I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant!

lkstapleton · 05-13-2010, 01:09 PM

I was watering my "balcony bananas," and a HUMMINGBIRD came by, checked me out by flying so close to my ear that it tickled, and then it landed on the rib of one of my wet banana leaves and started slurping up water droplets with that long flicking tongue that they have.

He was already adorable, and then he started to slip around a little on the leaves, kind of like that little penguin in "Happy Feet." I tried to be as still as possible so as not to frighten it, and maybe a minute passed, and then ANOTHER hummingbird flew by and tried to land on the same banana plant. The original ran him off--er, FLEW him off, I guess--and then came back and "bathed" a little more on the leaf until finally flying off.

Jeez, I love gardening.
http://www.bananas.org/images/smilie...les/goteam.gif
Lisa
http://www.bananas.org/images/smilie...oohoonaner.gif

cherokee_greg · 05-13-2010, 01:38 PM

cool deal great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Patty in Wisc · 05-13-2010, 01:48 PM

Couple years ago, I was carrying a small pot of flowers & heard that 'humming' sound behind me. I turned around & there was a hummer hovering 2 ft away. I wasn't as cool as you...it scared me so I sorta jumped & it flew away. Maybe the flowers & my red shirt attracted it. Now, I put out feeders all summer. They are soooo cool to watch

sunfish · 05-13-2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkstapleton

I was watering my "balcony bananas," and a HUMMINGBIRD came by, checked me out by flying so close to my ear that it tickled, and then it landed on the rib of one of my wet banana leaves and started slurping up water droplets with that long flicking tongue that they have.

He was already adorable, and then he started to slip around a little on the leaves, kind of like that little penguin in "Happy Feet." I tried to be as still as possible so as not to frighten it, and maybe a minute passed, and then ANOTHER hummingbird flew by and tried to land on the same banana plant. The original ran him off--er, FLEW him off, I guess--and then came back and "bathed" a little more on the leaf until finally flying off.

Jeez, I love gardening.
http://www.bananas.org/images/smilie...les/goteam.gif
Lisa
http://www.bananas.org/images/smilie...oohoonaner.gif

Put up a feeder and they'll be there all the time.

palmtree · 05-13-2010, 05:27 PM

Ive only seen one hummingbird by me in my front yard and it zipped down the street like lightning!! Then I saw probably 100 of them in Disney World a few years ago. At first I thought they were bugs because the were all over the place! They must have liked the flowers that were planted there.
Right now my orleanders have aphids, but because of that I have seen tons of lady bugs. Still havent seen any praying mantis yet and I have seen those every summer for a few years now in my yard.

Good luck!

saltydad · 05-13-2010, 06:15 PM

There are hummingbirds here that show up in spring; I saw my first one last week drinking from my variegated weigela blossoms. I love having them around.

harveyc · 05-13-2010, 11:21 PM

Thanks for sharing, Lisa, though I wish you had a photo to share!

I have plenty of humming birds around here but have never seen one around my bananas. Maybe I need a balcony???

lkstapleton · 05-13-2010, 11:46 PM

Yeah, I would have gone for a camera, but I was afraid I'd spook the little guy if I moved at all. The funniest thing is that his little feet keep slipping--I guess wet banana leaves are kind of slippery if you're a hummingbird--so then he'd flap his little wings a little until he could get better footing on the "spine" of the leaf. I think they were Anna's hummingbirds, which are very common around here. But being so close to such a cutie was great!

Lisa

Lisa

Patty in Wisc · 05-14-2010, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harveyc

Thanks for sharing, Lisa, though I wish you had a photo to share!

I have plenty of humming birds around here but have never seen one around my bananas. Maybe I need a balcony???

