The air is humming

Hummingbirds have been scarce so far this summer, but suddenly this week they're zipping up and sipping from the flowers and feeders. Sometimes one hummingbird will guard a feeder and chase away all comers, and then sometimes we'll see as many as three at a time feeding together. The big picture window in the living room opens onto a constant show: goldfinches perching on sunflowers, woodpeckers visiting feeders, hummingbirds hovering over the hollyhock blossoms, swallowtails flitting toward the petunias.

I didn't plant the petunias or the sunflowers or the portulacas or the yellow celosias. Several of the flowers I planted this spring died, while others that I didn't plant at all are thriving, especially in the ant-infested area near the cistern. The ants object when I try to plant there--they swarm all up my legs and arms and make me swat and stomp them into submission, although I'm usually the first to sound the retreat. I know I planted some nicotiana in the ant area but there's no sign of it. Instead, petunias and celosias are growing thick on the ground. Apparently the ants prefer to do their own planting.

This year for the first time, two big stands of ironweed tower over the flower garden, just about ready to blossom. Ironweed doesn't belong in the front yard but butterflies love it so I'm not planning to pull it up. It's too close to the ants. Trust me: you don't want to mess with the ants.