Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Scarborough

[Walter Fisher]

For the second time within the last couple of days I've had a hummer come visit my Scarlet Beebalm in the yard.  I've purposely created a more hummingbird and butterfly friendly garden and this was one of my rewards today.  The other was a visit by a Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly.

Walter

[Howieh]

Good to hear - do you have a hummingbird feeder? I've had HB's around since early May but, with few exceptions, until today traffic has been pretty sporadic. Since this morning there have been at least three, maybe more, coming in very short intervals and I've seen a male courtship(?) flight twice in the past 2 hours! The females are very orderly; if they both show up at once, one usually waits in the bushes until the first one leaves the feeder, not necessarily what I'd expect but interesting to watch nonetheless. I guess the young have fledged and the females now have more time to roam! What's happening at Rosetta re hummers and butterflies, anything interesting going on, etc.? I can't believe the hawkwatch is just around the corner!

Sorry, make that 3 courtship dances, he's at it again as I type this!

[mc]

today, july 16th 2015, i have observed -- in my backyard, at my hummingbird feeder, visits, from a hummingbird at 1:36pm, 4:27pm and 4:36pm.....

[Walter Fisher]

mc - Great to hear, hope it stays around for you.

Howieh - Yes, I do have a hummingbird feeder and it's close to the flowers that the hummer is feeding from but it's definately not interested in it.  Maybe if the bird hangs around it'll switch over once the flowers die-off.
As far as Rosetta goes, I don't usually visit during the month of June and the first half of July as there really isn't alot happening there other than flowers growing.  I'll get down there sometime this coming week to get caught-up on the 'happenings' and try to get myself ready for the Hawkwatch.  You're right, it's hard to believe that it's almost here again.

Walter

[mr.sharp-photo]

had one visit today at 6:15 PM. surprise!
wife and her friend were in the back yard 5 ft from the feeder, so it didn't stay

[Howieh]

I have 2 males and a mix of 3 or 4 females and young birds around most of the day. When he's around the 'alpha' male divides his perching time between the top of my neighbours pine tree (probably 60+ feet tall but easily reached with the SX50!) and a perch I set up close to the feeder. The other male, who might be the worlds dumbest hummingbird, still has trouble with the feeder, and his gorget is smaller so I CAN tell them apart! The other birds often show up in pairs and usually take turns at the feeder; if a male is around when the female(s) show up I get to see a courtship dance. Some male hummers start migrating in late July so I expect to see more of them during the next few weeks.

[mr.sharp-photo]

For the second time within the last couple of days I've had a hummer come visit my Scarlet Beebalm in the yard.  I've purposely created a more hummingbird and butterfly friendly garden and this was one of my rewards today.  The other was a visit by a Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly.

Walter

i've been trying to find bee balm for years. no one seems to carry it. esp the scarlet type. where did you get it from?

[Leslie]

Hi Richard, I got mine from Plant World, but that was a few years ago.
The scarlet type (Monarda didyma) is not truly native to Toronto, so purist native plant stores might not carry it.  For the others, it's hit & miss.  But maybe one can stock it for you if you ask early in spring.

[MEGHAN]

Sheridan Nurseries.
tall to dwarf, red to pink
they sell/stock it all through the season. May-September

[Brian Bailey]

I don't know if my experience is typical, but I have had red (Monarda didyma) for many years and it has been hardy and healthy. I have tried several other cultivars in various colours with little success. I rely on perennials to survive without a lot of attention. Only the red ones have done it for me.


BB

Sent from my birdroid using Tapatalk.

[Walter Fisher]

Hey Richard,

I had my Scarlet Beebalm given to me by a relative 2 years ago and I planted it in the ground in the fall.  It's done really well planted in clay and in partial shade.  The flowers are now starting to die-off tho.

I also have a cultivar 'Blue Stocking' Beebalm which has just started to bloom but I have never seen a hummer near it in 4 years.  The bees seem to like it tho.

My hummingbird bird feeder is hanging 3 feet away from all the beebalm but this little 'visiting' hummer hasn't been interested in it as yet.

Last spring I grew 12 Scarlet Beebalm plants from seeds collected (from a local garden park - yes, that one).  They grew to about 10 inches tall before I transplanted them to the backyard but they only 'survived' the season and seemed to have completely died-off over the winter as there is no sign of them this year.  Some of the 'Blue Stocking' Beebalm that I grew from seed at the same time last spring and transplanted has done okay.

I didn't have all the settings on the camera correct when the hummer came to visit while I was standing right beside the beebalm the other day...



Walter

[Walter Fisher]

Hey Richard,

Native Plants in Claremont sell their plants each spring at The Brickworks and they have Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma).  You might still be able to buy this years plants from them at their farm in Claremont (Pickering).  Also close to you, Canadian Tire at Main and Danforth was carrying a few of their plants as well this spring, especially Milkweeds.  I've had great success with plants that I've bought from them in the past and because they're 'native' plants, they require very little to no maintenance and no fertilizer!

Walter

[mr.sharp-photo]

Hey Richard,

Native Plants in Claremont sell their plants each spring at The Brickworks and they have Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma).  You might still be able to buy this years plants from them at their farm in Claremont (Pickering).  Also close to you, Canadian Tire at Main and Danforth was carrying a few of their plants as well this spring, especially Milkweeds.  I've had great success with plants that I've bought from them in the past and because they're 'native' plants, they require very little to no maintenance and no fertilizer!

Walter

thanks, man!
found out that the scarlet isn't native. oh well.
found the purple bee balm. planted 3 of those.

[Walter Fisher]

Sorry, haven't been on here in a while.

Not sure where you got that information from but Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) is actually a native plant, it's cultivars are not.

Walter

[Leslie]

Maybe it depends who you talk to.
I learned it's native to North America but did not naturally get across the Great Lakes, & so not native to Toronto.
I have the purple Monarda fistulosa too.  It likes dry soil; the red Monarda didyma likes it wet.