Day 178: Even on a dismal, rainy day, Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) is a cheerful sight. One of the earliest natives to flower, this shrub provides nectar for hummingbirds after a winter diet of tree sap and small insects. Yes, hummers eat bugs! But when the Red-flowering Currant comes into bloom, they will even ignore the feeders, preferring natural food to sugar water (humans could take a lesson from that, don'tcha think?) I have two bushes on my property. The one outside the kitchen door blooms first and is not located where I can easily watch for hummers, but when the one in front of the carport opens, the overwintering Anna's come to it in numbers. The flowers will be near their end when the first Rufous Hummingbirds show up, but by then, there will be other tasty food sources in my yard.
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