THE HISTORIC HOUSE AT GREEN SPRING GARDENS - HUMMINGBIRD PHOTO EXHIBIT - 9-24-22

When we entered the garden, there was a sign to let us know there was a hummingbird photo exhibit at the historic house.  It's been a very long time since we went inside, and this was an excellent opportunity to do just that.  It was our first stop at the garden.

We enter a hallway and turned left into the first room.  It was very quiet, and only had a father and his young daughter inside.  They normally have it set up as a dining room as they do afternoon teas here.  We keep saying that we should reserve a table one of these days.  In the meantime, here we are looking at the hummingbird photos.

  

I was able to take a few photographs but as we moved on it became more crowded.  Amazing hummingbirds taken by equally amazing photographers.I didn't want to disturb those who were enjoying the exhibit and settled down to enjoy them too.  (I like to enlarge my own photos in the evenings on my laptop, to study details of any bird I photograph.  There were no signs saying not to take photos.  I always check.)  

The bird in my next photo, where I could just about read the information card, is the Green Violet-ear Hummingbird taken in Costa Rica.

I cant ID many others, except for one more.  Not too knowledgeable on my hummingbirds.

Isn't this a beauty?  According to the card it is a Violet Sabrewing, photo taken in Monteverde, Costa Rica. 

I also enjoyed the flower arrangement on the mantle, and from all the overhead lights...

it seems as though they have quite a few exhibits here

I always take notice of the flower displays scattered here and there.

The view through the window is looking at the back of the house.

On the other side of the hallway there is a small gift shop, with a few prints on the walls showing how the house used to look.   There are reflections in some unfortunately.

Originally, as shown below, the kitchen was a separate structure and not attached to the house.  Separate kitchens were a normal thing in the south back in the 18th century, to keep away the heat and noise, and cooking smells from the main house. 

 

An explanation also stated that later when a family called Moss took ownership, c. 1827 or thereabouts, a brick kitchen was built on the east side of the house.

If you enlarge the photo above, the information says: "Green Spring House undergoing renovations in 1936.  Minni Whitesell, owner from 1931 to 1942, saved the house from demolition."  Thank you Minni!  I can't imagine the garden without this beautiful old house.  Is that Minni and her daughter walking through the doorway?

I bought a few items in the gift shop, just before we left.  Gregg bought me a book on the house's history that I was leafing through, and I also picked up two gift cards and two packets of tea.  The cards are the type that a tea bag is included, with a slit in the card so that the tea packet can slip into it.  I have seen them before in other places and they have been around for quite a while.  You may have seen them too.  They make a sweet gift for a family member or friend.  A handwritten card and a cup of tea, lovely!

 The small room (gift shop area) was filling up with people and we both wanted some fresh air by that time.  I was also eager to get to see what was blooming in the garden...

but I took a couple of photos of the other dining room from the top of the steps (of the gift shop), and that was it for the historic house.

Those anemones were calling me.

I always love the anemones in front of the house.  This is the Grape leaf anemone, also known as a Grape leaf windflower.  It originated in the Himalayas.

Next is a Mexican marigold, also found in front of the house.  (In fact, when I looked up the yellow flower with a touch of red next to it, they were also recognized as such.) Also known as Big marigold, Aztec marigold and African marigold, and they grow in full to partial sun.  Its botanical name is Tagetes erecta.  This plant was considered sacred by the Aztec people, and it was used to decorate temples.  It doesn't attract many birds surprisingly, but the blooms don't produce much nectar.  

This was a sign at the side of the front door, pretty enough for a picture.  I liked it enough to turn it into my logo.

That's all from the house.  I will have a post about the flowers soon.  There were many still blooming, though some were a bit past it, still pretty though.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy the rest of your week.

HUMMINGBIRD AT GREEN SPRING GARDENS

 On Monday (21st) we went back to the garden as we woke up to sunshine and cooler temperatures.  It was 64 degrees when we left the house.  In today's post I am sharing Gregg's photos of the hummingbird we saw.

I don't know my hummingbirds very well, so perhaps someone who does can name this one.  It seems to have little white tips on the end of its tail feathers.

I have cropped each photo and put the cropped version below the original.

Not necessarily about this particular one, the red lettering will take you to an interesting field guide here.

Added note: thank you Eileen, Debbie and Martha for ID'ing this pretty bird as a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  You can read their comments below this post.

Below you can see the flowers this little hummer was so interested in.  I am pretty sure it is the Lobelia laxiflora var angustifolia, also Sierra Madre Lobelia.  A very hardy flower and easy to grow.

This flower was named after a French botanist and herbalist Matthias de l'Obel (1538-1616).  It is in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae.

Its several common names include Mexican lobelia, Sierra Madre lobelia, Mexican cardinal flower, loose flowers lobelia and drooping lobelia.  In Spanish and Nahuatl it is known as aretitos.  Very easy to grow and it attracts hummingbirds from June until Fall.  The plant can live up to 16 plus years, and still thrive.  

It is native to the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico, and as such is highly adaptable to changeable circumstances.  Producing many flowers it is able to completely spread in a garden with a profusion of willowy leaves and flowers.  They grow 3 feet tall x 4 feet wide.

Thanks for looking and I wish you all a great day.