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The hummingbirds were on their journey south when we returned from Shawnee, Kansas.  We still had two females the day before we left so I filled all the feeders with newly brewed nectar to carry them over and nourish any new travelers passing through.  The nectar-rich trumpet flowers on the pineapple sage plant will continue blooming until our first freeze, which may be tonight.  Yesterday Lisa and Bill's bees swarmed around all the flowers working tirelessly gathering nectar before the cold air sets in. 
About four weeks ago we noticed more hummingbirds around and more turmoil at the feeders.  One of the females perched herself on the hummingbird swing like a matriarch mob boss watching over her territory. 
When other birds tried to feed or perch nearby, she would chase them off, return to her command swing ready to defend her nectar again. She was one of the travelers we had for about a week on the journey south.
Another HB perched atop a little tube feeder daring another bird to approach the nectar. For now the feeders are all washed and put away until the end of March 2019.

We had rain all last night until early afternoon as the first real cold front approaches.  There is a freeze warning tonight for higher elevations.  It'll be a toss-up for us.  This afternoon I cut the last of the summer flowers in the garden to put in a vase.  I'm hoping the fresh basil makes it.  I said good-bye to everything else.  It's a beautiful fall day since the rain stopped, 62 degrees, mostly sunny.  The jeans and long sleeves are being worn but I'm still barefoot.

I love the Marathon Station where we gas up.  Where else can you be greeted by chickens as you pump gas?!





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