Hummingbirds, not much rain, Hummingbirds

The rain that comes is not enough. Tree leaves are turning brown, or way-too-early-for-Autumn yellow or red, etc.

We’ve been in drought mode for the past 5+ years, things seemed better the first part of this year, but that’s not the case this Summer. Storms pop up and drop nothing on us. Frustration to hear the thunder, see the dark clouds, feel their heaviness, see lighthing jolt across the sky — cloud to cloud — or earth to sky — and no rain comes. Nothing, but the heat and humidity, and crackling grass at ones feet. I like the weeds in the yard. THEY stay soft. THEY are taking over bit by bit, inch by inch, and this year, probably square foot by square foot.

Those weeds have other nice habits too. In the Spring, at different times, they bloom under your feet. Bright yellow, white, red, whatever. Lovely. Low growth plants for walking areas are nice. I’ve wanted to install some in our yard. Like Thyme, the kind that can be walked on and survived, and produce heady wonderful aromas. But money is tight. Nature taking over is free.

I don’t like the weeds that send up big tall seed stalks. They get bad when my dear husband hasn’t mowed. In spite of the lack of rain, these things grow, grow, grow. The grass gets the crackly brown-ness.

It’s August, and with this heat, the Hummingbirds like the feeders even more than usual. This year we are seeing them in higher numbers. Maybe it’s the lack of rain, flowers are less where they can get natural nectar. And so they are glad for my 4 feeders I have (as are the wasps and bees, of course!) out for them. Yesterday, we had 7 Red-throated Hummingbirds flitting all over the front porch area, WOW! It was massively beautiful. 7 at the same time is quite noisy and active, and is the top number at one time for us ever.

Maybe others have experienced more at one time. That’s fine. Our area isn’t exactly known for heavy Hummer activity, so this was a blessing for us.