Hummingbirds

     If you're thinking about taking your hummingbird feeder down please don't. If you are worried that by leaving it up too long you are preventing the birds from flying south, please don't be because my research tells me that hummingbirds migrate according to hormonal changes and leaving the feeder up won't make them stay longer than they normally would. The changes are set off by the length of light during the day and other factors.



(male) Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

     By leaving your feeder up you are helping the birds increase their weight that they are going to need for their migration. I have found out the migration should be finished by Thanksgiving. I've learned you can do this or wait a week or two after you don't see your regulars anymore before taking the feeders down.

     Hummingbirds usually live up to 3 or 4 years. There was one recorded that lived up to 12 years of age.  According to worldofhummingbirds.com, the summer habitat of the ruby-throated hummingbird is eastern North America and Canadian prairies. Their winter habitat is southern Mexico, Central America and as far south as Costa Rica and the West Indies.

     As you can see I only use natural sugar and water. The mixture can be made by adding 1 cup sugar to 4 cups water and boiling for one minute only. Let mixture cool completely before refilling feeder. Mixture should be kept fresh once a week.

 

 



Grapevine with No Grapes

     John 15:1-8 states, "I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Gardener. He cuts off any branches that are not producing fruit, and He prunes the branches which are producing fruit so they will produce even more fruit. You are already pruned because of the message I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit if it is cut off from the Vine, and you cannot be fruitful if you are apart from Me."
     "I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me, and I remain in you then you will produce much fruit. But apart from Me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from Me is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into a pile and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you can ask any request you wish, and it will be given. This is to my Father's glory..."

 

    I have been asked many times, "What is that vine over there?" And many times I have said I don't really know I think it is kudzu but I really hope not. Since I have started this blog I have begun researching and learning about all things living on the wildlife habitat. I don't understand why it has taken me so long to appreciate all that is here. I wonder now, so many times why I have been so blind to all that was around me. Also in studying the scriptures of the bible, I find that there are many references to nature. Plant and animals share a special relationship in helping mankind realize God is real and He is with us.

    

 

These are pictures of the grapevine that has never been pruned back so it is not producing any fruit. It has not been taken care of as it should have been. Another kind of plant is intermixing with it and causing sunlight not to be able to reach it's branches. My research also tells me that the vine needs to be placed horizontally to produce fruit. Right now the vine has attached itself to a tree located next to it and is growing right along with the tree vertically. This grapevine needs a gardener and someone to take care of it. Then it will be able to produce fruit as it should. Without a gardener and on its own, you can see what is happening.