Thursday, July 29, 2010

Hummingbirds and butterflies

We've finally started to see hummingbirds in the mountains.  They were visiting the native Impatiens capensis  (Jewelweed) below the house and the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) planted outside the ground floor 'green room.'

I put out the hummingbird feeder again with fresh sugar solution about a week ago, and now they've included the feeder on their rounds.

front meadow bed  in late July

Similarly, butterflies, particularly swallowtails, have started to be abundant, visiting butterfly bushes in our neighborhood, as well as our purple coneflowers, Liatris, Joe Pye, and Helianthus in the front meadow bed.  It's nice to see them.