are not that bad yet.

Steve
We haven't had a hard freeze yet thank goodness but I appreciate you leaving your feeder up. Hopefully these little ladies will discover how to use feeders if they every head south.

Penny
hummersteve
19 years ago
Penny--hows Roscoe P. Coldtrain or should I say Roscoa. Sorry to interrupt this thread, but just to let you know I cruised your post on the other forum. Sounds like you have plenty of company over there , you dont need me . As soon as I read the first post I recognized who you were referring to , surprized some of the others didnt. Heres wishing Roscoa a good wintering for as long as "she" stays.
penny1947
Original Author
19 years ago
Steve
Roscoa is still here. She doesn't seem to be in any hurry at all to leave. It is only 36 degrees here right now and my nerves can't take much more. I really hope she will get tired of the cold and head south. Feel free to visit any time you have nothing better to do.

Penny