Hummingbirds - Helpers for the Honeybees?

I recently took some pictures at Ion Exchange and of all the pictures I took I was most pleased with this picture of a hummingbird in flight. I have always been fascinated by hummingbirds and I had never experienced seeing so many together and so close as the ones on the office porch. I could set and watch them for hours.

Upon hearing of the plight of the honeybee and the possible disruption to the pollination of our foods and other plants I did a little research into pollination and found that although most pollination is done by honeybees other insects and the beautiful hummingbird also help with pollinating.

The hummingbird will soon be making its migratory trip to Mexico and Central America for the winter. The cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) provides nectar in August into September to see them on their way. Their high energy needs require that abundant supplies of nectar be available throughout the migration corridor, which can range through thousands of miles of habitat. Although Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are well recognized as nectar feeders, they also eat spiders and tiny insects such as flies, gnats and aphids as a source of fat and protein. A single migration can become a nonstop flight of up to 500 miles over a period of 18 to 22 hours.
Some hummingbird favorites include native wildflowers such as Wild Bergamont (Monarda fisulosa) and Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). There are speciality mixed wildflower seeds that are available that appeal to hummingbirds and butterflies.

The hummingbird laps up nectar by flicking its long, forked tongue deep within a flower at rates up to ten times per second. It forages while hovering airborne, inadvertently collecting pollen on its feathers and bill before darting off to its next meal. Its efficiency as a pollinator is comparable to that of a honey bee.
An extraordinary little creature! I wish them well on their long journey. Kay at Ion Exchange

Life - A Woven Web

LIFE, A WOVEN WEB

Just as the sun comes up, a web appears. A beautiful work of art is left behind but the creator is nowhere in sight. Will I make this world more beautiful as I weave my own web? No credits, no praise is needed as we leave this world imprinted with the kindness and beauty of our own gift to others.

Howard Bright
August 16th 2007

Our own Howard of Ion Exchange shares his art with us. By the way does anyone know what kind of spider weaves such a web?

More On Natural Insect Repellents

Our own Gabi posted a reply on the Natural Insect Repellent article posted a month ago. I thought everyone woud enjoy her ideas as much I did. Gabbi wrote....
Hi Kay!This is Gabi, also from Ion Exchange, and as I read your blog on "Natural Insect Repellents", I felt compelled to share some techniques that I find useful for repelling bugs from ME! Very rarely do I use store bought insect repellents, instead choosing to rely on the plentitude that nature has put out there, and have found that the leaves from both peppermint and wild bergamot, if crushed and rubbed on the skin, work very well to repel unwanted insects (and you smell GREAT!) Both plants contain varying degrees of citronel (probably one of the best known bug repellents), which is what makes this quick, easy remedy successful.In the garden, a spray bottle primed with soapy water and a little bit of rubbing alcohol is by far my best friend when it comes to pest control. I am also a big believer in using companion plants and beneficial insects, and both marigolds and catnip work great when planted around beds/crops that are especially prone to invasions. Be wary of catnip, however, as it will probably need to be controlled from spreading rampantly. I hope you find these suggestions helpful, and thanks for the great idea of using baking soda to tackle garden fungi--can't wait to try it!Happy Planting!Gabi