You need a hummingbird feeder

harveyc · 05-14-2010, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patty in Wisc

You need a hummingbird feeder

Why do I need a hummingbird feeder. As I said, I already have plenty around. They visit other plants and flowers but I've just never seen one around the bananas.

stumpy4700 · 05-14-2010, 02:55 AM

Do they migrate in the colder weather? I only see them in the spring and summer.

harveyc · 05-14-2010, 03:48 AM

I believe they do in some areas but we have one or two that stick around in the winter. I think they've been the same ones for quite some time (5 years+?) since I have seen them on the same perches and I've wondered what sort of lifespan they have. I think they must feed off of some weed and eucalyptus flowers.

sunfish · 05-14-2010, 07:32 AM

YouTube - Humming birds - David Attenborough - BBC wildlife

lkstapleton · 05-14-2010, 08:46 AM

Yes, I remember reading that Anna's hummingbirds used to be mostly migratory, but in many places in California, some of them now remain year round.

Best regards,
Lisa

Scuba_Dave · 05-14-2010, 09:08 AM

I have hummingbirds every year
I have planted a bunch of flowers for them
But the one they like the most is red Monarda...so I have let it spread & moved it around to different areas
I've had as many as 8 buzzing around the yard at once

Bananaman88 · 05-14-2010, 09:09 AM

The hummingbirds always come to the flowers on my bananas. They seem to love the nectar.

Abnshrek · 05-14-2010, 04:23 PM

Well I had to fill up my feeder after looking thru this thread :^)

lkstapleton · 05-14-2010, 05:01 PM

I am always a little worried about possibly having the sugar water ferment or maybe transmitting a disease, so I usually just plant lots of stuff they like.

I had never seen one drink from a banana leaf or take a bath on one, though. This was a first, at least for me.

I hope he comes back when I water tomorrow.

Lisa

LilRaverBoi · 05-14-2010, 09:33 PM

Great story, thanks for sharing! Last summer I had one find my Siam Ruby. Apparently he saw the red and expected to get a snack out of the deal....he was sadly disappointed and moved along. Pretty amusing, though!

05-13-2010, 01:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
lkstapleton Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 64 BananaBucks : 27,238 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 35 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 28 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! I was watering my "balcony bananas," and a HUMMINGBIRD came by, checked me out by flying so close to my ear that it tickled, and then it landed on the rib of one of my wet banana leaves and started slurping up water droplets with that long flicking tongue that they have. He was already adorable, and then he started to slip around a little on the leaves, kind of like that little penguin in "Happy Feet." I tried to be as still as possible so as not to frighten it, and maybe a minute passed, and then ANOTHER hummingbird flew by and tried to land on the same banana plant. The original ran him off--er, FLEW him off, I guess--and then came back and "bathed" a little more on the leaf until finally flying off. Jeez, I love gardening. http://www.bananas.org/images/smilie...les/goteam.gif Lisa http://www.bananas.org/images/smilie...oohoonaner.gif __________________

05-13-2010, 01:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
cherokee_greg Love those bananas cherokee_greg's Photo Gallery Location: Fresno,CA Find me on the map! Zone: zone 9 Name: Greg Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,357 BananaBucks : 274,411 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 8,066 Times Was Thanked 3,945 Times in 1,664 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 335 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! cool deal great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

05-13-2010, 01:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc tropical nut Patty in Wisc's Photo Gallery Zone: 5 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,115 BananaBucks : 319,844 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,946 Times Was Thanked 2,510 Times in 1,203 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 69 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! Couple years ago, I was carrying a small pot of flowers & heard that 'humming' sound behind me. I turned around & there was a hummer hovering 2 ft away. I wasn't as cool as you...it scared me so I sorta jumped & it flew away. Maybe the flowers & my red shirt attracted it. Now, I put out feeders all summer. They are soooo cool to watch __________________ Got a lite? Patty ____ Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

05-13-2010, 05:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
palmtree palmtree 's Photo Gallery Location: New York City Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: Alex C Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,016 BananaBucks : 96,078 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,492 Times Was Thanked 1,428 Times in 644 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 103 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! Ive only seen one hummingbird by me in my front yard and it zipped down the street like lightning!! Then I saw probably 100 of them in Disney World a few years ago. At first I thought they were bugs because the were all over the place! They must have liked the flowers that were planted there. Right now my orleanders have aphids, but because of that I have seen tons of lady bugs. Still havent seen any praying mantis yet and I have seen those every summer for a few years now in my yard. Good luck! __________________ Location: New York City, zone 7b

