Hummingbirds @ Home

     I blogged about hummingbirds last year (check out Hummingbirds Are Coming ~April 2012). This year I’d like to add more involvement for myself to the experience & help out their survival at the same time. Check out the link below:

     Audubon is now helping the hummers by getting us involved at home. The project is called Hummingbirds @ Home. It is the first all-digital mobile citizen science network. The at-home website & app availability for smart phones will make it fun & easy to keep track of the hummingbirds you see. You will be collecting valuable data that helps Audubon in their efforts to protect them. I visited & (just go to Sign Up) signed on for this. It looks like it will be easy to navigate your info & check out info for your area. The initial photo is worth clicking on this link!

http://www.hummingbirdsathome.org/

     To get started all you need is a feeder & some sugar water. You can make your own by boiling water & mixing one part sugar to four parts water. Store what you don’t use in the fridge. No need to fill your feeder to the top at first. See how much they drink first. With the hot summer you need to clean & refill every few days. Hang your feeder at a window where you can really enjoy the antics! As for plants in your garden, I have had the most success attracting these gems with bee balm, coral bells, honeysuckle, trumpet vine & various other red flowers. They are attracted to the color red, but there is no need to color your sugar water. Be patient, they will come!

    So get your feeders ready & let the flying flower fun begin!

This video was filmed by my Teenage Tester a few years back. We were both standing inches from the feeder. They were so active that evening I knew it was time for her to get “up close & personal” with them. They are very territorial & feed one at a time here. In the video you can hear their soft, little squeeks.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE4o5lqjKW4&feature=youtu.be

PS. I will be on holiday next week (woo hoo) & would love you to check out some of last year’s Spring garden blogs from Jan-April while I’m gone. The Mediterranean Heather is in stores now for you to buy – it’s wonderful. Cool weather Vegetables, Early Spring Flowering Trees & Flowering Ground Covers for Spring all discuss items you can find right now. Happy Spring planting!

L'Oreal Paris Colour Caresse Lip Shine Stain

    I don’t often blog about a single beauty product. (Unless it’s fantastic!!) And this product is! L’Oreal’s Colour Caress Shine Stain for lips is that wonderful a product and for only $7.97 (Walmart – before coupon!) a real steal. O Magazine calls it a triumph of technology. This water-based formula goes on so smooth & light. It feels moisturizing & isn’t super glossy. If you wait a minute you can layer more color on top of the first coat to intensify the color. I’ve never had such a great result doing this before but now you get more for your money because you are essentially get more colors for your single purchase. It stains your lips at the same time without leaving them dry later on. It now comes in 12 shades. It really has turned me away from ‘the tube’. I am forever hooked with this reasonably priced, fantastically glamorous feeling (& looking) lip color! I have been using Rose On & On but look forward to perhaps some coral shade for the Summer perhaps? Enjoy!!