Welcome to the Hummingbird 2020 thread , new thread for a new year.

a quick link to last year's thread - The thread "Hummingbirds 2019" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum

and a old pic to get us started

the pic, Kurt! Is that a porterweed the hummer is sipping from?

Oh I love that picture, Kurt! She looks so graceful!

Thank you and yes it is from 2018 the first year I had porterweed

Yes, Pollenhead!

Didn't understand the reference to pollenhead, then went back and really looked at Kurt's pic. Totally rad! Like seeing individual hairs on insect bodies, which I have seen on some pics in threads in this forum.

gardenfish said:Didn't understand the reference to pollenhead, then went back and really looked at Kurt's pic. Totally rad! Like seeing individual hairs on insect bodies, which I have seen on some pics in threads in this forum.

Yes, when he 1st posted that picture, whenever that was, we (some of us) were thinking that was a really odd coloration on the top of it's head. We were like
Then Kurt informed us it was pollen. That little hummer sure had been hard at work sipping from pollen laden plants cause it got a bunch dumped on it's head!

I see that on bee heads sometimes.

My best pollen head shot , from 2017 and a previously unposted non pollen head shot from last year

Kurt, once again, Sublime, especially the one on the left.

Both
Fabulous!

Just looked at AlmostEdenPlants, one of my fave websites. Clicked on new for 2020, and they have a brand new porterweed, it is a BICOLOR! Mix of orange and purple. Sounds garish, but you just have to see it. I am buying one, got to have this one, and I will try to overwinter it because it is not rated for my area. I will also be getting a brugmansia, and right now my living room is full of over wintering tropical plants. I see a greenhouse in my near future!

Lynda ~ You are living in your greenhouse!

I looked a week or two ago and really liked the - Henlea's Hummingbird Heaven Porterweed at Almost Eden

https://www.almostedenplants.c...

I wishlisted it but doubt I get it anytime soon if at all , I have 5 overwintered porterweed plants in 3 pots doing well ,
and a bunch more porterweed cuttings rooted in water I haven't even potted up yet. 4 cuphea plants , 2 black n blue salvias and 6 lantana pots. .

the 3 overwintered coral porterweed pots on 12/8

Kurt, your zone is very close to mine, so I am interested in where you overwintered your plants. Do you have a greenhouse, or do you do it in your house? Also, I am in 7b, I have a black and blue, Salvia guarantica, I think that is the Latin name , and mine is outdoors and I don't overwinter it.It usually dies back to the ground but comes back every spring. Curious to find out whether you have left yours outside rather than overwintering it. Thanks. Also good to know I need to add porterweed to my wishlist now. Your plants look really good!

I have 3 areas in the basement for overwintering plants. The porterweed is in the backroom with just a fluorescent shop light on a timer.
The cuttings , small plants and any seeds I start are on a work bench with a fluorescent light on a switch I have to turn on and off every day.
And an area by the east facing french patio doors that get nothing but natural sunlight.

As far as the black n blue go , I am a bigger fan of plants then I am of digging so I keep a lot of things in pots and it is just easier to bring in then worry about it or replacing it for now.

The 2 areas under lights stays about 70F , the french door area probably a little cooler as we go out the doors to fill the bird feeders and heated water dish.

Thanks for the info, reminds me of jmorth who puts all his plants in the basement, and he has a lot of plants! No basement here, but an unimpeded south facing window which is rapidly filling up. My problem is the plants I have are large. I suppose I can squeeze in two more, if I cut them back before bringing them in. I don't use any lights at all. The plant that seems to suffer is the lime tree, which loses almost all of its leaves before I move it out in the spring.

Great shots, Ceci !

Really nice shots of such a cute hummingbird!