Native plants for a Cape Cod garden

September 11 was the last day the hummingbirds visited the feeder in the yard or any of the still blooming cardinal flowers, jewelweed, and blue lobelias. This realization of loss, of not seeing the hummers again until next April pales to nothing in comparison to the loss felt on that day so many years ago, but I felt a pang of sadness nonetheless. Tempis fugit and this summer is fleeting by quickly. It was a good hummingbird season – Not only did they stay around much longer (by 3 weeks compared to last year), but I had greater numbers visit than ever before. They are very territorial, and the few times that multiple birds visited the feeding station or the same bunch of flowers a chase of sorts ensued. Luckily I have nectar producing plants in all corners of the yard, so they do not have to mingle all the time. Now is also the time the last of the osprey are heading to warmer climes – two nestlings that I have been observing all summer left the next day, on the 12th of September. There are still some stragglers though – I noticed a reticent osprey perched on another nest further in the marsh. Fishing is still good, for birds and humans alike. I just hope these birds don’t get caught in a sudden cold spell. 40s at night won’t be far off…