Orchids and Hummingbirds - tis the season!

[JanS]

I thought I'd share these pictures I just took for the Holidays; Here in Southern California we have several species of hummingbirds overwinter, and my wife and I have numerous feeders around the house, which they use constantly. It's easy to bring out a flowering orchid and place it near one of the feeders, and on the next visit the hummer will make sure to investigate the new flower. Of course, they don't get any nectar so they're disappointed and go back to the feeder, but it's a great photo opportunity. I am also beginning to suspect they actually remember the particular orchid if they already tried it with no luck, and ignore it from then on: I offered one very territorial male an extremely fragrant Cycnoches a few days ago, and tried to get a photo today and he kept ignoring it. So I had to pull out a Cat he's not smelled before and got these shots.

Happy Holidays to you all!