A Story - "Hummingbird Competition" - and Unusual Hanging Basket and Spirea

A Story

Hummingbird Competition

As a newcomer to the neighbourhood, Stella was going to have to try hard to attract hummingbirds to her yard. The ruby-throated hummingbirds were only in the area for a few short months and not many travelled that far north.

Wanda, who lived next door, had the advantage as she had several feeders up and had been creating a pleasant habitat for the hummingbirds for years with gardens full of colourful flowers.

It felt a bit sneaky to be trying to lure some hummingbirds over to her feeder, but Stella really wanted to see and hear these little dynamos in her garden. She planted some salvia and bee balm near her solitary feeder. Occasionally, she saw a flash of green but most days her feeder saw no action.

When she bumped into Wanda at the store, Wanda enthused over her busy feeders and Stella couldn't help but feel disappointed at her lack of attraction.

One morning, she started watering the flowers with a fine mist.  Suddenly, a hummingbird zoomed in and carefully flew into the spray.  It fluttered its wings as it enjoyed the shower. Stella held her breath. Just before it flew away, the bird gave Stella a keen intense stare.  "I'll be back", the bird seemed to say.  "Thanks for the bath."

I found an interesting hanging basket at the local store. I like the W shape to it and the unusual use of the tradescantia.

Tradescantia Nanouk is usually used as a houseplant but it is just fine in an outdoor setting for the summer.

The flower buds are covered in fuzz and the little white flowers are delicate. The variegated leaves are thick and the stems are sturdy. If I wanted, I could take cuttings in the fall and have it as a houseplant.

A couple of fuchsias in traditional fuchsia pink and purple add whimsy to the basket.

Lantana is always fun as each flower cluster has different shades of colour - yellow, orange, pink. Lots of pollinators like to visit lantana. It enjoys full sun.

It seems like the dragon wing begonia might have been an afterthought in this arrangement.  I really like this kind of begonia but I'm not sure that this was the best spot for it. Anyway, I'll see as the summer progresses if it was a good idea after all.

Spirea is a great little shrub for any part shade or sunny locations.  The flowers can be pink or white.

They can get a bit leggy over time.

I cut this plant back to about 4" inches this spring and now it has a really nice rounded clump form. Its blooms are coming out a bit later than the unpruned plants but that doesn't matter at all. I probably won't prune it next spring and hopefully it will still be short enough next summer.

A Story - "Time Well Spent" and Cyclamen Indoor Plant

A Story

Time Well Spent

 His hand hovered over his phone. She looked lovely. But he had experienced so many rejections on the dating app. Sometimes a couple of emails were exchanged and then nothing - ghosting. Maybe he should give up. So much negative feedback was hard on his mental health. He knew he was only average looking and he was just 5'8". He did have a good job but maybe he came across as a bit of a nerd. So many women wanted tall handsome men who were sporty and fit.

Taking a deep breath, he sent a rose and a message.

Later that evening, she replied. Yes, she would be interested in meeting up in person.

What to wear? Where to go? He decided on his well-cut jacket and a higher end restaurant.

They were both a bit nervous but the conversation flowed and she laughed easily. He was smitten.

He hadn't expected to meet someone warm and kind. Why was she still single? It turned out that her life for the last few years did not really have room for dating. She had been caring for others. Now she had the freedom to pursue a relationship.

 It was hard to believe that, like two needles in a haystack, they had found each other.  Persistence had paid off.

Cyclamen are a lovely indoor plant.  They are long blooming and will rebloom again after their dormant period if they are given the proper care.  Cyclamen have a corm and should be watered from the bottom so that the top of the corm does not get too wet.  Sit the cyclamen pot in a container with a couple of inches of water and let it remain for half an hour. Then put it back in its decorative outer pot.

When the leaves start to yellow and die back, usually in late spring and summer, gradually decrease the amount of watering. When all the leaves have gone, just water enough to barely keep a bit of moisture in the soil. Too much water and the corm will rot, too little water and the corm will dry out completely. In the fall, start watering a little more and the corm should sprout some leaves. Give it a light fertilizing and soon it should be blooming again. Cyclamen enjoy bright light but not strong direct sun.

Cyclamen leaves have interesting patterns on them that add to the beauty of the plant.

Some cyclamen are winter hardy but the ones bought at the grocery store are only hardy to zone 8 so definitely a house plant.