So, so cool. Lucky you to have a pair of Anna's in your garden. I think this bodes well for Eve's garden. They will winter over here in Portland, a good reason to plant winter blooming camellias and witch hazel. Right now I am seeing them at my parent's in the Pulmonaria - which is pretty cool because it means they are hovering about 4" off the ground.

Sent by Kailla in POrtland | 12:21 PM ET | 03-17-2008

Ketzel, I have hummingbird feeders at my cabin in Strawberry, AZ. In the summer time, these little characters dive bomb at each other to drive the competition away from the feeders.

Once when standing near a feeder, a rufous hummingbird dove right at me. I stood my ground and we stared at each other for a few second and then he/she buzzed off to my utter astonishment!

Sent by Bob R | 1:36 PM ET | 03-17-2008

How lucky you are! I am hopeful you will be able to witness the great hatching of wee fluffs the size of bumble bees! Thanks for this and all your insightful musings . . . always a pleasure to read (or listen to)

Sent by carol | 2:34 PM ET | 03-17-2008

Oh, what a wonderful gift! I can hardly wait to see the continuing photos.

Sent by Gen | 2:39 PM ET | 03-17-2008

Yes, truly a gift- the hummingbird and her nest. Here in central Illinois, in all my meandering, I've only ever found one delicately small, beautiful nest. Thank you for sharing...(and when she's done with it- save that nest!) What a treasure!

Sent by Terry Starks | 3:57 PM ET | 03-17-2008

The tenacious little darling is now pointing north instead of east. Other than that, all's quiet on the homefront.

Sent by Ketzel Levine | 4:07 PM ET | 03-17-2008

How delightful...and what an honor to be the host garden(er)! You have a ring-side seat to view all the nesting activities.
Here in Colorado, we have a few more months of waiting before our hummers arrive.
Keep us posted!

Sent by Christina | 5:43 PM ET | 03-17-2008

I'm a Portlander (Oregon) too and yesterday noticed two of them dive bombing my blooming Daphne. They were either feeding or enjoying the perfume. They are year round residents in this area, but I'm not as lucky as you to know where their nest is.

Sent by Lee K. | 6:30 PM ET | 03-17-2008

Hi Ketzel, I will watch your hummer story unfold with delight, how blessed you are. I have a gardening question I am wondering if you will help with, not exotic blossoms, or fasinating speciality garden here I just need some suggestions as to what/how to plant on a shale bank!!! It is behind my mobile home & is in brigh sun about 3/4 day. (Ohio, mid/ East) I planted wild flowers & "low meadow grasses" over a mesh of rope like material I bought at great cost and put down with extreme difficulity as I kept falling off the bank!!! Wild flowers didn't do wonderfully, hardly DID at all as a matter of fact. This is their 3rd year. I have been letting the area do what it will as God makes very nice shale banks, it is reverting to nature - briars, and who knows what.
I really can't run the weed eater on it due to slope, may borrow a goat if necessary!!! Any ideas?

Sent by Janet S. Lahm | 8:59 AM ET | 03-18-2008

I used to believe the myth that if you left a hummingbird feeder out during the Fall/Winter you would confuse the birds, preventing them from migrating. Thank goodness for education as my Anna's get a supplemental feeding during Fall/Winter now. Our entertainment is year round and I'd like to think they are happier!

Sent by Genevieve Rohan | 10:36 AM ET | 03-18-2008

Absolutely made my day! They should be in Idaho soon. I'm waiting.

Sent by Jim Berthold | 10:51 AM ET | 03-18-2008

Oooh.... how fun! Isn't it interesting how our gardens, artificial constructs though they may be, allow us to interact with nature?

I had a similar experience with the parents of a fledgling blue jay last year:
http://blackswampgirl.blogspot.com/2007/06/dive-bombed.html

Sent by Kim | 6:00 PM ET | 03-18-2008

Maybe I should do a shout out for bird attacks. Thanks for that one, Kim. Also for bird myths; good of you to come clean, Genevieve!

Janet - Let's see if anyone steps up to bat with your problem...

Sent by Ketzel Levine | 6:10 PM ET | 03-18-2008

I have a covered patio off the back of my house. Last year I put up a standing rack of shelves to store my much used garden tolls, paint, etc. This week on the middle shelf much to my surprise there was a nest with an egg. Mama dove had set up shop. Everyone is carefull not to bother her, but everyone is excited and a bit anxious.

Sent by Liz Lewis | 6:15 PM ET | 03-18-2008

I, too, know what it is like to be dive-bombed by a bird with a extremely sharp looking long pointy beak. When I was painting my folks' house in Colorado long ago, I was bombed so closely I could feel the breeze going through the hair on the top of my head. Turned out there was a thimble-sized nest a few feet away. I changed my schedule around to do that part of the house later. Can't quite remember if I ever did return to finish that end of the house, come to think of it.
You are so lucky! I look forward to seeing the young 'uns!

Sent by Mary McSwain | 6:20 PM ET | 03-18-2008

I was lucky enough to have a similar experience last spring--a hummingbird nest with two nestlings in one of my potted Japaneses maples. Enjoy them while you can because before you know it they will be all grown up and gone!

Sent by Bart J Johnson | 5:13 AM ET | 03-19-2008

So groovy! I was walking into an appointment today at a hospital in San Antonio when one of these little zippers streaked by me. I followed it around the corner to see two more having their way in a garden. 88 degrees here today Ketzel! Times a wasting for your Texas visit! Come on down and we'll go birding in the Rio Grande Valley.

Sent by Vivan A. Holder | 9:12 PM ET | 04-07-2008

I am amazed how early they nest! We have had a pair at our feeder all year for 4 years and I look for nests, never to have found one. What a wonder you have come upon.

Sent by Thomas Hovland | 11:32 PM ET | 04-07-2008