Thursday, September 6, 2012

On Stephen King...and Hummingbirds.


Many years ago, when I read the book, On Writing by the master of the macabre, Stephen King, one of his recommendations stuck:

“...put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn't in the middle of the room. Life isn't a support-system for art. It's the other way around.”

Now, granted, King went through some tough times. During his days of addiction, his grand desk lorded over a spacious, sun-lit room, where he “...sat behind that desk either drunk or wrecked out of my mind, like a ship's captain in charge of a voyage to nowhere.” After he got sober, he traded his desk for one half its size—and moved it to the corner.

My desk is tucked in the corner. And although I'm neither a world famous author nor a recovering addict, the corner desk works. Otherwise, I'd spend most of my time gazing out the window.

Of course, a window overlooking a garden actually benefits a garden writer. Because you never know what might inspire the next story, post, or article:


Yesterday, after several months of neglect, I finally cleaned and filled the hummingbird feeders. I hadn't worried much about the birds during the summer, because our garden is filled with nectar-rich plants that provide sustenance for the hummingbirds. Still, as the days become a bit shorter and many of the plants drop their blooms, I decided to add the feeders back to the garden to give the hummingbirds an additional source of food.

The result? A hummingbird fiesta.

Our garden is typically filled with hummingbirds. Trees and bushes provide shelter and places to nest, while the perennials and annuals offer nectar sources. The feeders, though, provide an extra source of nourishment for the hummingbirds—plus, they give us strategic viewpoints for the tiny creatures, which can be challenging to spot among the trees and lantana.

 
Clemson University's Cooperative Extension offers excellent information on developing hummingbird habitats. Some of the plants recommended for food sources include lantana, morning glory, honeysuckle, petunia, snapdragon, butterfly weed, bee balm, Indian paintbrush, and hollyhock. We've also found that trumpet creeper, hibiscus, and red columbine attract hummingbirds in our gardens.


In fact, hummingbirds tend to favor red flowers, although they are also attracted to orange and pink blooms. However, red food dye added to prepared hummingbird food isn't necessary.

You don't need to purchase hummingbird food at the store. It's very simple and inexpensive to make at home. Because I never remember the exact ratio for making hummingbird food, I thought I'd share it with you. (Maybe by writing the formula, I'll finally remember the ratio without looking it up!)

(Do you see its tongue?)

To prepare homemade hummingbird food, use a 4-1 ratio: 4 cups of water, 1 cup white sugar. Boil the water, adding the sugar and stirring until it completely dissolves. (Boiling also helps retard the growth of microorganisms.) Wait until the mixture cools, and fill clean feeders.

NOTE: Never use honey, brown sugar, or artificial sweeteners. These ingredients can harm the birds.

Place the feeders at least six feet apart in the garden. Shade helps slow the fermentation of the nectar.

Clean and refill the feeder at least once a week, more often in hot weather. Mold in the feeders can make hummingbirds ill. 


You'll find many gorgeous, artsy glass and metal hummingbird feeders. While I used to purchase the expensive feeders, I found that either the perch wasn't appropriately sized for the hummingbird, the feeder was impossible to clean, or it only lasted one season. Instead, we've been using the non-artsy-but-practical cheap plastic feeders found at the non-artsy-but-practical big box stores. 


The birds don't seem to mind.


Did you know that a praying mantis can kill a hummingbird? At first, I thought the praying mantis hung around to harvest insects near the feeder. But then, it seemed a little...aggressive. A quick Google search, and I found that hummingbirds are prey for the praying mantis.

Eek. Thankfully, there were no casualties.


In retrospect, I need to move a few of the feeders. Those sweet, adorable, itty-bitty birds are viciously territorial, and they expend enormous energy chasing their competition away from the feeders.

One feeder is almost empty. And my neck is getting stiff.

Because although my desk is in the corner, the window is to my left...

...I've been spying on hummingbirds all morning.

Stephen King would not be amused. (Unless I wrote a graphic account of the evil praying mantis capturing and torturing an innocent hummingbird...)

Nope.


Cheers!

