Spring Clean-up
Posted: March 5, 2017 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Backyard Critters, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, cannas, Drimiopsis maculata, Garden Chores, Gardening, gingers, Gulf Coast gardening, Pink Flamingo Feather Celosia, roses, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, shrimp plant, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, volunteers, weeping bottlebrush, Year-round gardening 17 Comments
A killing freeze descended on this part of the country and for the Automatic Garden, it was a blessing in disguise. I had been away from the garden quite a bit last year and many chores went undone. The Automatic Garden did what it was designed to do and kept on growing, propagating and reseeding, resulting in a interwoven tangle of plants.
The freeze gave clarity to what needed to be pulled, transplanted and cut back. I have been spending hours everyday getting the garden in shape.
Other chores included filling in a hole dug over the winter by some animal, which was probably an armadillo. It was much more work than it looks and the dirt is heavy clay. The extremely strong gingers were able to push their way through the pile of clay and the dirt had to be carefully removed.
Volunteers had to be rounded up and replanted into their places in the garden. There were many, but free plants are a good thing.
A scant few flowers have begun to bloom in the garden. Most years have flowers blooming all year around, but the freeze knocked back almost all of the winter flowering plants. This red canna is a welcome sight.
Drimiopsis maculata unfurled its spotted leaves and sent out flowers in no time. The plant is a great substitute for hostas in the South.
The climbing rose is blooming and dripping from a tree.
Pink Flamingo Celosia usually stands three feet tall before blooming, but this one couldn’t wait.
The Shrimp plant came back from its roots and the few blooms were welcomed by the Buff-bellied Hummingbird that has wintered here.
The Bottlebrush has perfect timing providing food for the arriving Ruby Throated Hummers and the honey bees that are living near by.
Bit by bit I am seeing my hard labor paying off and I have high hopes for a beautiful garden this summer.
The Hungry Hummer
Posted: January 22, 2017 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Backyard Critters, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Gulf Coast gardening, honey bees, Hummingbird, nature photography, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 20 Comments
I recently found a use for the slo-mo option on my cell phone. I have been watching the honey bees empty out the hummingbird feeders and I thought it would be fun to capture them in slow motion.
I situated myself really close, about 12 inches away. The bees actually hit me a few times, but I wasn’t worried as they were so hungry and only focused on feeding.
As it turned out, someone else was hungry and the Buff-bellied Hummingbird flew into the shot and fed while I was that close! Enjoy the video. It can be enlarged.
Hungry Hummingbird from Automatic Gardener on Vimeo.
Becoming a Wildlife Photographer
Posted: January 5, 2017 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Backyard Critters, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, nature photography, Rufous Hummingbird, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 19 Comments
I thought I would take the plunge and become a wildlife photographer (joking..kinda). I really wanted to capture my winter Hummingbirds, so I dug out a tripod, put on the long lens and situated a chair with a good view. I sat for awhile and they did not show up. Being in the yard, I started thinking about gardening chores and decided to get to work. With that done I came back to the chair to wait again. The birds still were not hungry, so I went inside to check on dinner. I headed back out and was finally rewarded.
I was able to get a decent shot of the Buff-bellied Hummingbird that has been around since Thanksgiving. I have a photo of him through a window, but this is outside and clearer. He is tolerating my presence more. I have enjoyed watching him take showers in gentle rains and baths on the Variegated Ginger and Philodendron leaves.
This little guy arrived around Christmas. He is a Rufous Hummingbird and hails from the far northwest. His color indicates a male. He is very stealth during feeding and is able to zoom in when the big Buff-bellied is elsewhere. He drinks for quite awhile, filling up in one visit.
As far as a career as a wildlife photographer, I think not! I don’t have the patience to sit for long periods of time, but I certainly admire those who do and produce the wonderful photos for us to enjoy. I will just go back to getting lucky with a camera in the right place at the right time.
Bees, Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Posted: December 28, 2016 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Backyard Critters, bees, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, butterflies, Caterpillar, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, Hummingbird, My Kitchen Window, nature photography, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 13 Comments
Our record breaking Christmas heatwave has encouraged flora and fauna to emerge from their winter rests. The bees are finishing off a feeder a day.
Butterflies are feasting on the last of the summer flowers.
Caterpillar eggs are hatching and thankfully the Passion Flower has replenished its leaves for the babies.
Azaleas that are supposed to bloom in March are beginning to open. A Gardenia has also popped out.
The Buff-bellied hummingbird is still hanging out in the yard, but is now also using the feeder as the flowers dwindle. The weather forecast is showing temperatures dropping down to our normal “warm” winter weather with no freezes for awhile.
My post Christmas plans are to clean out some beds and plant winter annuals while the weather is nice.
Seeking Heat
Posted: December 12, 2016 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Backyard Critters, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Five-Line Skink, Gulf Coast gardening, Hummingbirds, My Kitchen Window, nature photography 12 Comments
A Norther blew in and the temperatures dropped into the 30F’s. I was surprised to see this very fat Skink sunning itself in the corner of the garage. They are usually not seen this time of year.
A Buff-bellied hummingbird appeared in the garden just after Thanksgiving. The bird was not enjoying the cold and the chill slowed down the very active hummer long enough to snap a photo through the kitchen window.
The Buff-bellied is about 4 inches in length, which makes it a big hummingbird in this area. It has beautiful dark green and buff feathers when lit by the sun. Enlarge the photos see the colors better. The last time one visited the garden was the summer of Hurricane Ike. The small bird rode out the storm and was feeding the next day.
But never mind about the weather as they say down here, just wait a minute and it will change. The wind has shifted and is blowing from the Gulf bringing the temperature up 30F degrees and summer will be here later in the week as the mercury hits 76F.
