On the Proper Care and Maintenance of Hummingbirds

It is doubtful that there exist more delightful creatures than hummingbirds.* These high-energy creatures dart and zip around as if they are fueled on pure sugar. Oh wait, I guess they are...


*Yes, I realize that your dear pet is very cute, but this is my blog post and we are talking hummers here.

Hummingbirds seemingly spend most of their waking hours searching out sweet nectar, and are easily lured to your garden by the addition of a hummingbird feeder or twelve.

Now I know where all the hummingbirds in our area have gone. Apparently, all the daylilies are here too.

These little things are extremely territorial.

"Hey! That's my sugar water!"

"Tough, I was here first!"

"Oh yeah? I'll fight you for it!"

Um, yeah. I admit that my hummingbird translation is a bit rough, but you get the idea.

Let's move to the proper food for hummers.

Commercial mixes are available for hummingbird feeders, but it is easy (and cheaper) to make your own.

Here, we have the ingredients. Four parts water to one part granulated sugar. Red food coloring is not necessary; the hummers will find the sugar water without the coloring.

It is very important that honey never be used. Honey is poisonous to hummingbirds.

Heat the water to boiling before adding the sugar. Stir the mixture until the sugar is dissolved and turn off the heat.

Allow the sugar water to cool down to room temperature before filling the hummingbird feeder.

We still seem to be at an impasse here.

My “Bucket List”, part I

I must admit that this name is much better than my previously used “Things I Want to Do before I Die List”. Perhaps it is the fact that I recently turned 45 years old or that my husband and I just celebrated our 25th anniversary, but I have found myself thinking about my bucket list lately. Are there things I wish to accomplish before I die? What are they and how close am I to achieving them? Are there more items I want to add to this list?

1) Learn to eat with chopsticks – check.

2) Travel all the way around in a revolving door – check.

3) Ride in a limo – check.

4) Learn how to play with a yo-yo – check.

5) Learn how to play the mountain dulcimer – still in progress.

6) Write a cookbook – still in progress.

7) Write a gardening book – started.

8) Write a fictionalized version of my life story – planning.

9) Get a hummingbird to land on my finger – check, and yes, it is possible if you are patient and still enough.

10) Experience a cicada Brood X “invasion” – check. 2004 was the first time I lived in an area that had them and it was amazing to see all the thousands of insects that were everywhere. Sit still outside long enough and you will have them on you. But not to worry. They don’t bite and they really are gentle.

11) See the Northern Lights – not yet.

12) See an Alaskan glacier – not yet.

13) Visit Biltmore Estate – not yet.

14) See the fall foliage in New England – and not yet.

15) Explore a local cave – need a buddy for that one, as well as water and more flashlights and batteries than you ever think you will need.

Cute things, but they refuse to stay still long enough to get a good picture.

I am sure that I will continue to find items to add to my list, but this is a good start. Well, off to see what I can do next…