05-13-2010, 06:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
saltydad saltydad's Photo Gallery Location: Silver Spring, Maryland USA Find me on the map! Zone: 7a Name: Howard Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,552 BananaBucks : 152,865 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 14,712 Times Was Thanked 4,662 Times in 1,778 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 824 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! There are hummingbirds here that show up in spring; I saw my first one last week drinking from my variegated weigela blossoms. I love having them around. __________________ Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men" "Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon "If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal." John F. Kennedy, September, 1960 http://flickr.com/photos/saltydad/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/saltydad http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx151/saltydad/

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05-13-2010, 11:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,116 BananaBucks : 232,013 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,020 Times Was Thanked 4,452 Times in 1,893 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! Thanks for sharing, Lisa, though I wish you had a photo to share! I have plenty of humming birds around here but have never seen one around my bananas. Maybe I need a balcony??? __________________

05-13-2010, 11:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
lkstapleton Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 64 BananaBucks : 27,238 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 35 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 28 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! Yeah, I would have gone for a camera, but I was afraid I'd spook the little guy if I moved at all. The funniest thing is that his little feet keep slipping--I guess wet banana leaves are kind of slippery if you're a hummingbird--so then he'd flap his little wings a little until he could get better footing on the "spine" of the leaf. I think they were Anna's hummingbirds, which are very common around here. But being so close to such a cutie was great! Lisa Lisa __________________

05-14-2010, 02:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
stumpy4700 Going Ape for Bananas stumpy4700 's Photo Gallery Location: Satellite Beach, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 10 Name: Stumpy-----a.k.a Jeff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,194 BananaBucks : 34,251 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,353 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,300 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! Do they migrate in the colder weather? I only see them in the spring and summer.

05-14-2010, 03:48 AM	#12 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,116 BananaBucks : 232,013 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,020 Times Was Thanked 4,452 Times in 1,893 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! I believe they do in some areas but we have one or two that stick around in the winter. I think they've been the same ones for quite some time (5 years+?) since I have seen them on the same perches and I've wondered what sort of lifespan they have. I think they must feed off of some weed and eucalyptus flowers. __________________

05-14-2010, 08:46 AM	#14 (permalink)
lkstapleton Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 64 BananaBucks : 27,238 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 35 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 28 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! Yes, I remember reading that Anna's hummingbirds used to be mostly migratory, but in many places in California, some of them now remain year round. Best regards, Lisa __________________

05-14-2010, 09:08 AM	#15 (permalink)
Scuba_Dave Location: South of Boston, MA Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Dave Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 732 BananaBucks : 53,760 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 501 Times Was Thanked 1,218 Times in 451 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,414 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! I have hummingbirds every year I have planted a bunch of flowers for them But the one they like the most is red Monarda...so I have let it spread & moved it around to different areas I've had as many as 8 buzzing around the yard at once __________________ .

05-14-2010, 09:09 AM	#16 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 205,882 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,262 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! The hummingbirds always come to the flowers on my bananas. They seem to love the nectar.

05-14-2010, 04:23 PM	#17 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,483 BananaBucks : 158,867 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,444 Times Was Thanked 16,427 Times in 5,230 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,314 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! Well I had to fill up my feeder after looking thru this thread :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

05-14-2010, 05:01 PM	#18 (permalink)
lkstapleton Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 64 BananaBucks : 27,238 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 35 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 28 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! I am always a little worried about possibly having the sugar water ferment or maybe transmitting a disease, so I usually just plant lots of stuff they like. I had never seen one drink from a banana leaf or take a bath on one, though. This was a first, at least for me. I hope he comes back when I water tomorrow. Lisa __________________

05-14-2010, 09:33 PM	#19 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,935 BananaBucks : 103,192 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,238 Times in 1,242 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: I just saw the coolest thing on my banana plant! Great story, thanks for sharing! Last summer I had one find my Siam Ruby. Apparently he saw the red and expected to get a snack out of the deal....he was sadly disappointed and moved along. Pretty amusing, though! __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

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