Hummers' return

The hummingbird did return and so did a 2nd one. Very odd that the migration is so much earlier this year.

Trip to Callaway Gardens

I took the girls to Callaway to bike a bit. Up until now, our biking had been limited to parking lots and the walks and driveway of home.

Callaway has bike trails all over the grounds. I rented 1 big, hunky basic bike and went off toward the Sibley Horticultural Center with them. We had a great time riding the trails. After giving a major safety lecture regarding trail traffic while driving up, we encounted no other riders on the trail we chose.

Check the photos of the Sibley center. It's a wonderful place to explore.

After biking we had lunch with "guests," then drove to the butterfly house. It's been completely remodeled. I was stunned by the changes made.

NOTE: Click on any of the photos below to see a larger version. Use your Back button to return to the other photos.

Sibley Horticultural Center - My artsy contribution, standing behind the waterfall. Prints on sale in the lobby! 

Panorama of the butterfly house from the lowest point farthest from the door. Inside as well, the "jungle" feel is gone, as are nearly all the large butterfly species. The docent said the reason for the remodel was that the popularity of the facility meant that the walkways got very crowded a lot of the time. The areas up front were also updated: The movie theater was replaced by a flat-panel TV on a wall with a lighted viewing area. Also in this area is a full-serve snack bar.  

Lea and Charlotte

Lea & Charlotte inside the butterfly house.

Front of the Day Butterfly Center after being reopened in March 2005. Canopy over door is gone, as it all the large, dense vegetation that covered the front of this building.  

Charlotte having lunch with a new "friend." There was a dozen scavenger ducks and 2 Canadian geese looking for hand-outs. 

Sibley Horticultural Center - Gardens under the roof 

Sibley Horticultural Center - a panorama of the "back" of the building. It can be closed off as the large ladder-like panels are doors.  

Sibley Horticultural Center - It would be a nice backyard! 

Lea and Charlotte

Lea & Charlotte with the 'gater topiary at the Sibley Horticultural Center.

Sibley Horticultural Center - an atrium. Truly a wonderful facility. 

Hummingbird Back Early

We typically see hummingbirds return in July. We have had 4-5 fighting for dominance over our feeder every year for the last 3.

Last week as I was leaving for work, I saw one flying on the edge of the woods. I rushed back in and made up some nectar and hung it in a feeder. Never saw the bird again. Figured it might have been one in transit to its own home range.

This morning, another appeared at our back windows. Once again, I put up a feeder and bingo! The little creature came and fed. Unfortunately, I was working from memory and doubled the amount of sugar in the formula. I went to http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/hummingbirds.htm and found my error. Now that the accurate nectar (4 parts H2O to 1 part sugar) is in the feeder,

I hope the bird will return.

"The man in black fled into the desert and the Gunslinger followed."
- Stephen King, The Dark Tower, vol 1, "The Gunslinger"

Blame Kirby...
He posted some photos of his family at Atlanta's Centennial Park. I wanted to post a lousy comment. Could I just do that?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I had to have my own blog account to do that. Could I just let it go? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Pretty soon, I'm gonna have to have Google tattoo'd on my.... well, you get the picture.

Lea won Best Writer of the 2nd Grade for 2005 + was on Principal's List for earning all A's during that year. Here she is with her 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Daniel