Julie



17 comments:

  1. Great hummingbird photos! And good information. I have the same type of feeder - it is easier to clean than most the others I have used. I've never seen a praying mantis so close to a hummingbird feeder!

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    1. Thank you--I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time! Isn't that little feeder so easy to use? I'm glad I changed mine out from the more artful feeders. They were pretty but impractical.

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  2. Super hummer photos Julie! I am glad that Praying mantis is off the feeder I have been known to go out and take them off the feeders. Leave my little hummers alone!!!!
    I have red lobelia, another great flower for the hummers. Just bought an Agastache, love them and so do the hummers.

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    1. Thanks, Janet! I honestly didn't know about the hazards of a praying mantis to the hummingbirds until I saw something...somewhere. Perhaps on a friend's blog? Once I saw that guy on the feeder, I checked it out--and sure enough, a praying mantis will take out a poor little hummingbird. What would we do without the Internet?! ;-)

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  3. Thanks for the great photos! Our feeder is right outside our kitchen window so I never get to take a picture without a screen grid getting in the way. I didn't know that praying mantis were so aggressive to hummingbirds. I'll have to keep a watch out on my feeders.

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    1. Mia, the feeders are right outside the office window, plus we have one on the balcony. I finally decided to sit outside for a few minutes to take the photos--and I was lucky, those little guys put on a show!

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  4. Gorgeous photos! And praying mantis! Stephen King used to be my favorite author, especially since I am from Maine. My sister is a neighbor's of his. But you know I recently got rid of my collection of his books:( I'm kind of sad but it was time to clean out the library and get new stuff. He is will always have a special place in my heart though. I find the desk story most interesting.

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    1. Tina, I too used to be an avid Stephen King reader--primarily when I was a teen. Then, after having kids, my tolerance level for horror dropped. I'm now a complete wimp! Still, I remember staying up all night during summer vacations, reading his latest novel. I haven't parted with them yet, even though our bookshelves are overflowing and I have a storage room filled with containers of books. I'm terribly sentimental about books!

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  5. Stunning photos Julie. I love hummingbirds! I was late in putting out my feeders. I actually have some homemade nectar I prepared last night and about to fill the feeders today. There was mold a few days ago so I had to clean them and start fresh. I'm looking forward to reading your posts and thank you for visiting my blog. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting! Our feeders also needed a good scrubbing--they were quite nasty. Hope you're enjoying the hummingbird show--I'm sure your feeders are busy with the fresh nectar!

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  6. Wonderful photos! I don't have any feeders but I do have a huge Hamelia paten bush loaded with flowers that the hummers and butterflies love. I'm trying to plant more plants to attract them.

    Thanks for visiting my blog and your kind comment and for becoming my latest follower.

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady Lorraine

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    1. Thank you, Lorraine! I've been relying on the flowers to feed the hummingbirds all summer, but I thought we'd give them a little extra treat with the feeders. I think any time I add a perennial to the garden, I always consider if it will attract and feed hummingbirds and butterflies. Since fall is approaching, it's time to pick a few new plants to add to the collection! ;-) Thanks so much for visiting!

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  7. Wow, Julie! Such fabulous photos of the hummingbirds!!! I'm adding your blog to my blogroll. I enjoy reading you!

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    1. Kylee, thank you so much! I adore your blog and have been (admittedly) stalking it lately, catching up on many posts I hadn't read. I just read about your conservatory--loved it! Look forward to reading more!

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  8. They're lovely. Reminds me to get our feeder up!

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    1. I must admit--I find myself staring out the window, watching those little cuties, far more than I should! ;-)

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  9. What kind of hummers do you have in your area? I keep my three feeders up all year, but this time of year is especially busy with the fledglings and because of the dry natural landscape. The feeder outside my kitchen window seems to be the communal feeder this year and gets sucked dry in less than two days. They all come to feed in the evening just before they all roost for the night and my 4 port feeder hums with the activity of almost a dozen birds, with two to a port and others shoving their way in, it's quite a sight to see. The feeder is next to a Meyer lemon tree and the hummers are constantly feeding at the lemon blossoms, they also like the leonitis that volunteers around my garden, and cerinthe and the white flowering runner beans in the vegetable garden.

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