We have had an amazing number of Hummingbirds begin showing up at our feeder over the last few days. There has been a pair of regulars here all Spring, but in the last few days 6 more have shown up! They're buzzin' around like crazy and are a lot of fun to sit and watch.

I had never heard the little noises they make until yesterday. Being very hard of hearing, the numbers of birds and the close proximity made it possible. Very nice.

I have been seeing the wildest kinds of moths at night at the hospital I work at part time. I only know the name of 1 - Luna Moth. I've never seen these other types and I'm amazed at the variety, colors and makeup of these things. I'm gonna look for a reference site to figure out what kind they all are. They remind me of the beautiful varieties I saw in the jungle years ago. I've never studied these particular critters much, but I guess it's never to late to start.

-- John in S. IN (jdoofus@hotmail.com), July 22, 2003

Answers

One of my favorite looking moths is the cabbage moth. I have a strange grub I've never seen before I moved here, that just eats eggplant to daeth. It is brown, and about 1/4 inch long. It is also shiny. Does anyone know what these little things are?

Little Bit farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@brightok.net), July 24, 2003.

We've enjoyed the hummingbirds here also this year.

-- Judy in OK (tabletophomestead@earthlink.net), July 24, 2003.

John, we get alot of wild looking moths here too. Some look like they could be from outer space! They sure are interesting and beautiful, though.

Didn't put out hummingbird feeders this year, but I have a couple that hang around the butterfly bush and salvia plants. Have you ever been working in the garden and the hummers buzz by and you think it's a huge bee until you look up? :) They fool me almost every time.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), July 24, 2003.

I frequently have hummingbirds come right up and look me in the face when I am working in the flower gardens. They are so fun to watch this time of year and the young ones play tag all around the feeders and the flowers.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), July 25, 2003.

It's neat when they buzz right up to you - when you know they're coming! Yeah, I've been spooked a time or 2, thinking they were wasps.

The older I get, the more I enjoy the different critters. So many.

-- John in S. IN (jdoofus@hotmail.com), July 25, 2003.

One day years ago when we lived in the city, I found the first hummingbird nest I had ever seen. It was the tiniest little nest, and had three perfect little eggs in it. I showed it to my son, and I will never forget what happened. My son had a friend over and without telling me took him back and showed him the little hummingbird nest. I came upon them just as that child purposely crushed the little eggs in the nest. I was pretty angry I'll tell you. There are a lot of children out there who are never taught the preciousness of nature around them. That was the last hummingbird nest I have ever seen. I feel blessed to have seen the one.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@brighterok.net), July 25, 2003.

I was watching a hummer last evening at the salvia plant and then he flew up to a large pine tree and sat and sat. It looked so little against the big pine tree. Funny, how something so little is so facinating to watch. It must be because we're getting older, huh? :) I've sat and watched ants carrying little pieces of food and smile at their determination. Hmmmmm, I think I need to get out more!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), July 25, 2003.

LOL Annie.......you sound like me. I think that the wonders of nature are by far the most entertaining things in the world. I have several different kinds of Monarda growing in my flower garden and the hummers simply love it. Yesterday I had hummers in abundance as well as a bunch of spyhnx moths that look like minature hummers working the Monarda (bee balm). I spent way too much time watching them, but it was so fascinating.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), July 26, 2003.

We enjoy the hummers every summer and are sad to see them leave as the weather grows cold. My husband tells of how his dad would sit in the shade of a tree with a few grains of sugar on the palm of his hand and the birds would sit on his hand and eat. I have held my finger up to the feeder and (with time & great patience) the little hummingbirds would come up and sit on my finger and drink the nectar. So very nice! Thank you, Nita

-- Nita Holstine (nita@phancypages.com), August 04, 2003.