A Trusty Spring Bloomer

Spring blooms are short. Very short. If you blink, you'll miss them. Such is the case with our serviceberry and our chokeberry. Therefore, I am happy that our wild columbine flowers are not only thriving, but they have been blooming for more than two weeks now. Yesterday, I received an added bonus as I watched a male ruby-throated hummingbird drinking from every flower of one of our numerous columbine plants. It was a thrill to behold. Wild Columbines not only provide a beautiful splash of color in the spring garden, but they are an important source of nectar for hummingbirds before any other flowers bloom.

Spring brings delightful birds

Spring brings many birds to our yard, especially to our feeders. None of them are more colorful than the rose-breasted grosbeaks. This male beauty landed in our serviceberry and eyed me and my camera suspiciously before it decided it was safe to eat. We have also spotted our first female ruby-throated hummingbird at our wild columbine and our syrup feeder. The juncos have departed now and were replaced by a white-crowned sparrow, song sparrows, chipping sparrows, and Eastern towhees.
We are busy planting for wildlife and have added two chokeberries, two blazing stars, an American plum, and a bee balm to our native garden. Plant it and they will come!