at LONG last in the garden. LoOooong last. (Did I emphasize that enough??!!) In fact, I'd waited so long to no avail, I'd pretty much given up. I pulled all the feeders last weekend ~ whining the entire time about how they'd bypassed our garden this year.
Thank goodness no feeders are required ~ a container of 'Black & Blue' Salvia will do just as well. It's one of the hottest hummingbird magnets around:
Oh, I bet you'd like some proof???
No worries, I anticipated your skepticism and covered it:
Convinced?? I thought so.
For me, the summer is now officially complete ~ it always ends with hummingbirds. I had a dreadful feeling this one was going to be different. Salvaged in the nick of time....
How sweet it is.
Backtrack to the first photo tho ~ did you happen to notice the vintage clippers?? I scored those in one of my previously mentioned flea market runs. Don't they look just awesome next to Hopflower Oregano (Origanum libanoticum):
Like they were made to perch there....
Wishing everyone a restful & relaxing Labor Day weekend. The purpose of the holiday is fitting for all the hard working gardeners in the world too! :-)
Amazing how many flowers that you have in your garden, I also have. :) I have had hummingbirds at the salvia all summer, but they are too skittish for me to capture in a photo. I haven't been able to find that oregano for three years and I absolutely love that simple little plant! Beautiful photos!!
Posted by: jewel | September 04, 2011 at 01:26 PM
Lucky you! I haven't seen one in my yard yet and about to give up. Your blog encouraged me to give it a little more time. Love the clippers too - perfect touch!
Posted by: Dana | September 04, 2011 at 07:28 PM
Hooray! Now don't quote me on this but I've read that it's better for hummers to get their nourishment from flowers than from feeders. I never use feeders and we have hummers year round. If the plants they love are growing in your garden, the hummers will come. Eventually. :)
Posted by: Grace | September 04, 2011 at 07:59 PM
It is sweet indeed. Wonderful captures of the hummingbird!
Posted by: Kala | September 05, 2011 at 04:11 AM
Hi Kathleen, thanks for thinking of me. Things are settling down a little bit at home. My husband and I are flying to California soon to finish packing and cleaning his parent's home to hopefully put it up for sale. They've both passed away in about one year's time. It's a big job considering we live two states away, and there's so much to do. We've enjoyed our hummingbird friends all summer. They are fascinating to watch. I'm glad they finally visited your garden. Love your vintage clippers too. Have a wonderful Labor day!
Posted by: Ramona/The Garden Explorer | September 05, 2011 at 07:05 AM
Awesome! Can't have the summer ending on a bad note. Beautiful catch and the clippers have such character.
Posted by: tina | September 05, 2011 at 04:10 PM
Kathleen, you caught the little fellow beautifully! Lucky you to have a Rufus! My Ruby throats have been enjoying the Salmon and Pink Agastache especially this summer, but they do the rounds of all the plants and it's so much fun to watch them.
I envy you all those lovely Orioles. I was lucky to have a few early in the spring, but haven't seen any in the yard during the summer.
Your photos are a real treat! I especially love the pink flower head with the circles of light behind it. Beautiful!
Sad to see summer coming to an end, isn't it?
Ours has been a mixed bag..wet early, then hot and dry, now wet again with several dull, dreary days lately.
Thanks for sharing the beauty.
Posted by: kerri | September 06, 2011 at 08:20 PM
Beautiful photo of that little hummingbird!!!
Posted by: Janet, The Queen of Seaford | September 07, 2011 at 06:14 PM
Love your photos!!!!!! Looks like you have a beautiful garden! thanks for sharing!
Tammy
Posted by: Tammy | September 08, 2011 at 04:23 PM
Great shots! I haven't seen nearly as many hummingbirds this year as last. Love the vintage clippers.
Posted by: Jennifer | September 11, 2011 at 08:57 AM