Blogging in Myrtle Glen

Yeah! This morning, while enjoying breakfast on the back porch, I noticed a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

It is the time of year, around 1st of March, that the males show up in my area to check out the territories. 

In a few weeks the females will be here as well. By then the males will fly their loopings in the sky to attract and show off their flying skills to the girls

Ruby-throated Hummingbird on miniature red Powderpuff

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens

We have an extreme mild winter this year, besides a few frost bitten leaves there is no damage in the garden.   

Here is what is blooming in February in Myrtle Glen, Central Florida zone 9b

Bromeliads (Neoregelia McWilliamsii, Billbergia wentii, Quesnelia testudo, Aechmea maculata)

Not pictured: Aechmea Black Jack, Aechmea Del Mar, Aechmea gamosepala ‘matchstick’

Orchids ( Epidendrum radicans purple, Epi. Pacific Glory, Bamboo orchid, Vanda lamellata var. boxallii)

Not pictured: Vanda ‘Evening Sun’, Guaritonia ‘Why Not’ , Vanda terete ‘Diana’

For the butterflies  (Yellow Mex. Milkweed, Salvia Black & Blue, Cuphea ignea, Cuphea lanceolata ‘Starfire’,  red Mex. Milkweed, Salvia rosebud, pink Firespike)

Not pictured: Popcorn  Cassia, Abutilon

Butterflies I saw today: Monarchs, Sulphurs, Skippers and Black Swallowtails

Pretty in Pink (Pink Turk’s Cap, Beefsteak Begonia, Brazilian Bachelor Button, Bougonvillea, Impatiens, Clerodendrum ‘Starburst’,  trailing Lantana)

 Not pictured: pink Salvia coccinea, Aloe harlana, wild morning glory, Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum ‘shooting star’, Hawaiian Sunset vine, Cuphea ‘Ballistic’ 

 Nectarines aren’t flowering yet, but the  Mango, Key Lime and Meyer Lemon are blooming. 

This post is part of the Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day,  hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens

Every year, around the same time in late winter, a family of American Robins takes a pit stop in Myrtle Glen.

I know, it is called a  ’flock’ but I can’t help it, they remind me of a family, a large family, with 60 to 80 birds.

Every year they stop here, for just a few short morning hours, they pick through the grass and flower beds for grubs and worms, take splashy baths in the puddles from the sprinkler, and  sing and chat softly to each other evenly distributed in our 13 Crepe Myrtle Trees.  

Then, all of a sudden, quietly and with no haste, they fly off and I won’t see them again until next year. 

This year I noticed a black bird among them. I wonder if this one is adopted or a hitchhiker?

I see the yearly visit of the Robin Clan as a good sign, spring is coming! The birds must surely know.